Jason Bouttell (Team Vision Racing-Silverhook) and Jennifer George (Memorial Santos) both set new course records on their way to victory in the Essex Roads CC 24-mile time trial on Sunday morning.

On a sunny weekend with calm conditions across much of the country, they were just two of many course records to fall with Bouttell’s 49-57 beating Colin Ward’s two-year-old previous best of 50-08, while George’s time of 57-12 bettered the course record time by Helen Mackay of 58-32 from last year.

Bouttell’s time was 2-18 quicker than his nearest rival with Josh Crow-Stewart (Arctic-Aircon RT) taking second with 52-15, while third went to Jack Mills (Maldon & District CC) who was another 32 seconds adrift.

Meanwhile 37-year-old George claimed her third open victory of the season so far with her time of 57-12, which was 2-19 quicker than Louise Robinson (Essex Roads CC0 in second, while Chelmer CC’s Lauren Kirchel took third, eight seconds behind Robinson.

34-year-old Bouttell’s win was his first of the season so far, and he went on to place second in the East District CA 10 in Norfolk later the same day!

The anti-clockwise course takes riders from the start near Birch and down the Maldon Road through Totham Hill and Great Totham, down to Heybridge on the outskirts of Maldon, before looping up through Goldhanger, Tolleshunt D’Arcy, Salcott-cum-Virley, Layer-de-la-Haye and to the finish just to the south east of Birch.

This year was the first year that junior riders have been allowed to enter, and the win went to Jake Crossley (Tofauti Everyone Active) with 54-44.

Bouttell’s form appears to be good for next Sunday’s National 100-Mile Championships, while he has also entered the National 10-Mile Championship at the end of the month.

Jennifer George is next expected to be in action in the a3crg 10 tonight, as well as the ECCA 10 on Saturday and the National 10 on August 30.

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