Samuel Asker clinched his fourth win from five races this season with victory in the men’s event at the Ipswich Bicycle Club 10-mile time trial in Suffolk on Saturday afternoon, with Becky Ridge claiming top prize in the women’s event.

In sunny conditions with wind gusting up to 11mph, Richardson-Trek RT rider Asker clocked 21-38 on his way to victory – falling short of the existing men’s course record of 21-04, set by Ross Fawcett in June 2018.

David Halliday claimed second spot by the narrowest of margins beating Loose Cannon’s Conditioning rider Matt O’Brien by a second, with Halliday clocking 21-58 to O’Brien’s 21-59.

Ridge was fastest woman in 23-51, ahead of Cambridge CC member Ann Shuttleworth who registered 29-08.

Having opened the season with wins at the CC Breckland 10-mile time trial on March 4, the Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club 10-mile time trial on March 26 and then the Great Yarmouth CC time trial also over 10 miles, Asker was runner-up on May 1 at Velo Club Baracchi but has bounced back this weekend in fine style.

He said: “From winning pretty much every time trial I did, once I had that loss I wouldn’t say I was worried but I was confused by it so it was important to get back to winning ways.

After the last time trial I had a week off the bike, it was more of a road racers course, some tight turns and up and down course, I was putting some power down. It suited me a lot.

“I’m doing a lot of road racing still but I’m making time trials a more regular fixture and there is more added into my schedule now. It’s not been too bad this season but there is a lot of room to improve.

“I’m back road racing on Monday then I’m racing in Belgium Friday, Saturday and Sunday but after that I’m looking at the National Championships road race.”

In the veterans on standard category the fastest was Becky Ridge with +4.51, while Matt O’Brien was runner-up with +4-28 and took the prize home under the ‘one rider one prize’ rule.

O’Brien also formed part of the winning team alongside Ridge and Thomas Hudson for Loose Cannon’s Conditioning.

This 10-mile course, on course B10/32, starts at Crowfield and heads towards Hemingstone, with riders taking the second exit and going north through Gosbeck, bearing left past Framsden then left to Pettaugh with the finish on Crowfield Road past Rose pub.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. This report by James Ayles.

Results:

Men:

1. Samuel Asker (Richardson-Trek RT)  21.38

2. Trevor Roberts (Team Bottrill)           21.58

3. Matt O’Brien (Loose Cannon’s Conditioning) 21.59

4. Julian Bosley (Stowmarket & District CC)     23.19

5. Peter Hurry (Plomesgate CC) 23.34

6. Matthew Peck (Ipswich BC)  23.41

Women:

1. Becky Ridge (Loose Cannon’s Conditioning) 23.51

2. Ann Shuttleworth (Cambridge CC)    29.08