Report: Wightlink-Island Renewables Military Road 35km Open TT

The Wightlink-Wight Mountain Time Trial Series ended last Sunday with riders of all ages and abilities taking on the inaugural Wightlink-Island Renewables Military Road 35km Open TT.

Report: Wightlink-Island Renewables Military Road 35km Open TT

Sunday, 10th September 2023

The Wightlink-Wight Mountain Time Trial Series ended last Sunday with riders of all ages and abilities taking on the inaugural Wightlink-Island Renewables Military Road 35km Open TT. After a week of back-to-back sunshine, the weather took a turn for the worse on race day but despite the rain, almost 40 riders rose to the challenge of giving it their best shot on the new sporting course.

Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT rider, Kev Chant, was on fine form again taking the Men’s TT Bike and Overall Winner titles in an incredible time of 47 minutes 28 seconds in tough conditions. Chris Till (NAUT Cycling) fresh from his Ironman competition in Wales the previous week, put in another fantastic performance taking 2nd place in 51.47 with team mate, Paul Forster finishing 3rd in the TT bike category in 54.16 which also secured him the Vet40+ win.

In the Men’s Road bike category Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT rider Nick Earley, who’s usually more at home on an MTB, showed his class by powering home to take the win in the 3rd best time of the day in 52.44. Team mates Charlie Orchard and James Pett took 2nd and 3rd respectively making it a hat-trick for the team. Dominique Munday (NAUT Cycling) continued her winning streak taking the Women’s Road Bike title, finishing in just over an hour. Charis Jones (Wight Tri) took 2nd and Louisa Cooper (Poole Wheelers CC) came home in 3rd place.

In the Vet40+ category, Paul Forster (NAUT Cycling) took the win, Stephen Boxall (Houghton CC) made his trip from the mainland worthwhile by picking up 2nd place and Alex Paul (NAUT Cycling) took the 3rd spot on the podium. Martin Piper (NAUT Cycling) finished his TT season with another win in the Vet50+ category with team mate Sean Williams taking 2nd and Craig Wilson (Wight Tri) taking 3rd. Steve Taylor (NAUT Cycling), who remains unbeaten this season, took the Vet60+ title. Graham Orchard, who has improved with every race, took 2nd with stalwart Nigel Elton-Walters taking a well-deserved 3rd place.

It was a tough course for the Juniors but this didn’t deter them and they all put in a fantastic performance. In the TT bike category Ewan Cook (WLWM CRT) powered home in 56.10, finishing just outside the Overall top 10, to take the win. Billy Williams (NAUT Cycling), in his last season as a Junior, put in yet another solid performance to take 2nd and Henry Morgan (IOW Triathlon Club) took 3rd place. Eric Williams (NAUT Cycling) pulled out the best time on a road bike to take the win with newcomer, Alfie Haydon, coming home in the 2nd best time. Annabelle Steward (IOW Triathlon Club), the youngest competitor at just 13 yrs old, put in a gutsy performance out on the course for 1.32.38 and picked up a well-deserved trophy and £50 Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries voucher.

Organisers and Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT members Jerry and Julie Cooper say: ‘Despite the weather, it was a fantastic end to the TT season and it’s great to have riders of all abilities competing side by side and especially to see the IOW Triathlon Club Juniors keen to take up the challenge, it certainly makes all the hard work worthwhile. Huge thanks go out to the event sponsors Wightlink, Island Renewables, Kreative Studios and the amazing volunteers from the local cycling community who give up their time to help out on the day – we really couldn’t do it without them. We’re now looking forward to hosting our last event of the Season, the Hill Climbs Championship on Sunday, 1st October where riders will take on the iconic Blackgang climbs’

Over £200 was raised on the day by the team’s event donations and funds raised from the Grand Raffle Draw in aid of their local chosen charity, Mountbatten Isle of Wight. The team are now well on their way of hitting the £2,500 target set for 2023.