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The 2017 national Closed Circuit Championship titles were handed out on Sunday, after a day of close racing at Thruxton Motor Circuit in Hampshire.

Paul Elcock (AS Test Team) was crowned the men’s winner after covering the five laps and 11.8 miles in 22.50, giving him the victory by 14 seconds.

And defending women’s champion Emma Lewis (BowlPhish Racing) had to share the jersey this time, after both she and Rachael Elliott (Drag2Zero) clocked 25.18.

The junior races saw some great performances, with Cavan Walker (Prologue RT) and Caitlin Peters (i-Team CC) being crowned top boy and girl respectively.

“I’m really pleased to have taken the win today,” said Elcock. “It started off windy and it got even windier so it wasn’t easy. It’s not such a technical course but you need to carry your speed through the corners.

“It’s great be on a course without traffic, you can take the line that you want to. Then it’s just about carrying the speed the best you can, really using the track as much as possible for an advantage.”

For Emma Lewis, her joint win comes after a season focused on the road, having ridden the Women’s Road Series and recently won the Tour of Sussex.

“Obviously I wanted to win, but I was focused on a particular power output and speed,” explained the 26-year-old from near Canterbury. “I did the last lap in under five minutes, and afterwards I wondered if I could’ve done the other laps in under five minutes too - but I was still pleased with my time.”

And fellow winner Rachael Elliott said: “Elliott said: “I really just wanted to enjoy today, this is not my forte – I’m better suited to riding in straight lines and going round roundabouts!

“I’ve only ridden one other time trial on a closed circuit, at Castle Coombe this year. I did well in that and enjoyed it so thought I’d give this a go.”

Cavan Walker’s win in the junior championship comes after a recent bout of illness, as well as four months off the bike with injury earlier in the season.

The Prologue RT rider won the Junior National 25 Championships earlier in the season, and said: “I didn’t think I’d win but I certainly wanted to be competitive. I’ve had a tough three weeks in the build-up because I’d been under the weather and obviously had my injury earlier in the season.”

And Caitlin Peters (i-Team CC) was crowned the junior girls champion, adding to the junior national 10- and 25-mile titles she won earlier in the year.

“I’ve been doing some specific training for this,” she said. “It was the last race of season and I wanted to end on high so I’m pleased I could. I’ve done a few road races and track events this year but mainly time trials, the endurance side of it.

“It’s been a brilliant season, winning the 10, the 25 and this. It couldn’t have gone any better really. Next year I want to set more PBs, get better times. I’m going to ride some local track league for that competitive edge in the winter but also train with club on some long rides.”

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.

* See the individual event listings for more detailed reports on these and other time trials.