The National Junior 25 Mile Time Trial Championship was held on Saturday 2nd Aug, near Manchester on what’s known as a “Sporting Course” which means narrow and twisty country roads, with a few hills thrown in for good measure. The weather can only be described as challenging, but the Junior Girls managed to stay dry, unlike the women who endured thunderstorms.
17 year old Witham Wheelers rider Jennifer McAndrew was not outright favourite on the day, in fact at least 3 girls had recorded faster times then her this year, but her build up to this race had been good with personal best’s being recorded in both her 10 mile and 25 mile disciplines.
At the half way time check Jennifer was up on her nearest rival but only by 9 seconds, and her stamina would be put to the test over the final 12.5 miles, with conditions starting to deteriorate.
Jennifer dug deep into her reserves, catching slower competitors in front of her, to clock a time of 1:03:42, not her fastest time this year, but good for the course, and enough for first place, and in the end taking the win by over a minute from the next placed rider.
Back at the headquarters for the Prize presentations and Jennifer shared the stage with Para Olympian and World Champion Dame Sarah Storey who won the Senior Womens event.
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In the senior mens event the following day in the Lake District Rick Yates produced a great time of 57.47 for 89th position overall. The event was won by Matt Bottrill in 48.15.
Ricks report on the event,
Setting off at the beginning of the field was interesting, (4th – so I must be 4th slowest in the country). I managed to catch the 3 riders in front within 6 miles or so then had the course to myself, plenty of long drags and false flats which seemed to go on for miles.
The course was on the A66 but it appears that between 8 and 9 am on a Sunday it appears to be a virtually traffic free road – there’s probably more traffic on Gorse Lane on a Tuesday evening. Cunningly there was increasingly heavy traffic as the race progressed, although the rain and a blustery cross wind remained through the whole event. (It was quite amusing to see riders warming up on turbo trainer whilst holding an umbrella).
I was pretty chuffed with my time and was leading the championship (for all of 15 minutes) but you get put in your place when the top riders come in, one guy went away disgusted when he saw he’d done a long 52. I wish!
