Jennifer George and Samuel Painter were fastest female and male riders respectively on time trial bikes at the Brighton Mitre CC hilly 10-mile time trial in West Sussex on Easter Saturday.

George, the 37-year-old London-based rider with Team Independent Pedaler, clocked 24-48 to take the women’s prize by 37 seconds from a3crg veteran Angela Carpenter. Third spot went to Eva Callinan, the impressive Liv AWOL 17-year-old who set a new junior women’s course record.

In the men’s category victory went to Painter in 22-13, the 20-year-old Rainham-based rider with the TBW23-Stuart Hall Cycling p/b Trainsharp team. That was 14 seconds better than his nearest rival Jamie Olsson (Giro R), while Crawley Wheelers stalwart Mark Smith was third with 22-46.

The event was run off in eight-degree temperatures, with a north easterly wind increasing as the event went on, but later starters had a little sun on their backs. The G10/44 course takes riders from a start just north of Kirdford on an anti-clockwise horseshoe, snaking down to just above Petworth before turning back on the A272 to Wisborough Green.

While the time trial riders were chasing the fastest times, there were also some impressive performances in the separate road bikes category, where Irfan Zaman (Bigfoot CC) proved fastest.

The 19-year-old from Orpington clocked 24-02 to take the win. Second spot went to Sam Clark (TBW23) with 24-02, but with a late start of 1-30 applied to his time he would’ve been an easy winner if he had got to the start on time.

Laura Senior (Saint Piran) was quickest of the two women, clocking 27-18 to win by more than three minutes from her nearest rival.

Painter, an established road rider who has ridden several national level events as a youth, junior, and now an Espoir, went on to finish just outside t4he podium in the Brighton Mitre CC hilly 25 on Easter Monday.

With road racing still in lockdown, time trialling is providing a welcome outlet for training miles for riders from many disciplines, and he hopes to go on to ride the East Anglian VTTA 25 and East Surrey hardriders later this month.

Similarly, Jennifer George has her sights set on victory in the VTTA National 15-Mile Championships on April 11 and has also entered the East Sussex CA 25 later in the month.

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

Results:

TT Bikes:

1          Samuel Painter                  BW23                                       22-13

2          Jamie Olsson                      Giro R                                     22-27

3          Mark Smith                         Crawley Whls.                         22-46

4          Lukas Nerurkar                 VC de Londres                         22-47

5          Steve Kane                         Team MC                               22-56          

6          Colin McDermott             Festival RC                               23-06

7          Paul Newsome                 Project 51                                23-52

Women:

1          Jennifer George                   Team Independent Pedaler     24-48

2          Angela Carpenter                 A3crg                                       25-25

3          Eva Callinan                                     Liv AWOL                    25-55 (Junior women’s course record)

4          Kirsty McSeveney                            A3crg                           27-23

5          Lisa Davis                                             DRAG2ZERO         27-32

6          Sarah Matthews                               A3crg                          27-38

Road bikes:

1          Irfan Zaman                        Bigfoot CC                              24-02

2          Sam Clark                            TBW23                                  24-04 (incl. 1-30 late start)

3          Liam Wilson                        Crawley Whs.                         24-49

4          Jamie Francis                      Upshift Nutrition RT               24-51

5          Robert Lovett                    Team TMC                                24-52

6          Gavin Ash                            Team TMC                            24-59          

Women:

1          Laura Senior               Saint Piran                                    27-18          

2          Lucy Williams             Crawley Whs                                 30-22