DAVE Pickering (Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers) achieved the first victory of his racing career in his club’s open 10-mile time trial, recording a time of 21:43.

Max Baldock (Poole Wheelers) also recorded the same time for the event – to take joint first.

With a daughter’s birthday celebration to rush back for after finishing, Pickering was unaware of his success until later that day. “It finally happened, what seemed like the elusive open win that I had quietly been hoping for over the last couple of years. Even better it was a Jubilee event too,” said a happy Pickering Baldock lead the Poole Wheelers to victory in the team competition with Robert Jefferies (fifth, 22:20) and Terry Icke (six6th, 22:28) also contributing to an impressive combined time of 1:06:31. Pickering was also first veteran with Louise Burman (a3crg) the first female finisher in 37th position with a time of 25:27.

Pickering did not rest on his laurels, and took yet another win in a club event held on the same course on Tuesday evening. With better conditions, Pickering this time averaged nearly 29 mph with 20:50. With many riders going almost a minute quicker, the results board saw plenty of personal bests.

This weekend Pickering is in action in the CC Weymouth’s 25-mile time trial where he hopes to maintain his lead in the South DC points competition.

EASTHAM'S VICTORY

RICHARD Eastham (Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers) added another win to his successful season with victory in the regional race in the WXCRL QinetiQ Summer Series at the Barnsfield Heath circuit.

Eastham attacked with two laps remaining in order to secure a solo success, but a combination of strong winds and an active chasing bunch quickly reeled him back.

Eastham then tried again with half a lap remaining, with two other riders also joining him. The trio worked well together, but Eastham started his sprint just in time on the finishing straight to hold off a fast closing bunch.

In the youth event, the talented Charlie White (DHCyclesport) took the win with Matthew Mildon (Poole Wheelers) and Ellie Gillham (Bournemouth Arrow CC) taking the under-14s categor. Rebecca Hurst (Poole Wheelers) was first in the under-10s.

In the national event, Steve Moss (Bournemouth Arrow CC) took a highly creditable seventh against some top opposition with the win going to the Elite category rider Tim Elverson (Felt Racing). Charlton Marshall’s Hannah Reynolds (Bournemouth Jubilee) was third in the 40km women’s race.

GRAY HURT IN CRASH

IN what should have been a return to race-winning form, there was misfortune for Broadstone’s Luke Gray (Hargroves Cycles) with a serious accident during prior to the Gonso Albstadt MTB Classic, in Stuttgart, Germany.

Gray was riding in GB colours for the fourth round of the German Bundesliga and crashed on a warm-up lap before the race, landing heavily on a rocky section of the course. Gray was taken to hospital where it was discovered he had a fractured pelvis as well as several deep wounds.

He is now back in the UK where he has already seen an orthopaedic consultant to advise on his injuries.