Michael O’Keeffe rode to a great victory in just his third ever open time trial at the David Gaia Memorial 50-mile time trial promoted by Reading CC on Sunday morning, with Rachel Brown winning the women’s event in Berkshire.

After finishing eighth on his time trial debut at the Farnborough & Camberley CC 10 in March then following it up with a fifth place at the National VTTA Championship 25-mile time trial and another eighth in the 25-mile Lee Valley CC time trial last weekend, O’Keeffe helped himself to a maiden win here in 1:45-55.

There was success for Fulfil the Potential Race Team with Lee Williams taking second place in 1:47-09 while team-mate Henrik Persson completed the podium in 1:47-44 to seal an encouraging day for the club.

In the women’s event Brown snuck under the two-hour mark in 1:59-53 to head the rankings, followed by another FTP rider in Nicki Carr who clocked 2:02-00 with third place going to CC London’s Rachel Dumbrell in 2:14-49.

This 50-mile event, run on the H50/1C course, starts just west of Woolhampton and heads south-west past Aldermaston Wharf on Bath Road until reaching Theale roundabout, with riders turning and retracing the route back and continuing three miles past the start line until reaching The Gables roundabout, then completing the circuit two and a half times to finish at the start.

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

Results:

Men:

1. Michael O’Keeffe (London Dynamo)        1:45.55

2. Lee Williams (FTP Fulfil the Potential Race Team)           1:47.09

3. Henrik Persson (FTP Fulfil the Potential Race Team)       1:47.44

4. Nick English (AeroCoach) 1:48.10

5. Michael Barnes (Royal Air Force Cycling Association)     1:48.35

6. Daniel Legg (North Hampshire RC)          1:51.53

Women:

1. Rachel Brown (CC London)           1:59.33

2. Nicki Carr (FTP Fulfil the Potential Race Team)   2:02.00

3. Rachel Dumbrell (CC London)      2:14.49

4. Katie Simmonds (Horsham Cycling)          2:17.31

5. Rachel Waite (North Hampshire RC)         2:22.11

6. Jill Bartlett (Hounslow & District Wheelers)         2:35.47