Pictured above: Winners of a 5 day holiday at Hotel Milano Helvetia, Riccione, – Mark Lovatt (bottom left) and Sarah Harrison (top right – flanked by runner-up Alice Larkin)

Buxton CC’s Mountain Time Trial ‘enjoyed’ Peak District Spring weather on Good Friday, with a tough headwind on the most exposed upper section of the course. The race again hosted Round 2 of CTT’s Classic Series, with the Start, Finish and HQ in Longnor.

A superb field of 94 solo riders and a tandem, including reigning and former national time trial champions in Ireland and the UK – Kelly Murphy and Hayley Simmonds, of Doltcini O’Shea Womens UCI Continental Team, and Tokyo Paralympics double gold medallist Ben Watson, as well as past winners and national champions, brought shine to overcast and showery skies.

Ride of the day was done by junior Patrick Casey (Team Grenke Auto Eder) who broke his own course record of two years ago, to record a blazing 55-59 for 2 laps; the fastest two lap time on the day by any rider.

In categories for time trial bikes: Hayley Simmonds was fastest female but was pushed hard by Kelly Murphy, recording 1-02-04 and 1-03-19, respectively. In the event for under 40s, open category, Alex Hodgkinson (Ilkeston Cycle Club) rode the three laps in 1-43-19 (noting that all other riders did two laps). In the paracyclists, Ben Watson (ADDForm Vive Le Velo) won with 1-03-09 (actual) and 46-51 (factored). Dominic Righini-Brand (Spalding CC) was top of the open veteran’s category, in 1-04-18.

As in recent years, the vast majority of the field were on road bikes: Sophie Heighton (Ferryhill Whs) won the junior female category, in 1-28-23, whilst Fraser Cummings (Matlock CC) was quickest open junior, in 1-08-00. In the under 40s, open category, former national hill climb champion Adam Kenway (Team HUUB) came out on top, in 58-40. Bethany Brooksbank (Trek Sheffield) won the female under 40 category, with 1-10-05. In the veterans categories, female and open, Sarah Harrison (Trek Sheffield) and Mark Lovatt (Congleton MyWindSock) triumphed in 1-18-19 and 1-00-54, respectively, each winning a five day stay at Hotel Milano Helvetia, Riccione.

Braving the conditions, and the course, local riders Jon & Liz Batt (Buxton CC) powered their tandem up and down dale, in 1-18-50.

Full results: CTT Classic Series Round 2 RESULT SheetV1-final

In addition to CTT’s prizes, Buxton CC provided £750 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 fastest open veteran on a road bike and one for the fastest female veteran on a road bike: Mark Lovatt and Sarah Harrison.

The event took place with the huge support of CTT’s Stewart Smith (National Secretary) and Sue Bowler (Director), with St Bartholomew’s primary school very 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, Steve Morris and Mat Ivings

Finish timekeeper and assistants: Tony Millington, Carl and Betty Braithwaite

Sign-in and sign-out: Anne Haslam & Alison Lea

Refreshments and cakes: Hilary and Nick Sharpe, and Helen Marchant

First aid: Miles Haslam

Course signage: Rob Cummings

Marshals:
Flash Bar – David Lewis & Paul Birkin;
Winking Man – Andrew Smith & John Hibbs;
Hardings Booth – Kevin Clark, Julian Torkington & Ashley Stillburn;
Longnor – Isla Johnson-Wells & Miles Haslam, Sue Todd & Nick Gregory; David Parker & Steve I’Anson;
Hollinsclough junction – Tom Thornely & Steve Ingram.

Rider checkers and last rider sweepers: Neil Pearsons & Gill Kent

Rider mechanicals collection: Alison Lea

Buxton CC prizes compilation:  Nick Sharpe

Brian Jones (Kimroy Photography) for rider and presentation photographs, and Andy Jones (Cycling Weekly).