Simon McNamara and Cris Coxon set provisional course records in the time trial and road bike events respectively in the Sussex Cycling Association 10-mile time trial in Loxwood on Saturday morning.

Riding for Sigma Sports, McNamara laid down an impressive 21-09 to live up to his re-race Spindata status as favourite to win his 10th open time trial of the season.

Stuart Bettis (Precise Performance RT) was forced into second place with 22-21, while a time of 23-14 helped Team TMC’s Nik Allen to the final spot on the podium.

Another rider enjoying a strong season is Brighton Mitre CC’s Coxon, clocking 21-35 over the course to win the road bike category.

He finished comfortable ahead of Matt Phipps-Taylor of Paceline RT who managed 23-11, while Sussex Revolution VC’s Olly Thomas was third in 23-26.

An impressive season has seen McNamara achieve 10 wins from 21 entered open events, with success in West Sussex making it three straight overall wins and five including road bike victories.

Despite suffering a time penalty for arriving to the start late, Nik Allen still formed part of the top-placed team for Team TMC alongside Steven Kane and Simon McLeod in 25-15.

In the medium gear category, Nicolas Stagg of Hounslow and District Wheelers took first place in 26-31 while GS Stella rider Tony Reeves was runner-up in 27-02.

A new, smaller circuit was used as the usual course was suffering a road closure with a sewer problem, with riders enjoying a sunny morning and temperatures at about 16 degrees but with a light southwest wind.

The event, held on course G10/45, consisted of a loop circuit that started just south of Ifold and saw riders head immediately southbound, bearing southeast through Kirdford then turning north east on Village Road.

Riders then headed left on Skiff Lane just before Sparr Farm Airstrip to continue northbound until Fitchfold Farm then left to trace along past Ifold and out to Plaistow, where riders headed on southbound to finish just south of the start line.

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

Results

Men:

1. Simon McNamara (Sigma Sports)          21.09

2. Stuart Bettis (Precise Performance RT)               22.21

3. Nik Allen (Team TMC) 23.14

4. Karl Robertson (Worthing Excelsior CC)              23.16

5. Brian Molloy (Brighton Mitre CC)          24.41

6. Demetrius Onoufriou (Farnham RC)     24.42

Road Bike:

1. Cris Coxon (Brighton Mitre CC)              21.35

2. Matt Phipps-Taylor (Paceline RT)           23.11

3. Olly Thomas (Sussex Revolution VC)     23.26

4. Steve Kane (Team TMC)       23.46

5. Graham Winstanley (Sussex Revolution VC)      25.05

Team: Team TMC (Nik Allen, Steven Kane, Simon McLeod)

Medium Gear Bikes:
1 Nicolas Stagg (Hounslow & Dist Whls)    26.31

2 Tony Reeves (GS Stella)     27.01