AeroLab Ward WheelZ team-mates Tom Ward and Anna Morris both set course records on their way to winning the men’s and women’s events at the Welsh 25 Mile Championships.

Scratch rider Ward, who turned 27 last week, added the Welsh 25 Mile Championship title to his collection in a winning time of 45 minutes and 36 seconds.

The R25/7 saw riders start with a fast descent away from Usk and onto A472 before joining the A449 on the opening section of the course.

Riders then headed along the A40 to Monmouth before exiting onto the B4293 for a short time and then turning off through Mitchel Troy. Competitors then joined the A449 back past Raglan before the final section back to Usk for the finish.

The event was promoted for the Welsh Cycling Association by www.realteam.co.uk cycling events.

Ward also won the Welsh Championships 30 last month in a Welsh record time of 57-26 and added the R25/7 course record to his collection this time out.

Christopher Gibbard (Bynea Cycling Club) finished second to Ward in the Welsh 30-Mile Championships, finishing 58 seconds back.

On this occasion Ward extended his winning margin with Gibbard finishing one minute and 41 seconds behind in 47-17.

A tight battle for third saw quickest veteran on scratch Robert Willcocks (Royal Air Force Cycling Association) clock 48-34 which was 12 seconds faster than Dean Robson (Velo Sport Jersey).

The quickest junior was Kyle Jones (WORX Factory Racing Powered by Silverstone) who covered the course in 55-02 beating Tomos Perkins (VMCC powered by Y Beic) into second (59.01).   

In the women’s event Morris, aged 26, clocked a course record winning time of 51-24.

Morris finished fourth in the National 25 Mile Championships in Cumbria last weekend missing the podium by just 18 seconds.

She was not to be denied championship honours this time out, beating her nearest rival by three minutes and 38 seconds.

Behind, a close battle developed for the remaining podium positions with Louise Burnie (Swansea Wheelers/CS Abertawe) leading the battle in 59-18 just 10 seconds ahead of quickest veteran aged 50-54 Andrea Parish (VeloSistas TT Team).

Emma Wyatt (Hereford & Dist Whs CC) missed the podium places by just two seconds but was quickest veteran aged 40-44 in 59-30.

Meanwhile, Clare Greenwood (Bush Healthcare CRT) was fastest veteran aged 60-64 clocking 1-00-41.

Next month sees the Welsh Championship events over 50 miles and 12 hours before hill climb championship event takes place in October.

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

Result

1 Tom Ward       AeroLab Ward WheelZ   45:36    

2 Christopher Gibbard   Bynea Cycling Club          47:17    

3 Robert Willcocks           Royal Air Force Cycling Association           48:34    

4 Dean Robson  Velo Sport Jersey             48:46    

5 David Medhurst            Cardiff Ajax CC   49:13    

6 Stuart Day       VC Sevale (Malvern)       49:57    

7 Jon Howard     Team Echelon    50:06    

8 Tim Wood        Team Echelon    50:09    

9 Keith Ainsworth            Sheffrec CC         50:41    

10 Daniel Colman             Arctic Aircon RT 51:23    

Women

1 Anna Morris    AeroLab Ward WheelZ   51:24

2 Louise Burnie Swansea Wheelers/CS Abertawe              59:18

3 Andrea Parish VeloSistas TT Team          59:28

4 Emma Wyatt  Hereford & Dist Whs CC 59:30

5 Clare Greenwood         Bush Healthcare CRT       1:00:41

6 Susan Shook   Bush Healthcare CRT       1:01:03 

7 Deborah Sheridan        Warwickshire Road Club                1:01:45 

8 Isabella McNally            Westbury Wheelers        1:04:05 

9 Joanna Knight      Bristol South CC   1:04:09