CYCLING

A LARGE field of entrants took part in the successful Hainault Roads Club annual season-opening 50km 'Hilly' time trial on Sunday.

Current event trophy holder Paul Godfrey once again produced the effort needed at the right time to thwart an increased number of threats to his title by the other seven club entrants.

His time of 1hr 19mins 27secs was almost three minutes faster than his 2007 time and his first sub 1hr 20min ride on the course.

Godfrey's closest rival Mark Steers did achieve a three-minute plus improvement in a splendid ride to cross the line in 1hr 21mins 4secs.

Hainault's club champion strongman Rob Dulson rode a few seconds off his best on a new time trial machine in 1hr 24mins 29secs, while veteran Brian Ward, similarly using a new carbon-fibre based bike, recorded a time of 1hr 41mins 29secs.

Chris Tomkins showed evidence of his fitness and good form by knocking five minutes off his 2007 time and, by clocking 1hr 25mins 42secs wasn't far behind the time of Dulson.

Other club members Howard Staunton and Roger Pimm recorded times of 1hr 30mins 53secs and 1hr 37mins 57secs respectively.

Sandwiched between these two was former club champion Paul Gee, who stopped the clock on 1hr 31mins 31secs.

Overall winner of the event with a time of 1hr 11mins 1secs was sponsored elite rider Jason White of Team JD Cycles.