Rob Young and Julia Freeman were victorious at the Eastern Counties CA 25-mile time trial in Essex, which had to be moved to a different course due to emergency roadworks just before the event.

Event organisers had planned to use the E9/25 course to the north of Writtle, but a burst water pipe and the subsequent temporary traffic lights meant a change of course and headquarters.

Mountnessing Village Hall was used for the headquarters, while the course tackled was two laps of the E83/25 course near Ingatestone, using minor roads and a circuit from Fryerning, up to Mill Green, on to Highwood and back round through Blackmore.

Young (Shaftesbury CC) clocked 58-01 for the new course to take the win by 1-22, while quickest female was Julia Freeman (Easterley RC) with 1-11-16.

“It has been a long time since my last top step,” said Young. “I was quite pleased about the course change as it’s our club 10 course and pacing is crucial. Thankfully it came together this morning.”

Second behind Young was Nicholas Knight (Hart Performance Coaching) with 59-23, while third was David Glossy (Elysium Kalas RT) with 1-00-27.

Freeman’s time of 1-11-16 gave her the women’s prize by a healthy margin of 12-36 from Sarah Wenham (Shaftesbury CC), who was the only other female in the field and on a road bike.

Pre-race favourite Nic Pillinger was left frustrated when a rear wheel puncture on the second lap ended his hopes of victory.

As well as Rob Young taking the win for Shaftesbury CC, they were also celebrating a win in the road bikes category with Ramsey Kechacha being fastest on a non-aero machine.

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

Results:

Men:

1. Rob Young (Shaftesbury CC)         58.01

2. Nicholas Knight (Hart Performance Coaching)     59.23

3. David Glossy (Elysium Kalas RT) 1:00.27

4. T. Garlinge (Easterley Road Club) 1:00.28

5. Matthew Saunders (Team Vision Racing)  1:00.53

6. Andrew Whelan (Velo Schils Interbike)     1:00.39

Women:

1. Julia Freeman (Easterley RC)         1:11.16

2. Sarah Wenham (Shaftesbury CC)   1:23.52

Road Bikes Men: Ramsey Kechacha (Shaftesbury CC) 1:01.13

Road Bikes Women: Sarah Wenham (Shaftesbury CC)         1:23.52