Steve Lampier (Saint Piran) broke the course record on his way to taking his maiden win of the season in the Mid-Devon CC Sporting 23, while Natasha Reddy (Bianchi Dama) was a clear victor in the women’s event.

Lampier, aged 37 and from Falmouth, clocked a winning time of 50 minutes and six seconds along the undulating course and was just 19 seconds faster than Frederik Scheske (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) (50-25) – both broke the previous course record of 51.30.

Meanwhile junior Harry Jukes, of host club Mid Devon CC, also beat the previous junior course record clocking 56-23 to take tenth place in a quality field with 97 starters.

Organiser Andrew Perkins said that the event had experienced a record entry after lockdown measures eased allowing time trials to take place.

The outward 13-mile leg saw riders head away from Heathfield along the A382 on rolling roads which gradually rose.

Riders then turned onto the B3212 for the main climb up Doccombe Hill before descending to Dunsford and then taking the B3193 and then turning to the finish in Chudleigh.

Despite the fast times conditions were not favourable with a stiff breeze on the outward leg.

Lampier had a gap over Scheske of more than a minute at the top of Doccombe Hill before losing time on the descent and then pushing to the finish over two small climbs to win by 19 seconds.

Despite suffering a crash after being hit by a van last season, which saw him in hospital for three and a half weeks with a ruptured spleen, Lampier still won three events.

“I needed to see how the form was after the winter,” said Lampier.

“Last season I had a bad crash and despite coming back for a few time trials I was not 100 per cent. I trained all winter and had big expectations for the road season but with Covid it hasn’t been as planned.

“This was my first race this season and first win so you’ve got to be happy with that. I’ve never ridden that time trial before but had ridden the course in reverse in road races.

“I expected Frederik [Scheske] to be a bit closer and looking at the splits we rode the course differently.

“I played to my strengths and went harder on the climb while he went harder on the descent. I recovered on the descent ready for the valley road back.”

Leading the fight for the remaining podium position was Max Stedman (HuntBikeWheels.com) who clocked 52-09 to finish 42 seconds quicker than leading under-23 George Kimber (Spirit Tifosi RT) in fourth.

Leading veteran was host club rider Donald Brooks whose time of 56-39 beat team-mate Jason Kettle (58-54) in second and Peter Norris (Cycle Sport South Hams) in third (59-35).

After taking the course record Harry Jukes was quickest junior ahead of Mid Devon CC team-mates Reuben Heal (57-39) and Callum Start (58-25).

In the women’s category Reddy, who finished second in the Plymouth Corinthian CC 10 last season, showed her post-lockdown form to take a clear win by almost two minutes.

Reddy, aged 22, clocked an average speed of nearly 21 miles per hour as she recorded a winning time of 1-05-51.

Tara Grosvenor (VeloVitesse/ALLCAP/James Barry) led the chase behind for second in 1-07-41 while junior rider Hannah Rainger (Plymouth Corinthian CC) took a fine third place clocking 1-11-26.

Meanwhile, quickest veteran was Heather Booth (YOGI Cycling) in a time of 1-14-20.

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