RTTC National 12 Hour Championship

Jake Sargent and Naomi De Pennington took the honours at the National 12-Hour Championship staged in Norfolk by CC Breckland on Sunday.

Last year’s women’s winner, Kim Barfoot-Brace, returned to defend her title while the 2023 victor in the open category, Richard Sharp, was not on the start sheet this year.

However, it was DRAG2ZERO rider De Pennington who took the honours in the female category by covering a provisional 285.00 miles, ahead of Army Cycling’s Chris Murray who clocked a provisional 274.00, while reigning champion Barfoot-Brace had to settle for third in a provisoonal 264.00 for Team Bottrill.

“I’m so proud to win a national champions jersey at the age of 47,” said De Pennington after the event.

“I figured the 12-hour event would be my best opportunity and have trained really consistently all year to give myself the best chance so I’m incredibly happy to have pulled it off.

“Although I’ve done some fairly long rides on the TT bike, 12 hours was still venturing into the unknown.

“My strategy was just to go out hard and then try to manage the fade as well as possible and this seemed to work out okay although those last two hours on the finishing circuit were a real slog.

“The event was well organised and marshalled and I rode it unsupported but there was lots of help and encouragement at the roadside.

“I want to add a big thanks to CC Breckland for a great event.”

In the open event Team Bottrill’s Sargent posted a provisional total of 316.00 miles, edging out Alexander Royle of Manchester Bicycle Club, who managed a provisional 300.02, with Joe Adlam-Cook (Cambridge University Cycling Club) taking third place after a provisional 297.00.

On his win, Sargent said: “I'd like to start off with thanking my support crew from yesterday, Ellen, Sammy and Josh. Without them I doubt I'd have made circuit 2! They kept me hydrated, fuelled and motivated throughout!

“The race couldn't have gone much better for me, especially for my first attempt at the distance.

“Fortunately, many of my friends and team-mates are well experienced over the distance and I was able to draw on their knowledge and execute a ride I can really be proud of!

“I'd done some six-hour training rides this year practising pacing and fuelling and with my coach Matt Bottrill we knew that providing I could keep eating and drink I'd go well.

“It wasn't until about eight hours in when my speed was still 26.5mph that I believed I could be on for a really big ride and getting to 300 miles with 40 minutes to spare just added fuel to the fire.

“This adds to what has been a great season for me, my second individual national title and hopefully securing me the overall in the long distance BBAR! Next up for me is the National 10, if riding the TT bike isn't too painful!

“Once again a massive thanks to all the marshals and volunteers yesterday who made the event happen so smoothly, and a special mention to the ladies in inflatable dinosaur costumes on the finishing circuit which really made me smile!”

This continues Sargent’s fine form with 13 wins from 18 completed events so far this campaign since his opening-weekend win at the Severn Road Club 12.5-mile time trial on February 18.

The performance delivered by Sargent also helped Team Bottrill to the team prize alongside David Halliday and Peter Horton.

The top performing road bike went to Samuel McClean (Orwell Velo) in 256-90 in the open category, and Sien Van Der Plank in the female category after the New Forest CC rider completed 230-00.

Riders enjoyed generally warm and dry conditions on a rolling course with a growing breeze through the day.

This event, held on course B12/8 in Mundford, Norfolk, features three separate circuits and a finishing circuit, with riders starting north of Mundford on the A134 and heading to Whittington roundabout then Wereham roundabout to begin Circuit 1.

Circuit 1 covers 20.20 miles from Wereham roundabout on the A134 to Whittington roundabout, then on to Mundford roundabout, following back via Whittington to Wereham, repeating the circuit six times to reach a total distance of 131.02 miles.

The second circuit sees riders turn left on to the A134 and onto Tottenhill roundabout, taking the first exit onto the A10 and onto Bexwell roundabout before reaching Stradsett Crossroads and from there completing five circuits for a total of 203.8 miles.

The third circuit continues onto Whittington roundabout, following back onto the A134 to Mundford roundabout, take the fourth exit and proceed on A134 to complete circuit at junction with road to Cranwich Heath, completing the circuit four times to reach 272.02 miles.

The finishing circuit starts at junction of A134 to Cranwich Heath, turns left off the A134 and proceed to turn left onto Cranwich Heath road, left again through Weeting to turn left and then left again onto A1065 and complete the circuit at junction of A134 and road to Cranwich Heath, completing five circuits to reach 322.57 miles.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. This report by James Ayles.