Irwin tames 25-mile course at Etwall
Veteran North Lancs RC rider Stephen Irwin took victory in the 25-mile Burton and District CA event in Etwall on Saturday, just pipping Matt Sinclair to the top prize.
It was a win of just five seconds for Irwin, as he posted a time of 48.14 on the way to victory. Sinclair, representing Lutterworth CC RT agonisingly missed out on Irwin’s pace and had to settle for second with a time of 48.19.
Although it was a great win for Irwin, who regularly features on the podium, he wasn’t close to his personal best over 25 miles, that being 47.01 set in September of last year.
The top three was completed by Mark Turnbull of TORQ Performance who was 1.09 down on Sinclair in 49.26 – a new personal best over 25 miles.
It was Turnbull’s second podium finish in as many weeks with the veteran placing second in the Withington Wheelers event, also over 25 miles, last weekend.
The women’s category was also a close-run contest with Team Bottrill’s Karina Bowie who won with a time of 57.14, averaging 26.2mph.
Bowie, who finished 18th in the RTTC National Championship over 25 miles, was by just seven seconds quicker than second-placed Kirsty Smith of Team Swift who stopped the clock at 57.21. Born to Bike’s Katja Rietdorf was third in 58.18.
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