Shaftesbury Vipers 25 - The Essex TT Championships

James Jenkins earned a fifth win of the season in the open category at the Shaftesbury Cycling Club Essex Time Trial Championship 25-mile time trial on Sunday morning, with Louise Robinson finishing as fastest female to defend her title for a third successive year.

Riding for Hart Performance Coaching, Jenkins set an unmatched time of 51-34 to live up to his billing as pre-race Spindata favourite, with Timothy Torrie (trainSharp) second in 53-04 while a time of 55-50 helped Mike Debney (Verulam Really Moving) to third place and also claim the prize for quickest road bike.

So far this season, Jenkins has won at Hainault RC 50km time trial on March 17, then on March 24 he was quickest road bike at Maldon & District CC 22-mile time trial, then first at the 25-mile ECCA and again quickest road bike at Shaftesbury CC 25-mile time trial on April 21.

On his win, Jenkins said: “The Essex time trial championships was an event I'd earmarked from the start of the season having won in 2022 and missing last year's event so it was great to be able to turn up and deliver a ride I'm very happy with.

“Shaftesbury CC always put on great events and this was no different - superb organisation from start to finish. A real pleasure to participate in the club's event.”

In the women’s event, Robinson, riding for the promoted club, managed 1:02-35 for the top prize, ahead of Lauren Harding (Chelmer CC) in 1:03-51 while the final spot on the podium went to Deborah Coyle (Shaftesbury CC) in 1:09.10.

On her win, Robinson said: “I’m delighted to have been able to defend my title for the third year in a row.

“The course is very challenging and has a bit of everything thrown in to test riders so I was pleased to have won. It was a great, well organised event run by Shaftesbury CC.”

The team prize went to Shaftesbury CC, with best handicap rider won by Lauren Harding in -4-36, and Charles Langford (Southend Wheelers) the fastest juvenile in 59-03.

The VTTA prize went to Robinson in 54-55.

This 25-mile event, run on the E83/25 course, is a three-lap looped circuit that starts on Beggar Hill in Fryerning and heads northbound onto Mill Green Road, past High Woods and lackmore Pond to bear left upon reaching Park Farm onto Ingatestone Road, then left at Wood Barns Farm.

Riders complete this circuit three times, then on the third continue to Mill Green for the finish line.

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

Open:

1. James Jenkins (Hart Performance Coaching)              51.34

2. Timothy Torrie (trainSharp)   53.04

3. Mike Debney (Verulam Really Moving) Road Bike      55.50

4. Colin Ward (Primo RT) Road Bike       56.11

5. David Halliday (Team Bottrill)              56.47

6. Alfie Salmon (Hart Performance Coaching)  57.27

7. Samuel Thienel (Elysium Kalas Race Team) 57.52

8. Peter Harding (Chelmer CC) 57.56

9. Ramsey Kechacha (Shaftesbury CC)               58.28

10. Paul Turton (Team Vision Racing)    58.40

Female:

1. Louise Robinson (Shaftesbury CC)   1:02.35

2. Lauren Harding (Chelmer CC)             1:03.51

3. Deborah Coyle (Shaftesbury CC) Road Bike 1:09.10

4. Karen Aylen (Maldon & District CC)  1:09.12

5. Paulina Mozal (Chelmer CC)                1:09.51

6. Julia Freeman (Easterley Road Club)                1:11.50

7. Jan Harvey (Southend Wheelers)       1:12.01

8. Ruth Stapleton (Newhall CC)               1:15.49