Thomas Day (SEG Racing Academy) took victory by just nine seconds in a close finish at the Hemel Hempstead CC 10, while Francesca Hall (Loughborough Lightning / TRG) won the women’s event.

Under-23 Day took his second victory of the season in a season-best time of 18 minutes and 25 seconds.

The close event saw the top four riders separated by just 13 seconds despite the event being held in hot and windy conditions.

The F11/10 saw riders start outside Tring before heading east on the A41 before turning on themselves after two miles and heading onto the longest leg past the start and turning again after eight miles back onto the A41 for the final two miles.

A headwind on the longest six-mile leg meant that in theory time would suffer, but a host of personal bests were set.

Almost 100 entries for the men’s event saw a closing time of 20-50, meaning competition for the win was going to be fierce.

And so it proved with Day, who finished third in last weekend’s National Circuit Championships, taking top honours.

The fight for second could not have been closer with veteran Richard Oakes (Team Ohten Aveas) pipping junior Mattie Dodd (Team Backstedt Bike Performance) by a single second with his time of 18-34.

Dodd knocked a minute off his personal best to earn his podium spot in 18-35 as did second junior Jacob Bush (Bourne Wheelers) in 19-12, with both riders being just 16 years old.

Meanwhile 14-year-old Finlay Tarling (WORX Factory Racing Powered by Silverstone) also took half a minute off his persona best to place fastest juvenile in 19-27.

Second veteran on scratch was Robert Willcocks (Royal Air Force Cycling Association) whose time of 19-08 was just a single second faster than Andrew Hastings (Haste CC).

Hall, from Loughborough, took her third victory of the season in the women’s event despite suffering a slow puncture.

The 26-year-old has already won the BUCS Championships and second round of the Merlin Cycles Classic Series and added the Hemel Hempstead CC 10 to her collection with a time of 20-25.

Alice Lethbridge (Drag2Zero) was locked in a tight battle for second with veteran Sally Turner (trainSharp) with the younger rider posting 20-47 which was a single second faster than her rival.

Turner was the quickest veteran on scratch in 20-48 beating Fiona Sharp (Chapeau! Vive Le Velo) into second (21-55) while Kirsty McSeveney (...a3crg) finished third 22-25.

Despite a smaller women’s field than previous years a competitive 25 riders entered and the race was given equal prize money to the men’s event.

“I was pretty pleased to take the win especially with that time,” said Hall.

“Especially to win against such accomplished riders as Alice (Lethbridge) is super talented and strong.

“Sally (Turner) is also going very well. Looking at the results I was wondering how much time Alice had put into me so I was shocked to win.”

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