Torrential rain affects North Norfolk Wheelers 100-mile time trial

North Norfolk Wheelers staged the first 100-mile time trial of the season on Sunday, and riders were greeted with challenging conditions which caused many to climb off mid-race.

Torrential rain towards the end of the event on the B100/9 course near Hempton left most riders suffering, not least because some good times looked likely until that point.

The promoting club's Charlie Nurse took the win despite the numbing conditions, clocking 4-14-48 to win by just over four minutes from his nearest rival, Andrew Halliday of Westerley CC, while Stuart Birnie (Willesden CC) was unlucky to place third, just one second further adrift.

Team Swift's Steve Berry took victory in the Norlond TT Combine 50-mile time trial in Bedfordshire, clocking 1-44-58 to win by two and a half minutes on the F1 course at Tempsford.

The 43-year-old pushed Avonlea/Treasure Racing Team rival Paul Gamlin into second spot by 2-22, while Finchley RT 50-year-old Trevor Burke completed the podium in third with 1-47-51.

There was a closer finish to the Charlotteville CC 50 at Bentley in Hampshire, where Nick Dwyer (Lewes Wanderers CC) took the win by just 11 seconds.

He clocked 1-50-29 to take the victory, while Seb Ader (a3crg) was second and Tejvan Pettinger (Sri Chinmoy CT) third, another 1-46 off the pace.

There was a strong ride by the evergreen Lynne Taylor (Born 2 Bike) who was more than three minutes ahead of her nearest female rival, clocking 2-09-58.

The winner of the first two rounds of the RTTC National Time Trial Series, Matt Bottrill (Drag2zero.com) notched up his 11th win of the season in the South Pennine CC 25 on the Etwall to Uttoxeter course on Saturday.

Just like the North Norfolk 100, torrential rain and hail storms battered the riders and meant the course record went unchallenged, but nevertheless Bottrill clocked a strong time of 48-09 to take the win by more than three minutes from Team Pedal Power rider Adam Gascoigne.

There was also a convincing victory for Keith Murray in the Drighlington BC 25 on the new Ripon to Bedale course in North Yorkshire. The Strategic Lions rider clocked 51-57 to win by more than two and a half minutes from Jason Bateman (Pendle Forest CC), while Andy Fuller (GS Metro) took third.

Over shorter distances, Rob Pears (Bath CC) continued his good recent form ahead of the National 10-Mile Championships in two weeks' time when he clocked 19-44 in the Chippenham and District Wheelers 10 on the Ashton Keynes bypass in Wiltshire.

Jon Wynn (Northovers VT) also posted a sub 20-minute time with a 19-59, while third spot went to Ben Anstie (Team Cycology) with 20-06.

And in the Bossard Wheelers 10 at Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire, Twenty 3C placed two riders on the podium with Simon Cannings taking the win with 21-34. While Simon Norman (Bedfordshire Roads CC) was second by just five seconds, Steve Torley took third for Twenty 3C with 22-07.