Witham Wheelers / Grantham 25

Dominic Righini-Brand and Evgeniya Righini-Brand recorded a husband-and-wife double as they finished fastest male and female respectively at the Witham Wheelers 25-mile time trial in Lincolnshire on Saturday afternoon.

Evgeniya clocked 1:05-43 to finish ahead of Sleaford Wheelers CC clubmate Louise Parr and take victory, with Parr registering 1:08-52, while a time of 1:10-08 helped Cambridge CC rider Ann Shuttleworth to take the final spot on the podium.

In the men’s event, Dominic ensured more success in the Righini-Brand household after narrowly finishing top of the field in 55-28, ahead of joint-runners up Chris Ward (Spalding CC) and Andy Thomas (Lindsey Roads CC) who could not be separated after both recording 55-32.

On their victory, Dominic said: “It doesn’t happen that often. She has won the last three open time trials and I don’t win too often! We are both really happy with the outcome.

“It was a brutal, brutal race because of the headwind. It was a crosswind then a tailwind, then turning into a tailwind and slight upwind drag. The last part was very tough.

“I have a 50-mile time trial in July for BBAR then a 10-mile the week after that.”

Evgeniya added: “I’m happy with my recent results, it’s really positive. It is about finding the right level as we are losing some time triallers recently, and I have no idea how to keep them involved.”

While Ward was joint second overall, he did clinch the Veteran on Standard title in +14-07, ahead of Thomas’ +13-20 and Jim Boyle (Sleaford Wheelers CC) who finished in +12-12.

In the road bike category there was more success for Sleaford Wheelers with Luke Brookes the fastest in 1:02-10, second place going to Bourne Wheelers CC’s Antony Gough in 1:08-15, and third place also going to Sleaford Wheelers than to Stuart McKellar’s 1:09-34.

The riders enjoyed a tail wind from Osbournby roundabout down to the turn at Donnington, but then faced a 7.5-mile slog back into a 20mph head wind on the return leg.

This event, run on the C25/22 course, starts on the A15 and heads south along the A15 through Osbournby to the roundabout joining the A15/A52 and continuing towards Spalding and Boston over the railway bridge at Donnington before returning northbound to Osbournby roundabout then turning towards Sleaford to finish just short of the start line.

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

 

Results:

Men:

1. Dominic Righini-Brand (Sleaford Wheelers CC)  55.28

2. Chris Ward (Spalding CC)  55.32

3. Andy Thomas (Lindsey Roads CC)            55.32

4. Martin Fisher (Melton Olympic)    57.09

5. Frazer Wallis (Spalding CC)           57.33

6. Jim Boyle (Sleaford Wheelers CC) 57.44

Women:

1. Evgeniya Righini-Brand (Sleaford Wheelers CC) 1:05.43

2. Louise Parr (Sleaford Wheelers CC)          1:08.52

3. Ann Shuttleworth (Cambridge CC)            1:10.08