Chris Mcnamara claimed an eighth win of an impressive 2024 season with victory at the VTTA Surrey/Sussex 25-mile time trial on Sunday morning, with Jacqui Lane taking the honours in the women’s event.

A time of 50-24 helped Sigma Sports Race Team rider Mcnamara to victory ahead of Paceline Race Team’s Paul Burton in 50-37 and the 53-25 from Cris Coxon (Brighton Mitre Cycling Club) which saw him seal the third and final spot on the podium.

So far this campaign Mcnamara has been in impressive form, starting with his opening day win at Velo Club St Raphael 18.5 in March, before three consecutive wins at …a3crg 50, Horsham Cycling 10 and East Sussex CA 50. He also went on to secure further success at Team TMC 10, Bec CC 25 and Southdown Velo 10.

“It was a really nice morning for it, very little wind and a bit chilly,” said Mcnamara.

“It’s a nice course with a bit of everything from fast, well-surfaced roads to some quite rough sections.

“I paced it well with a pretty even split and tried to hit the ramps hard - it was close with Paul Burton and we are usually pretty evenly matched but I just edged him for the win.”

Lane, riding for Eastbourne Rovers Cycling Club, set an unbeaten 1:07-06 in the women’s category, beating runner-up Francine Davis (East Grinstead Cycling Club) in 1:08-21, with a time of 1:11-38 seeing Gemma Shadbolt of Brighton Mitre Cycling Club into third place.

Tony Truepenny-Phillipson clocked the quickest road bike time in the open category, posting 58-20 ahead of Bec Cycling Club rider Dominic Hill in 1:00-01 and Neil Edwards (Lewes Wanderers Cycling Club) in 1:03-11.

Mcnamara also claimed victory on Age Adjusted Time in 48-59, with Burton on 50-16 and Paul Younghusband posting 52-17 for third.

Davis recorded 59-55 to take first place on Age Adjusted Time in the women’s category, ahead of Lane who was just one second behind in 59-56, and Shadbolt on 1:05-13.

Eastbourne Rovers took the team prize on Age Adjusted Time.

This event, on course G25/89, starts just north of Maresfield and heads southbound on the A22 before bearing right through Thirty Acre Wood then through Uckfield and Ringwood until bearing southeast at Golden Cross, before reaching Horsebridge where riders turn at the roundabout and follow the route back towards the finish line just south of Maresfield.

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

Results:

Open:

1. Christopher Mcnamara (Sigma Sports Race Team)           50.24

2. Paul Burton (Paceline Race Team) 50.37

3. Cris Coxon (Brighton Mitre Cycling Club)            53.25

4. David Clark (Eastbourne Rovers Cycling Club)    55.19

5. Adam Rogers (Eastbourne Rovers Cycling Club)  56.20

6. Paul Tippett (Destination Bike Road Team)           56.21

7. Peter Younghusband (Petersfield Triathlon Club)  56.33

8. Adrian Blacker (VTTA Surrey/Sussex)       57.33

9. Richard Burchett (Crawley Wheelers)        58.10

10. Peter Madarasz (Team TMC)       58.20

Women:

1. Jacqui Lane (Eastbourne Rovers Cycling Club)     1:07.06

2. Francine Davis (East Grinstead Cycling Club)      1:08.21

3. Gemma Shadbolt (Brighton Mitre Cycling Club)  1:11.38