National boyz on FIRE! We had a superb morning of racing, with records being set and broken and broken again. The fastest time ever on this course was set today.

This 25 miles has been reputed as a very difficult course because of the typical crosswinds and headwind, but that did not deter the select group of participants to give their best efforts.

The best time this year (until 8.00 am today) was set by Stredwick Watson in the Paramount Trading Time Trial Series was 58.01.00 minutes. This time was literally blown away by the podium finishers.

Stredwick Watson held his own by securing a respectable 4th place finish and Richard Bowen, defending Champion, rode a faster time than last year and held out for 6th place.

But the talk of the town was the blazing ride of Horace McFarlane (55.32.48 min) and his proverbial "skin of his teeth" advantage over his teamate Oniel Samuels in the order of a hundreths of a seconds 0.82 seconds to be exact. Horaces' time was fast enough to secure the National Championship title and Oneil Samuels capturing the second place. Raydeen Lawson rode strong to finish 3rd overall.

Norman Hall took the Masters Title and Alden Clunis is the new Junior Champion. Full Results are available, just click here the

My synopsis... It is clear that the level of competetion has escalated in the last 15 months as most if not all riders are posting better times on the 40 km (25 Mile) course.

With nine riders under the hour mark and the vast reduction in the previous record indicates a more serious attitude of our competetive cyclists to the discipline of time trialling, and a clear indicator that we are doing something right. This is a very critical aspect of cycling not only because it well respected discipline in and of itself, recquiring strength, endurance and mental toughness but also time trialling can be used as a developmental tool for many other disciplines of cycling, even on the track.

We will continue to try and develope this aspect of the sport as a road discipline to complement our efforts to revitalise our track program. And again, encourage our more experienced riders to participate in these events as it gives us the perfect oppurtunity to gauge our/your progress and intergrate the cycling community.

Thanks again to our sponsors, Big Jo/ Tampico Juices and Consolidated Bakers (Purity) for their usual and much appreciated contributions and also for the officials and assistants that gave their time to help make this event a success. We appreciate it and look forward to seeing everyone at the Road Race and Criterium next weekend. Till then, safe riding (and secret training)

Vaughn Phang
President
Jamaica Cycling Federation