Crawley Wheelers’ Mark Smith powered to victory in the Southern Counties CU 10-mile time trial near Okewood Hill in Surrey on Saturday, securing the first of two weekend wins.

The 49-year-old from Lindfield in West Sussex clocked 22-36 to take victory on the G10/46 by 14 seconds from Festival Road Club rival Colin McDermott, while third was Paul Newsome of Project 51 who was 45 seconds further off the pace.

And of the women it was 30-year-old Velociposse CC rider Alice Connor who proved quickest, her time of 28-44 being 2-50 faster than Kingston Wheelers’ Teresa Goddard in second.

A non-finisher in last year’s event, Smith’s victory this time is his first open victory of 2023. Last season he secured two wins, and he’s half way there already with many months of the season still to come.

The road bikes category was also well contested, and victory eventually went to Bec CC rider Shaun Marlor with 27-25, exactly a minute quicker than runners-up Toby Clark (Kingston Wheelers) and Robert Gilmour (Hounslow and Dist Wh) who tied with 28-25.

The popular course starts at Okewood Hill and heads across to Walliswood before looping southwards towards the Sussex border but cutting back up north past Okewood Hill and over to Ockley, through Forest Green and back to Walliswood before finishing halfway along the road to Okewood Hill.

This was only Connor’s third open time trial on her CTT record, but comes after she was fastest female in last season’s API Metrow 10 in Essex. She was also second at the East Sussex CA 10 last September.

She next plans to go for another win at next Saturday’s VC Sevale Malvern 10-mile event in Worcestershire.

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

Results:

Men:

1. Mark Smith (Crawley Wheelers)    22.36

2. Colin McDermott (Festival RC)     22.50

3. Paul Newsome (Project 51)            23.35

4. Lewis Reeves (Horsham Cycling)  23.41

5. Paul Thatcher (Brighton Mitre CC)            25.14

6. Jack Smith (Brighton Mitre CC)    25.16

Women:

1. Alice Connor (Velociposse CC)     28.44

2. Teresa Goddard (Kingston Wheelers)         31.34