Jamie Whitcher reclaimed his crown at the Craig Weston Memorial 10-mile time trial and broke the course record for a second consecutive year, with Michelle Lindley finishing as fastest female in Sunday morning’s Poole Wheelers event.

Riding for Bournemouth Cycleworks, Whitcher lowered the record from 19-06 to 18-22 on his way to victory, ahead of Team Bottrill’s Rob Francis who managed 18-57 for the runners-up spot with Poole Wheelers’ Sam Wadsley taking third place in 20-05.

On his win, Whitcher said: “It's a memorial time trial that's close to my heart.

“I came with the intention of just having a really good time with the amazing people at Poole Wheelers and it was exactly that and more.

“To take the win and course record makes it that bit better but honestly it was just a great morning to remember an amazing person and I look forward to next year.”

Lindley sealed the women’s title with a time of 23-52 for the host club, seeing off the challenge of Sien Van Der Plank (New Forest Cycling Club) in 24-33, while the final spot on the podium went to Army Cycling’s Gemma Simister in 24-46.

Van Der Plank was fastest female road bike, while Brett Wheeler topped the open road bike category in 20-35, enough for the Poole Wheelers member to finish fifth overall.

The trio of Wadsley, Tom Clements and Wheeler ended up the fastest team for the promoting club.

This event was held in memory of club member Craig Weston, who was a huge driving force on the local cycling scene and in the last decade played a key part in driving Poole Wheelers’ membership to more than 200 members and passed away in 2023, with many riders adorning their bikes in pink in his honour.

It was a fitting tribute that so many club riders turned out in force, with six of the top ten finishers all representing the promoting club.

On the event, Steven Pink said: “Ultimately the real winner on the day was time trialling itself, with the community culture instilled by the late Craig Weston shining through from both the helpers and the riders alike.”

It was a very cold and misty start to the morning but as the condition warmed up, so did the times.

This event, held on course P412, is a draggy route with a few rises on the way out and on the way back there are some faster section with a few drags to the line.

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

* Photos by John Pick.

 

Results:

Open:

1. Jamie Whitcher (Bournemouth Cycleworks) 18.22

2. Rob Francis (Team Bottrill)   18.57

3. Samuel Wadsley (Poole Wheelers Cycling Club)        20.05

4. Tom Clements (Poole Wheelers Cycling Club)            20.27

5. Brett Wheeler (Poole Wheelers Cycling Club)              20.35

6. Henry Austin (Poole Wheelers Cycling Club)                20.42

Women:

1. Michelle Lindley (Poole Wheelers Cycling Club)         23.52

2. Sien Van Der Plank (New Forest Cycling Club)            24.33

3. Gemma Simister (Army Cycling)       24.46

4. Janine Pattison (Zoom Triathlon Club)             27.38

5. Liz Cook (Poole Wheelers Cycling Club)         28.25