STUART Dangerfield, the favourite, won the National 25-Mile Time Trial Championship, which proved a triumph of planning for the organisers, Farnham Road Club, on Sunday.
The day-long event, with sections for women, juniors and men, had been 18 months in the planning and went with hardly a hitch, despite the ferocious south-westerly that battered the A31 course between Farnham and Alton.
There was only one minor alarm when the wind blew part of a tree on to the course. It was quickly removed by officials and spectators.
"It was a superb day – it couldn't have gone better," said event secretary David Wright. Deputy Jim Parker added: "Of course, a few problems came up, but we sorted them on the course without much fuss."
It was a huge compliment in the first place for Farnham RC, one of nine clubs to be invited to tender for the event by the London West region, to be awarded the National '25'. Dave Wright's team, including many volunteers from other local clubs, rose to the challenge splendidly.
The highlight of the day was the afternoon clash of the defending champion, Dangerfield, and the fastest rider on entry-time, Michael Hutchinson, with an expected challenge to both riders from Scottish visitor Mark Andersen.
The seeded riders started at the end of the field at two-minute intervals and it was obvious from early on that Dangerfield was determined to hang on to his title. By the 'Hen and Chicken' on the first leg, he was already gaining time on Hutchinson and the margin continued to grow.
Dangerfield (Camel Valley C&TC) retained his title in 50mins 50secs, an average speed of 29.5 mph. Hutchinson (Team MDT-Giant) was second in 51-44, while 15th seed Matt Bottrill (Race Scene CC) surprised many of his rivals to take third place in 51-26.
Remarkably, Dangerfield and Hutchinson finished first and second for the fourth consecutive year.
A measure of the conditions could be judged the time of Steve Walkling (VC St Raphael), who at one time held the course record in under 51 minutes, but who recorded 55-44 for 26th place on this day.
Local favourite Ray Hughes (Clarence Wheelers) finished strongly in 54-05 for 14th, while Paul Pickup (Liphook Cycles RT) recorded 57-16 for 51st.
Pete Pickers (Northover's Vets) was 62nd in 58-07 and Andrew Dilkes (Farnham Triathlon Club) came 70th in 58-43.
Andrew Weller (Farnham RC) put in a brave ride of 59-27 for 82nd.
The team award was taken by the Stourbridge CC combination of Richard Bradley, Gavin Pardoe and Barry Charley.
The women's pre-race favourite, Frances Newstead (AC Slumberland) rode with impressive smoothness to take the championship in 56mins 24secs. Runner-up Katrina Hair (Johnstone Wheelers) made her trip from north of the border well worthwhile, recording 57-09, while Angela Hunter (GS Strada) beat higher ranked riders to finish third in 57-15.
Carole Bather (Alton CC) recorded 1-10-27 for 51st, while Farnham Road Club's Joanne Fricker clocked 1-12-45 for 57th. Deana Dibnah, also of Farnham RC, rode to a personal best time of 1-15-44 (61st).
The team prize went to GS Strada, with Angela Hunter supported by Julia Shaw and Liz Milne.
The junior championship also saw some stunning rides Seventeen-year-old James Stewart (Kirby CC) beat his own qualifying time by nearly two minutes to take the championship in 54mins 36secs.
Local rider Tony Parker (North Hants RC) rode a 57-33, a pb by nearly two minutes.
Farnham Road Club had a notable success, with Chris Newman knocking more than six minutes off his pb to record 1-13-49 and take the age-related award for 13-year-olds.
The only club to be represented in all three events was Farnham Road Club.
Riders had travelled from Scotland, the Channel Islands and all corners of England to take part in the championship. Selection was based on a rider's fastest performance at the distance in this season or last. Many entries were turned away for the men's event, which was heavily over-subscribed. Entries closed with a full field of 150 men, plus 10 reserve riders, 77 women and 24 juniors.
Jim Brown, the chief timekeeper, had to co-ordinate the efforts of 12 assistants from local clubs, while Jim Parker organised marshals from Alton CC, Farnborough & Camberley CC, Reading CC and North Hants Road Club, and Ian Howard was backed by Farnham RC and Farnham Triathlon Club members in covering other essential duties on the course and at HQ.
Michael Rice was in general charge at the event HQ, while John and Rosemary Knight served refreshments, with food prepared by Stella Charman and cakes from Alton WI.
Andy Dibnah organised the prize presentations, with Robert Allen, Farnham RC's Paralympic cyclist, presenting the trophies. Hugh McKelvie (Swan Veto) was the MC.
The event was subject to doping control testing and the premises of Bicknell Sanders (Accountants) were made available for those purposes.
The production of the detailed start list was supported by Michael Wright Supplies. HQ was at the Memorial Hall, where further generous help was offered by Waverley Borough Council.