ALTHOUGH they failed to make the top three in Alton Cycling Club/Owens Cycles’ 10-mile time trial last Thursday, no less than five Alton members found their form in the good conditions and recorded personal best times.

Regular visiting riders Kier O’Donnell (unattached), Mark Taylor (VC Meudon) and James Long (Farnham Tri) mopped up the major placings with their timings of 20-46, 20-59 and 21-37 respectively.

Although only one second quicker than his previous PB, Iain Cotton was delighted with his time of 22-40.

New member James Allen was the pick of the Alton bunch, though, with an 18-second improvement on PB and first time under 23 minutes with 22-57.

And there’s more improvement to come for Allen who thus far has ridden a traditional road bike in the TT series. What could he do with specialist bike frame, aero bars, skinsuit and TT helmet?

Not to be outdone, junior member Hamish Kuperus also set a new best time with 23-27, while Charlie Williams and Gary Hodgson shaved a few seconds from their PBs with 24-31 and 28-37.

Eight Alton members took part in all, with Shaun Blow, Keith Parrish and Nigel Bicknell coming home in 23-26, 24-51 and 30-46.

Alan Jacob and Pete Remnant held the stopwatches, with support from Eddie Stevens and Jim Woods.

With only three weeks to run in the series, the Alton CC/Owens Cycles Club Handicap table has Hamish Kuperus (34 points) just ahead of Charlie Williams (32).