Kate Allan (Team Bottrill) showed her form ahead of the national championships campaign to win the Hemel Hempstead CC 10, while Leon Atkins (258 Protege) broke his own national youth competition record to win the open event.

Allan, aged 39 and from Maidenhead, won four national crowns last season and looks the rider to beat again ahead of the National Team Time Trial Championship and National 50-Mile Championships in the forthcoming weeks.

Despite blustery conditions Allan took her second open victory from as many outings this term stopping the clock in 20-03.

Meanwhile, 15-year-old Atkins lowered his own youth competition record to win the open event in 17-56.

The fast F11/10 attracted a strong field of riders who competed out and back along the A41 between Tring and Aylesbury.

The early rain cleared away in time for the event, but it was still very windy. Riders were grateful that the S-shaped course is well sheltered and the headwind sections were only for short periods.

Allan won the National 10-mile Championship last season in 19-51 and she was only just outside that time on this occasion.

Despite the windy conditions Laura Davies (Jaden Vive le Velo) set a personal best time of 20-26 to finish second.

Lauren Creamer (Velo Fixers) has been on fine form this season with four open wins to her name but had to settle for third this time out in 21-07.

Quickest junior rider Lucy Benezet Minns (Tofauti Everyone Active) was just eight seconds off the overall podium positions in 21-15, while fastest youth was Iris Gray (Welwyn Wheelers) in 22-17.

“It was really good to get the win,” said Allan. “Laura finished second with a personal best which was unreal on a day like that, it shows she has got some really good form.

“I was 40 seconds off my usual pace, but I expected that with the absolutely horrible gusts of wind.”

In the open event 15-year-old Atkins broke his own youth competition record, taking five seconds off his old benchmark and bringing it down to 17-56.

The oversubscribed event closed on personal bests of 20-50, so fast times were expected lower down the order despite the windy conditions.

Sure enough nine of the last ten riders all occupied the top ten finishing places, and eight of those were quicker than 19 mins.

Atkins led the way recording an average speed of 33.457 miles per hour on his way to victory.

Will Lowden (Cambridge University CC) won the National Circuit Championship last weekend but saw his unbeaten run ended with a second placed finish in 18-01.

Meanwhile, fastest entrant on paper James Jenkins (Hart Performance Coaching) was just two seconds further behind in 18:03.

Lowden led the Cambridge University CC team home with backup from Matt Rizzo-Naudi (19-12) and Joe Adlam-Cook (20-02) for a total time of 57-15.

“I’m 100 per cent happy with my ride, you can’t turn down an open win,” said Atkins.

“My power was okay but I didn’t feel great. It was very windy, but the wind was in the right direction for that course.”

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