RTTC National 100 Mile Championship (WTTA Hardriders)

Adam Wild (GS Metro) and Katrina Matthews (Army Cycling) took their first national titles in convincing style at the National 100 Mile Championship in Wiltshire on Sunday morning.

Wild, who was beaten into second last season, went one better as he dominated the men’s event in a winning time of three hours, 28 minutes and 50 seconds.

“I’m pretty pleased as I earmarked the 100 championship as my main goal for the season,” said Wild following the victory.

“To win it is pretty special and anything more this season will feel like a bonus.”

Organised by Team Tor 2000 the 100 course saw riders head out on the B4042 towards Royal Wootton Bassett before turning back past the start north past Malmesbury on the A429 before turning onto the A433 to Tetbury and back towards Cirencester.

Competitors then turned back to Malmesbury before completing the Tetbury to Cirencester loop again and then heading back south to pass the start and finish near Royal Wootton Bassett.

Torrential rain in the early hours made way for dull conditions and little wind for the early starters and conditions gradually improved throughout the morning.

The course, which is part of the WTTA Hardrider series, was described by riders as ‘fair but certainly challenging’.

Wild, aged 23, from Morpeth in Northumberland, recorded an average speed of 28.73 miles per hour as he flew around the course clocking a new open personal best over 100 miles.

Along with his second place in the National 100 last season Wild also finished third in the National 25 and fourth in the National 50 and Circuit Championships but was celebrating this time around.

At his first open 100 attempt Jason Bouttell (Team Vision Racing) finished second in a time of 3-31-26, while Adam Duggleby (Almerico Vive Le Velo) completed the podium places just 32 seconds further back.

Wild also helped GS Metro to the team prize alongside Carl Donaldson and Andrew Scorey with a total time of 11-01-03.

“My ride went pretty well and I hit all the numbers and the course was faster than I thought it was going to be,” added Wild.

“To get a personal best was also nice and I stayed strong until the end and kept the pressure on whereas a lot of people start to fade.

“It was nice to win, but a bit strange with no presentation. I’ve been after one of those National Champion caps for six or seven years since I was a junior.”

On her first attempt at an open 100 Matthews blew away her competition storming around the course at an average pace of 25.49 miles per hour to clock a winning time of 3-55-22.

Matthew, aged 29, came into the event under the radar having previously recorded two top-11 performances in the National Closed Circuit Championships over the past two years.

Bronze medallist from last season Alex Clay (The Independent Pedaler-Nopinz) went one better on this occasion to clinch second in 4-01-49.

Meanwhile Ruth Purbrook (Ful-on Tri) also provided a shock to complete the podium places in 4-06-54 in her first national championship and first attempt at an open 100.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.

* A full gallery of images from this event by Kimroy Photography is available here