Christopher McNamara (Nuun-Sigma Sport-London RT) started his open time trial campaign with a victory in the …a3crg Sporting 15k, while Kirsty McSeveney (…a3crg) won the women’s event.

McNamara, aged 46, took 11 open victories last season and won by over a minute on this occasion clocking a time of 21 minutes and 43 seconds over the undulating 15-kilometre course.

Junior national 10-mile champion Jamie Whitcher (Bournemouth Cycleworks) had looked a likely challenger for McNamara but punctured just one mile from the finish ending his hopes.

A bright and sunny afternoon but with a chilly wind greeted the riders for the first event in the South DC calendar this season.

Saturday’s time trial was a short but lumpy 9.6-mile sporting course heading out of the B2070 straight into a headwind for the opening five miles.

Competitors then travelled east on the A272 to Rogate before a climb up to the finish.

McNamara was a clear winner in the time trial bike category and also best veteran on standard with a +3.45.

There was a tight battle for the remaining podium positions with Matthew Buckley (Velo Club St Raphael) taking second in 23-02 just 17 seconds quicker then Chris Carroll (VC Godalming & Haslemere) (23-19).

Meanwhile, VC Godalming & Haslemere won the team prize with Chris Carroll, Jon Hughes and David Walters) in 1-11-45

In the women’s event veteran rider McSeveney was also a clear winner posting a time of 28 minutes and two seconds.

The 41-year-old, from Fareham, had a full year of racing in 2021 concluding with a win in the Farnborough & Camberley CC 10 on her last outing in December.

She was chased home by the only other woman on a time trial bike Lucy Mitchell (…a3crg) who posted 29-21.

The road bike section attracted the largest entry and resulted in a tight finish with less than 30 seconds separating the top three riders.

Blazing Saddles rider Michael Wykes, from Chichester, took the victory completing the lumpy course in a time of 24-01.

Just 12 seconds behind was Joshua Clark (Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA) in 24-13 while Luke Walton (North Hampshire RC) finished third (24-30).

Celebrating his 61st birthday the previous day David Shepherd (...a3crg) finished fourth in the road bike category in 25-06.

Shepherd was also the quickest veteran on standard with +1.44 and led ...a3crg to the team victory alongside Andrew Thomas and Joel Garner for a combined time of 1-16-57.  

In the women’s road bike category Virginia McGee added another victory for host club …a3crg completing the course in 31-21.

The only other competitor in the women’s road bike category was Rebecca Pearce (Ridgeway Riders) who finished second in 32-30.

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

Results

Time trial bikes                      

1          Christopher McNamara          Nuun-Sigma Sport-London RT          21:43

2          Matthew Buckley        Velo Club St Raphael 23:02

3          Chris Carroll   VC Godalming & Haslemere  23:19

4          Peter Younghusband  Petersfield Triathlon Club      23:22

5          Nigel Pratt      Velo Club St Raphael 23:55

6          James Smee     Chichester City Riders            24:01

Women

1          Kirsty McSeveney      …a3crg           28: 02
2          Lucy Mitchell              …a3crg           29.21

Vet on Standard: Christopher McNamara (Nuun-Sigma Sport-London RT) +3:45

Team: VC Godalming & Haslemere (Chris Carroll, Jon Hughes, David Walters)   1:11:45           

Road bikes

1          Michael Wykes           Blazing Saddles          24:01

2          Joshua Clark   Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA     24:13

3          Luke Walton   North Hampshire RC  24:30

4          David Shepherd          ...a3crg 25:06

5          Larry Wiltshire            Chichester City Riders            25:12

6          Paul Morris     Fareham Wheelers CC           25:28

Women

1          Virginia McGee          …a3crg           31:21
2          Rebecca Pearce           Ridgeway Riders        32:30

Vet on Standard: David Shepherd      …a3crg           +1:44  

Team …a3crg (David Shepherd, Andrew Thomas, Joel Garner) 1:16:57