The 25 mile VTTA Championship was on familiar roads, in a decent temperature with a fair breeze. I coped better than expected with 11 Roundabouts, only having to slow for one oncoming car at the poorly-sighted entry to the Cambourne roundabout. I briefly considered throwing myself in front of that car but, for once, sense prevailed.

My final circuit was enlivened by jousting with a man on a road bike. He overtook me on uphills repeatedly, but my super-aero TT position made sure that I could retake him on the flat.

The race almost ended disastrously the final time round the Madingly roundabout, when a previous route popped into my frying brain. It told me I should take the 3^rd exit to the finish. I owe my win to the alert marshal who waved me to the 4^th exit back onto the dual carriageway, ensuring that I finished in the right place. My time of 1.01.43 was enough to win, tied with Masters legend Linda Dewhurst. It contributed to Team Bottrill Nopinz winning the team prize (me, Matt Uttley & Keith Dorling); & an East Midlands threesome winning the group prize (me, Richard Oakes & Mike Twelves). Pending ratification, it is also a new VTTA National Age Record. Not a bad day’s work