A frenetic day of time trialling saw both the open category and female category course records broken at the Sotonia CC 10-mile time trial in Hampshire on Sunday morning, with Jamie Whitcher and Sarah Matthews taking the honours respectively.

Riding for ..a3crg, Matthews posted 21-25 to lower the existing mark of 22-26 set by clubmate Kirsty Mcseveney, who had to settle for second place here with a time of 22-50, while Army Cycling’s Caroline Nottage took third place in 23-23.

On her win, Matthews said: “I won the women’s race but more importantly I did an all-time 10-mile personal best. My previous PB was 21-33 in July 2018 so I am pretty chuffed.

“I needed a fast 10 for the CTT South District league and with last Sunday’s 10 cancelled I entered the Sotonia 10.

“The P612 is an undulating dual carriageway course and having switched to 1x a few months I knew I could get up a good speed and hold it up the rises.

“It was one of those rare days when brain, legs, course and weather all work for a great result.

“The weather was just right and mentally I was up for beating my three-year PB of 22-19, then the course record of 22-06, then I just kept watching average speed and going as hard as I could.

“There was a problem with the computer at the start so I didn’t start recording until 0.5 mile in so didn’t actually know my time until I got back to HQ.

“I had a feeling I’d gone sub 22, but not an all-time PB. That is not bad for a 64-year-old who only started time trials 10 years ago.”

In the open category, Bournemouth Cycleworks rider Whitcher also pulled off an impressive ride, taking the previous course best of 18-06 set by Tim Cartwright and recording a 17-47.

This helped him see off the challenge of Matthew Buckley (Velo Club St Raphael) who registered 18-56 for the runners-up spot, with Howard Bayley (…a3crg) setting 19-05 for third.

“It felt like a pretty quick day, I really enjoyed the event, and it was my first time on a faster course so I wasn't sure what to expect,” said Whitcher after the event.

“I am definitely happy with my time considering I dropped my chain in the first mile, but it was sorted pretty quick anyway so wasn't much bother.

“It was a well-run, smooth event, and I would do it again.”

Tom Nancarrow (Poole Wheelers Cycling Club) was fastest road bike in 19-14, enough for seventh overall in what was a crowded top 10, with just 34 seconds separating third and ninth placings.

This event, run on the P612/10 course, is an out-and-back circuit that starts in Picket Twenty and heads southeast on the A303 past Harewood Forest and Bransbury until reaching the Bullington Cross junction where riders turn and follow the route back westbound to finish on the A303 at Harewood Forest.

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

Results:

Open:

1. Jamie Whitcher (Bournemouth Cycleworks)         17.47

2. Matthew Buckley (Velo Club St Raphael) 18.56

3. Howard Bayley (…a3crg)   19.05

4. Larry Wiltshire (Racing Club Ravenna)     19.08

5. Colin McDermott (Festival Road Club)     19.09

6. Max Webber (Andover Wheelers)  19.10

7. Tom Nancarrow (Poole Wheelers)  19.14

8. Peter Main (34 Nomads Cycling Club)      19.27

9. Lee Williams (FTP Fulfil the Potential RT)           19.39

10. Stuart Hourigan (VeloRefined Rule5)      20.07

Female:

1. Sarah Matthews (..a3crg)    21.25

2. Kirsty Mcseveney (…a3crg)           22.50

3. Caroline Nottage (Army Cycling)  23.23

4. Rebecca Hughes (Poole Wheelers) 23.41