A DREAM COMES TRUE
It wasn’t only Bradley Wiggins who had a dream come true this weekend. While Wiggins achieved his dream of taking the Yellow Jersey in the Tour de France Matthew Bottrill (drag2zero) his dream- winning an individual senior national championship.
Seventeen years after winning the national junior 10-mile championship and the Junior Best All Rounder competition Bottrill claimed the 100-mile title ahead of Andy Bason (Team Pedal Revolution) and team-mate Derek Parkinson on the D100/1 course at Prees, Shropshire.
The win completed Bottrill’s 2012 collection of RTTC championship medals coming after his team’s success in the Team Time Trial Championship, his second place in the 10-mile and 50-mile title races and third place in the 25-mile championship.
ANOTHER TEAM WIN FOR DRAG2ZERO
Bottrill also added to his collection of team medals backed by Parkinson and Scott Povey.
Promoted by the Shropshire CCA the championship was run off in dry conditions, for a change! The wind that blew across the course was the main difficulty for many.
Povey set the early standard with a 1-49-17 recorded at 50 miles only to have this bettered some 10 minutes later by Andy Bason, through in 1-48-47.
EARLY LEAD FOR BASON
Bason’s time was good enough to keep this early advantage until Bottrill reached mid-way in 1-47-25 to head the tables 1-22 up on Bason and 1-52 clear of Povey with Parkinson at 4-20 and Steve Berry (Team Swift) at 5-06, completing the top six.
Bason pressed on to finish with 3-38-58 to head the result board and then had to wait to see what Bottrill would do. In the meantime Parkinson edged in to second with 3-42-45. Topham’s 3-44-05 lifted him to third at that point.
BOTTRILL LOOKING ROUGH
Bottrill was said to be “looking rough” over the last 10 miles but he had maintained his grip on the lead and a finishing 3-37-13 gave him that dreamed of individual title.
“I rode to my schedule and had regular time checks on Bason having the advantage of being off behind him,” Bottrill said. “This year I’ve had my best ever form and today I had great support throughout my ride, it is certainly something special for me winning today,” he added.
“I was really suffering towards the end but it was worth it.” His next target is the British Time Trial Championship in September about the time when his number one supporter, his wife is expecting twins.
Andy Bason had found it hard, “but they all (time trials) are aren’t they,” he said.
Fourth placed Topham, too, had faced a hard time, “ the wind was blowing all over the place that was the problem,” he said.
NUMBER TWO FOR SLACK
Defending champion Rebecca Slack (London Dynamo) retained her title, her 4-13-43 giving her a 3-50 winning margin over Bronwen Ewing (PM Racing), most of her advantage clocked up in the first 50 miles. Slack reached the 50-mile check in 2-03-22, Ewing 2-07-18. Over the second half women’s 24-hour champion Ewing only lost a further six seconds on Slack to finish with 4-17-33.
Last year’s silver and bronze medal winners Christine McLean (Shetland Wheelers) and Ruth Bradbrook (Bike Science) had to settle for fourth and fifth respectively with 4-19-53 and 4-22-42.
McLean, however, who last week won the women’s Scottish 25-mile title, didn’t return to the Shetland Isles empty handed she was the fastest of the 50-54-year olds.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
It was `new kid on the block` when it comes to championship medals, Paula Moseley (Climb on Bikes RT) who claimed the third place bronze behind Slack and Ewing with a 4-18-04.
“I really enjoyed that, although I went about four minutes slower than I did in the Hounslow & District Wheelers event, but it was a harder day and course,” Moseley said.
Bronwen Ewing said “it was a lot harder than I thought it would be, but I’m happy to get a medal, now for the British Time Trial Championships.”
ANOTHER MEDAL FOR LYNNE
Finishing sixth, Lynne Taylor (Born to Bike) led Clare Ella and Marina Bloom to success in the team race finishing with a combined time of 13-48-34. How many medals dose that make for Lynne? “I’m not sure, but I’ve got a cupboard full at home,” she admitted.
Rebecca Slack “really suffered,” adding with a laugh after receiving her champion’s hat and medal “I’m glad Julia (Shaw) stayed at home.”
The biggest cheers and applause heard at any of this year’s championships were reserved for Matthew Bottrill. “I’ve waited 17 years for this, if you’ve got a dream go for it,” he said.
Bottrill’s long wait was over; it was a day for dreamers.