Marshall and Berriman victorious in Tavistock Wheelers sporting 25
Simon Marshall (Exeter Wheelers) battled strong crosswinds to take victory on the exposed Tavistock Wheelers sporting 25 course, while Angharad Berriman (Penzance Wheelers CC) won the women’s event.
Marshall, aged 34, took his first ever open time trial victory clocking a time of one hour, one minute and eight seconds – almost a minute clear of his nearest rival.
Meanwhile, John Morse and Martina Geraghty (Penzance Wheelers CC) won the tandem event in a new course record time of 1-09-34.
The S5/25S saw riders compete out and back from Tavistock to Okehampton on the undulating A386 which sits within the sits within the UNESCO Cornwall and West Devon Mining landscape and the Dartmoor Nation Park.
On a dry and sunny day, 24 riders had to deal with the cold Easterly cross winds on this often-exposed course.
Marshall, from Cullompton, had showed his off-season improvement by finishing second in the Exeter Whs sporting 17 earlier this month.
He went one better on this occasion finishing 59 seconds ahead of scratch rider and veteran Gavin MacDougall (Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA) who had to settle for second in 1-02-07.
Nigel Polkinghorne (Duchy Velo) completed the podium positions finishing third (1-02-29) which was 24 seconds faster than host club rider Michael Buckley (1-02-53).
“It was very windy,” said Marshall. “There was a really difficult crosswind. The course climbs out of Tavistock onto Dartmoor so it is pretty high and exposed, so very windy.
“I didn’t actually use my time trial bar extensions but was just gripping onto my drops. It was my first ever win and nice to build on my second at the Exeter Wheelers event.
“I’m chuffed with the win and think everybody who finished deserved a medal.”
Quickest junior was Sam Beaton (Plymouth Corinthian CC) who completed the course in a time of 1-05-55 while Josh Coyne (Bpm Coaching) was the quickest road bike competitor in 1-04-49.
In the women’s event veteran rider Berriman took her first open time trial victory of the season completing the course in 1-13-19.
Alice Lake (Cranbrook Cycle Club) led the chase behind finishing over a minute behind in second (1-14-33) while Elizabeth Vernon (Tavistock Wheelers) finished third (1-24-40).
* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.
Results
1 Simon Marshall Exeter Whs CC 1:01:08
2 Gavin MacDougall Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA 1:02:07
3 Nigel Polkinghorne Duchy Velo 1:02:29
4 Michael Buckley Tavistock Whs CC 1:02:53
5 Mark Pierce Plymouth Corinthian CC 1:03:12
6 Josh Coyne Bpm Coaching 1:04:49
7 Tim Mitchell Tavistock Whs CC 1:05:24
8 Sam Beaton Plymouth Corinthian CC 1:05:55
9 Jon Tune City Cycle Couriers RT 1:07:55
10 Sam Rowell Cranbrook Cycle Club 1:09:15
11 John Morse Penzance Wheelers CC 1:09:34
12 Martina Geraghty Penzance Wheelers CC 1:09:34
13 James Baggott Mid Devon CC 1:10:24
14 Angharad Berriman Penzance Wheelers CC 1:13:19
15 Tony Symons Tavistock Whs CC 1:13:51
16 Alice Lake Cranbrook Cycle Club 1:14:33
17 Gregory Moss North Devon Wheelers 1:14:44
18 Roger Sheridan North Devon Wheelers 1:15:49
19 Andy Hay Tavistock Whs CC 1:17:43
20 Terence Leonard St Budeaux CC 1:20:46
21 Elizabeth Vernon Tavistock Whs CC 1:24:40
22 Cath Bateman Tavistock Whs CC 1:29:59
23 Lindsay Hobbs Tavistock Whs CC 1:35:03