Mark Smith and Joscelin Lowden were the fastest male and female riders at the Sussex CA 15-mile time trial, and both broke course records on a good day at Steyning, West Sussex.

Smith, the 43-year-old Crawley Wheelers rider from Lindfield, clocked 31.16 to slice 36 seconds from Pat Wright’s old course record for the G15/93, while 29-year-old Brighton-based Lowden (Aprire Bicycles-HSS Hire) took almost three minutes from the old women’s course record with her time of 35.51.

And there were several other notable performances, including 64-year-old Mark Vowells (CC Bexley) who clocked 39.17 to set a new national veterans record for 15 miles on a trike.

Conditions were good with only a slight south westerly breeze and it was warm enough for many of the 45 riders to set new personal best times for the distance.

Smith took the win on the day by 1-06 from Simon Macnamara who led South Downs Bikes to the team prize, clocking 1-41-13 alongside Paul Barnard and Kevin Plummer.

Mark Emsley (Team ASL) was third, another 24 seconds off the pace, while just ten seconds further back was Tom Pritchard (Hampshire RC).

Joscelin Lowden powered to victory in the women’s event by 45 seconds from Laura Bartlett (a3crg0, while Angela Radden-Rutt (The Cycleroom) was third, another couple of minutes back.

Best of the veterans on target time was 65-year-old Mike O’Gorman (Worthing Excelsior CC) whose time of 35.46 gave him a plus of 9-16.

For Mark Smith, the victory was just the latest in a string of victories which have made 2017 a great season so far.

He won the Southern Counties CU 50 last weekend, while other wins include the Brighton Mitre CC 10 and Lewes Wanderers 30 in May, the Sussex CA 25 and Crawley Wheelers 41.6-mile TT in April and the Southern Counties CU hardriders 21 in March.

And Lowden is also in great form, with many of her top rides coming in road races.

After riding the Sussex CA 15 on Saturday morning, Lowden travelled to London for the Nocturne that evening, where she placed 22nd. And among her other time trial wins this season are the East Sussex CA 10 in April and Redhill CC 18 in February.

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

Results:

1. Mark Smith (Crawley Wheelers)    31.16 (course and event record)

2. Simon McNamara (South Downs Bikes)    32.22

3. Mark Emsley (Team ASL)  32.46

4. Tom Pritchard (Hampshire RC)      32.56

5. Steven Kane (Brighton Excelsior CC)        33.05

6. Howard Bayley (Blazing Saddles) 33.11

7. Stephen Williamson (a3crg)            33.19

8. Tom Glandfield (Lewes Wanderers CC)    33.46

9. Nick Dwyer (Lewes Wanderers CC0         34.14

10. Nick Allen (Worthing Excelsior CC)        34.23

Women:

1. Joscelin Lowden (Aprire Bicycles) 35.51 (course record)

2. Laura Bartlett (a3crg)         36.36

3. Angela Radden-Rutt (The Cycleroom)      38.45

Veterans on target time: Mike O’Gorman (Worthing Excelsior CC) (35.46) +9.16

Team: South Downs Bikes (McNamara, Paul Barnard, Kevin Plummer) 1:41.13