Southend Wheelers’ Paul Hart broke the national competition record on his way to victory in the Eastern Counties CA 50-mile time trial in Cambridgeshire, while Lauren Kirchel (Chelmer CC) was fastest woman.

Hart, the 38-year-old from Essex, clocked 1-34-37 to slice just six seconds from Matt Bottrill’s old record set in 2014. It was good enough to give him an impressive victory on the day of more than four and a half minutes, with veteran Julian Elliot (Finsbury Park CC) taking second and Dave Green (CC Breckland) just behind in third spot.

The event took place on the E2/50c course near Six Mile Bottom, using the A11 and A14 to the east of Cambridge. Although the forecast heavy rain didn’t materialise, there were light showers for much of the event, although only light winds.

“That was a shock, needless to say I’m chuffed,” said Hart. “To be honest I didn’t even know what the comp record was as it just wasn’t on my radar. I went there hoping for a 1-36 or 1-37 to get a decent start time at the national 50.

“At last year’s national 25 I did a 48-51 from 351 watts, but was told by many that power should deliver much better results, so I’ve spent the winter sorting my aerodynamics, got a new bike, skinsuit and position.”

Hart’s only other result this year was a win in the Hainault Road Club’s hilly 31.1-kilometre event back in early March, where he broke the course record on his way to victory.

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Results:

1. Paul Hart (Southend Wheelers)      1:34.37

2. Julian Elliot (Finsbury Park CC)     1:39.11

3. Dave Green (CC Breckland)          1:39.14

4. Dave Harding (Chelmer CC)          1:39.16

5. Gray Turnock (Finsbury Park CC)  1:41.14

6. Matt Steel (Shaftesbury CC)          1:43.07

7. Andrew Grant (Cambridge CC)     1:43.35

8. Colin Ross (Lea Valley CC)           1:43.36

9. Leon West (CC Sudbury)   1:43.42

10. Glenn Taylor (Shorter Rochford RT)       1:43.57

Women: Lauren Kirchel (Chelmer CC)          1:52.00

Veterans: Julian Elliot