The Border CA '2-up' 20-mile time trial is usually a 'toe in the water' event for most riders.

But Sunday's warm-up time trial for the season ahead turned into an endurance test on the A31 course, with a ferocious wind affecting the section from Farnham to Chawton.

Timekeeper Mike Knowles sent riders away at Upper Froyle with the wind at their backs. Some were travelling at 35mph plus going into the turn at Wrecclesham roundabout, but the March winds then turned the leg to Chawton into a sort of purgatory.

The passage up to and beyond the Holybourne roundabout was tough enough, but the stretch to and from the Chawton turn was positively dangerous, with the wind gusting across the course and making bike control very difficult indeed.

The last edition of the Border '2-up' in September had been won by the VC St Raphael pairing of Simon Berogna and and Steve Walkling and so they had the privilege of starting last as the scratch team.

However, Jon Mahoney and Leon Wright, racing for Team Clean, recorded 44mins 39secs, a time that simply defied the conditions. They then had to wait for the event to finish before learning that they had beaten the St Raphael pair by 10 seconds.

Tom Cox partnered Northover Vet's Jack Brown to win the composite team award with 49-26. The 67-year-old Brown was feeling confident before the event, having won the vet's award the previous day at the Antelope '10' at Swallowfield. However, he did admit that for most of the event he hid behind Cox.

The event was organised and marshalled by Alton Cycling Club. The only Alton member racing was Carole Bather and she and A3crg rider Paul Rowden won the mixed pairs with 55-31.

Farnham Road Club were represented by three 2-up teams and one tandem.

The tandem of Paul Charman and Robert Allen recorded 51mins 56, against a winning time of 47-56 by Foster and Gardner (Andover Wheelers).

Farnham's fastest pair were the new team of Rob Pennell and Andy Weller, finishing in 51-56, exactly the same time as Farnham's tandem.

Jim Parker and John Essex recorded 54-24 and Deana and Andy Dibnah 1-08-14.

The latest round of the National Time Trial Series also took place on Sunday and was promoted by the Hampshire Road Club at Hambledon. The distance had been reduced by 10 kilometres because of road works, but all the hills had been left in.

Malcolm Cox of VC St Raphael won the hilly time trial in 43-42. In third place, just one minute behind, was Rother Valley's David Shepherd who was also the fastest veteran. Just behind Shepherd in fourth place was Petersfield's international triathlete, Pete Younghusband, in 45-03.

In the women's section, Liphook's Sue Dawson recorded 1-07-11, good enough for second place and moving her one place higher than husband Alan.

Northover's Alan Dawson, three minutes down on Cox, was third fastest veteran, but had the consolation of winning his age category.

This weekend, the cycling action takes place in the Cranleigh area with the Southern Counties Cycling Union putting on time trials on Saturday and Sunday and the Surrey League staging its first road race of the year at Dunsfold.

Fourteen solo riders and one tandem pairing took part in Farnham Road Club's 10-mile time trial on Saturday. Some riders were using the event as a practice for the 2-up '20' the following day.

Riders faced a stiff headwind out to the turn. The return leg was generally easier, but with sections where the wind cut across the course.

Most riders improved from the previous week and the winner was Farnham's Rob Pennell in 25-09, followed by Rob Clark (25-55), Ian Howard (26-10) and Charlotteville CC junior Mike Wakeford (26-24).

Other solo times for Farnham riders:Michael Rice 26-35, Jim Parker 26-39, Dave Campbell 26-47, John Essex 26-57, Roy Newman 29-46, Dave Pennell 29-47, Greg Harding 30-25, Nigel Bicknell (on a fixed gear) 30-42, Heather Dibnah 31-26.

The tandem of Paul Charman and Robert Allen covered the course in 23mins 52secs.