Pictured above: Men’s and women’s winners, John Archibald and Kelly Murphy (flanked by runners-up Melissa Denman & Jessica Denman, 2nd & 3rd), with prizes presented by CTT’s Sue Bowler.
Buxton CC’s Mountain Time Trial was again bathed in sunshine on Good Friday, and once more hosting Round 2 of the Merlin Cycles Classic Series, with the Start, Finish and HQ in Longnor.
A stellar field of 111 solo riders and a tandem, including national time trial champions in the UK and Ireland, and Olympic and World champion paracyclists, as well as past winners, brought yet more shine to the event.
In the men’s event, John Archibald (HUUB WattShop) broke his 2019 course record by 33 seconds, winning in an astounding time of 1-16-36 for the 3 laps each of 11 miles; an average speed of almost 26 mph! Kelly Murphy (AWOL O’Shea Worx) was well ahead of the rest of the field in the women’s event,with 1-05-39 for 2 laps. In the paracyclists, Fin Graham and Ben Watson (both Para-T) were separated by just 1 second on actual and factored time, with Fin pipping Ben, with 1-01-41 (actual) and 53-41 (factored). Richard Sharp (ADDFORM Vive le Velo) was top of the Veteran’s category, in 56-40. In the juniors/juveniles, Abbey Thompson (Stonham Barns Park SYRT) was a bit quicker with 1-22-04 than youngest finisher in the race, Joseph Throp (Matlock CC), aged just 12, who rode 1-23-01. And for what may well be the the first time, we had a tandem compete too: paracyclist world time trial champions Jenny Holl and Sophie Unwin (both Stirling Bike Club), recording 1-06-03.
Two-thirds of the field were on road bikes, showing how popular this category has become. James McKay (Team Sheffield) was fastest overall, with 54-05; quickest woman was Lucy Rogers (Congleton CC – MyWindsock) in 1-12-56; Karl Norris (360VRT) was fastest Vet, with 59-20; quickest male and female juniors were Jack Sutton (Stonham Barns Park SYRT) and Sophie Heighton (Ferryhill Whs) in 1-05-11 and 1-20-56, respectively.
Full results: CTT Classic Series Round 2 Result Sheet.
In addition to CTT’s prizes, Buxton CC provided £880 in prizes across all categories of rider, plus special on-the-day prizes provided by Sett Valley Cycles.
The event was again sponsored by Hotel Milano Helvetia, Riccione in Italy (www.hotelmilano.net), one of the area’s famous “Bike Hotels”, offering a 10% reduction on the cost of their stay (excluding extras like bike hire and bar bills, of course) to ALL ENTRANTS to the event. In addition, the hotel offered prizes of 2 five day stays at the hotel on their “Plus” package for cyclists, one for the winner of the Men’s/Espoirs’ in the 3-lap event – John Archibald – and one for the winner of the woman’s 2-lap Women and Veteran’s event – Kelly Murphy.
The event took place with the support of CTT’s Stewart Smith and Sue Bowler, with St Bartholomew’s primary school kindly allowing use of their premises as the HQ.
A big thank you to the members and friends of Buxton CC, without which the event could not take place:
Start timekeeper, pusher-off, and start steward: Judith Soden, Julian Torkington and Mat Ivings
Finish timekeeper and assistants: Tony Millington, Carl and Betty Braithwaite
Sign-in and sign-out: Anne Haslam
Refreshments and cakes: Hilary and Nick Sharpe, and Helen Marchant
First aid: Miles Haslam
Course signage: Sandy Strachan
Marshals:
Flash Bar – Michael Allcroft & Paul Birkin;
Winking Man – Andrew Smith & David Lewis;
Hardings Booth – Steve I’Anson & John Hibbs;
Longnor – Jon Batt & Miles Haslam, Louise Glysen & Nick Gregory; David Parker;
Hollinsclough junction – Pat Holborn & Cathy Murray.
Last rider marshal: Alison Lea