RTTC National Championship 25 Mile
OFFICIAL CTT REPORT
BOTTRILL DOES, BUT SO DOES JOE
On Sunday Matthew Bottrill (drag2zero) had a dream come true but that dream
ended up a nightmare. At long last he had beaten Michael Hutchinson (In Gear
Quickvit-Trainsharp) in a National Championship. They had locked horns many
times over the last few years, Bottrill always having to give best to the ever present
Hutchinson and ending up with a pretty good selection of championship silver
medals.
This year's RTTC title race looked as though this was the
time when Bottrill might bring the long-time champion
down as only seconds separted them in the recent 10-mile
championship.
Bottrill had brought himself to peak form and fitness, "I'll
be giving it 110%", he told his many fans on Facebook
and he did. At half-distance Bottrill was eight seconds up
on Hutchinson with 24-33 to 24-41.
Another 12 1/2 miles and Bottrill was home in 49-31
while defending champion Hutchinson ended up with 4958, beaten by 27 seconds. Bottrill's supporters were telling him he had at last
beaten `Hutch'. Joy was unbounded, but then along came Joseph Perrett (Team IGSigma Sport). No one had been running time checks on him, both Hutchinson and
Bottril's helpers only had eyes for each others charges performances.
PERRETT CHAMPION
Perrett had clocked 24-28 at half way so even then he was leading, having five
seconds on Bottrill and 13 on Hutchinson. A final 49-21 earned him the
championship title while Bottrill hid his disappointment, but at least he had beaten
Hutchinson. So ended one of the most exciting Blue Ribbon Championships.
Faultlessly promoted by Lincolnshire District Council of Cycling Time Trials the
day's three title races, Men, Women and Juniors were all equally interesting.
The C25/1 circuit course with mainly traffic-free lanes (no drag-strips here) made
an ideal venue and provided true champions.
While much of the country had some sunshine Lincolnshire was the cloudiest
county on Sunday with a wind that blew across the course and was only helpful on
the last few miles.
With the top three settled it was former Junior champion Ryan Mullen (Team IGSigma Sport) who claimed fourth with 50-57 ahead of Jeff Jones (drag2zero), 5138, followed by his team mate Mark Holton, 51-47, Douglas Dewey (In Gear
Quickvit-Trainsharp), 52-38, Brett Harwood (Terry Wright Cycles RC), 52-58,
Kieron Davies (Bynea CC), 53-08, and Alan Thomson (Sandy wallace CyclesSCU), 53-10, making an impressive top 10.
With three in the first six Bottrill, Jeff Jones and Mark Holton went away with the
team medals.
CONFIDENT PERRETT'S PROGRESS
Perrett had arrived for the event "full of confidence" after a racing trip to Belgium
during the week. "I rode a 100-mile event with mostly professionals and got in a
14-strong break to finish eighth, so I knew I had the form," Perrett said. "I've been
riding the Tour Series and you cant hide anywhere in them, they have given me
plenty of speed,"he added.
Perrett has shown steady progress since his Junior days. He was second in the GHS
`10` final in 2006 and in 2009 he won both the `10` and `25` Junior
championships. In 2011 he was third in the Men's `10` behind Bradley Wiggins
and Michael Hutchinson. Last season he was fourth in the `25` championship
behind Hutchinson, Alex Dowsett and Matthew Bottrill. He also won the time trial
at Blenheim Palace in 2012, beating a certain Michael HUtchinson.
On the international stage a European Junior time trial championship is a major
claim to fame.
"I hope to get selected for the European championships again, this time for the
Under-23 time trial in July but before that there is the British Time Trial
Championship in a few weeks time," Perrett said.
BOTTRILL AMAZED
Bottrill put on a brave face as he spoke of the "amazing support" he had all around
the course. "I could not have done anymore today," he confessed.
Hutchinson had told his coach that he did not feel "on top of it today" before he
started. Afterwards he said "nothing was wrong, except for not winning." He
admitted that to some extent he was relieved. "Its a lot of pressure defending at the
top, now it will be nice to just train and ride without that pressure," Hutchinson
said. "My deepest sympathy goes out to Matt (Bottrill) he has beaten me, only for
Perrett to come along."
Like Mullen, Hutchinson is now looking forward to defending his Ireland Time
Trialling title days before the RTTC National 50-mile championship where once
again he and Bottrill meet.
MORE SHAW
The women's championship ended with
defending champion Julia Shaw (drag2zero)
bringing her total of 25-mile titles to six, her 5618 giving her a 1-21 beating of Anna Turvey
(Tynside Vagabonds CC) with Rebecca Slack
(Look Mum No Hands) at 2-00 in third place.
Four more women managed to beat the hour, the
day had got harder with a stronger wind the men
had faced hindering them. Fourth placed Hayley Simmonds (GBcycles.co.uk), 5910, Rebecca Rimmington (Trainsharp RT), 59-18, Hannah Barnes (MG-Maxifuel
Pro Cycling), 59-44, and that after having ridden the Smithfield Nocturne on
Saturday night, and Lynn Hamel (Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes.com), 59-47.
Shaw's was a measured effort, a 28-17 opening leg followed by a finishing 28-01,
one of the few to have finished the second leg faster. Turvey,33, an unseeded rider
off number 73, had a 28-32 opening half and followed that with a closing 29-07 for
a finishing 57-39 which put her in the hot seat until Shaw finished half an hour
later. Slack was just 20 seconds slower over the second 12 1/2 miles, 29-19, to 2859, good enough for that bronze medal place with her 58-18. Unfortunately Slack
physically missed out on the podium, she was still with doping control when the
awards were handed out!
Team honours were taken by the Born to Bike trio of Lynne Taylor (who must
have more championship medals than the RTTC have in store), Helen Eboral and
Clare Ella.
"It was a hard ride but I certainly went a lot better than I did in the `10` the other
week. The third leg was really difficult with that side wind" Shaw said. "I didn't
realise I've won this six times, I've ridden a lot more than that." Shaw now prepares
for the British Time Trial Championship in Scotland before tackling the RTTC 50mile championship.
TRIATHLETES CAN DO IT
Anna Turvey, like Shaw and Slack, comes from the sport of Triathlon where she is
one of the best. She has won medals at the European and World Championship and
more recently won the National Duathlon and Sprint Championships.
She rides few time trials, usually just the RTTC championships, she was 13th in
the 2011 10-mile event; 21st in the 2012 event and 11th in the `25`. This season
she was fifth in the `10` before taking silver in the `25`.
"When I saw how well Shaw and Slack were doing I thought I might as well have a
go at time trialling, the bike is my strongest part of Triathlon and Duathlons. I've
sent off an entry for the British Time Trial Championship explaining I have not
done many time trials, I hope I get in and I've entered the `50` championship,"
Turvey said.
Rebecca Slack blamed her lack of aerodynamics for her performance. "The way
the wind was today suited Julia (Shaw) she has a so compact position on the bike,
looks so good. With my build I'm all over the place on the bike," Slack observed.
HATTERSLEY CHAMPION
With a 55-38 18 year-old Luke Hattersley (St
Ives CC) won his first championship medal and
title as 2013's Junior champion. This comes after
his eighth place in this year's Junior 10-mile
championship.
Just four seconds slower than Hattersley at the
midway time check, Christopher Fennell
(PMR@Toachim House) fell back as Hattersley
finished strongly. A 56-24 gave Fennell second place on the podium. In the 10mile championship Fennell, 17, finished ahead of Hattersley in sixth.
The final podium place was taken by Charlie Lowndes (MG Decor Team Carbon
Bikes) thanks to his 57-03. AS in the 10-mile title event, Bryony Board (Glendene
CC) was the fasest of the girls, a 1-03-58 putting her 59 seconds clear of Sophie
Dorey (Guernsey VC).
"With exams I've only been able to spend six hours a week training," Hattersley
said. "I was disappointed with my eighth place in the `10`, I expected to do better. I
don't do many time trials and today was my first ride on a time trial bike. I mostly
ride road events and I had my first win this year, a criterium at Ixworth."
Bryony Board is another who tends towards the road. "I rode the Smithfield
Nocturne last night and I've riding the Tour Series and the Ladies national race
series. I'm going much better in time trials this year, improving," Board said.
ALL-ROUND SUCCESS
With nearly 300 riders taking part the championships were an all round success,
ideal event headquarters at Gartree Community School, in Tattershall, where the
bacon rolls, baquettes and doughnuts helped rebuild flagging energy levels.
The nearby RAF Coningsby, where the Battle of Britain Memorial flight is based
provided some of the helpers and marshals and just by chance shortly after Shaw
set off the flight's Lancaster bomber circled the HQ before landing. I don't think
event secretary Theresa Brewer arranged that but she certainly deserved that drink
she was promising herself on Sunday evening.