Southend Wheelers 50

Emily Martin (Team Bottrill) won the women’s RTTC National 50-mile Championship title finishing almost four minutes clear of her nearest challenger after an eventful morning in Essex.

Martin, aged 33, was part of the winning women’s National Team Time Trial Championship side in May and added her second crown of the season over 50 miles.

The Team Bottrill rider recorded a winning time of one hour 55 minutes and 58 seconds after recording an average speed of over 25.8 miles per hour.

Race favourite Kate Allan (Team Bottrill) crashed out when her rear tyre blew – ending her hopes of defending the national 50-mile title she won last year. And expected challenger Hayley Simmonds had pulled out of the event the previous day.

The E9/50 saw riders complete two laps of a 25-mile course between Chelmsford and Great Dunmow.

Starting outside Chelmsford competitors headed out on the A1060 to Leaden Roding before heading straight over a roundabout after six miles onto the B184 to the turn at Great Dunmow.

After returning back to Chelmsford competitors then completed a second lap of the 25-mile course.

Martin came into the event having won the Barrow Central Wheelers 10-mile event last weekend in a time of 20-36.

With fellow Team Bottrill team-mates Allan and Alex Clay failing to finish their hopes of the team award were dashed.

A close battle for second saw veteran Sally Turner (HUUB WattShop) finish as runner-up in 1-59-41 which was just 13 seconds quicker than Laura Davies (Jadan Vive Le Velo) in 1-59-54.

Second veteran on scratch was Kim Barfoot-Brace (Team Bottrill) in 2-03-45, while Louise Robinson (Essex Roads CC) was third 2-04-49.

Spindata had predicted that Martin would finish down in seventh in 2-05-31 but she took over nine minutes off that forecast on her way to a clear victory.

“I felt really good today, I felt strong,” said Martin. “The course was a bit slow and really hard in the first six miles.

“It picked up on the way back with a tailwind, it was a bit narrow in places but a nice twisty course where you could still say on the skis.

“The wind picked up on the last leg on the way back, I definitely felt it. There is a lot of travelling this year (to national events) and I’ve not really ridden locally much this year at all.

“I’ve been travelling around to get to the national and faster stuff. The coaching of Simon Beldon has really brought me on and having last year in my legs as well.

“The advice from Matt (Bottrill) as well is second to none.”

Martin will be back in action at the National 100-mile Championships next weekend hoping for a third national title of the season.

In the road bike category, quickest female was Kerry Brennand (Newmarket C&TC) with 2-20-48.

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* A gallery of images from this event is available here