Matt takes honours as series kicks off with 66 year age range!

On a perfect warm, windless night - ideally suited to Time Trialling - 24 riders from RCC and other clubs ranging in age from 14 up to 80 years old turned to make the season's opener a virtual celebration of the joys of cycling. Matt Peel started exactly where he has  left off in the last two years by taking the scratch win with an incredible opener of 19:57. It may ruin his handicap chances in future weeks but lays down an impressive marker for all scratch challengers!

The evening also saw four riders under the age of 16 recording some incredible times. For the girls, 15 year old Joanna Matthews recorded a very impressive 25m46s in the first ever time trial. A star for the future... however, the most incredible rides came from Max Mansell-Rowe, a 13 year old who arrived quite late but then broke the 23 minute barrier that so many adults struggle with. He clocked 22:52 (wow, just wow!) followed by Raiders compantion, Matthew Ferguson, who has come up through Redhill Raiders to now ride with the faster groups of the main club and laid down a fantastic 23:13... what these young riders are going to be capable of in future can only be guessed at! 

First rider off was Redhill CC's webmaster and a previous regular on the RCC TT circuit , Andrew Murray, returning to the Race of Truth after a break. And after him, 80 year old Redhill Triathlon star, Jim McKellar lined up after a year of bereavement and injury to show true guts and average a whisker under 15mph for his first TT in a long time. Breaking the 30 minute mark at the age of 71, the 'experienced end' of the club was also graced with Malcolm Bainbridge's 28:08. 

On the night, Matt's main challengers for scratch honours came from outside the club. Mark Bashford of EGC clocked a 20:25 and Danny York of TriSurrey a 21:22... they were closely followed by former RCC Time Trial star, Charl Jordaan, now also riding for TriSurrey, at 21:55.

Just a minute back on these, Redhill TT Secretary, Will Henton riding a road bike put down a marker with a non-pointy helmet and tri-bar 22:54. Watch out when the summer bike comes out!

For the women, Cass Humm of Oxted CC lodged a very quick early season 24:25 and RCC's Catherine Matthews made up an mother-and-daughter result with a 26:37 on her first ever Time Trial too.

Thanks on the night go to all who made it possible. Will Henton for signing, Jonny Bradbourne for pushing off and then taking part himself and recording a creditable 23:56 on a road bike. Timing was done by Henry Hunter who looked for all the world like a pro despite it being his first ever time behind the watches.  Adrian took monies, found safety pins and photos of the event which are free to all for personal use here: http://adewebb.smugmug.com/RCC-TT-series-2016/RCC-TT-series-No1-040516