IT'S called the race of truth and, with every entrant setting out at one minute intervals to cover a set distance alone and unpaced by other competitors, time trials rarely end in controversy.

But Andover Wheelers' 10-mile race result was thrown into confusion when the times of three riders were declared void after they had allegedly beaten 23 minutes - the limit set for this 'middle-markers' event - in the past three years.

Provisional results declared Robert Bright (Interbike RT) was the winner in 22m 19s - two seconds ahead of Derek Cottington (Charlotteville CC), the British 25-mile champion over 30 years ago whose more modest performances in recent seasons enabled him to compete.

Only 13 seconds covered the top five provisionally declared. But while that result is being challenged by others who went faster, there was no dispute regarding the outcome of the team classification.

This was won by Fareham Wheelers, with fifth placed Phil Marshall's time of 22-34 being backed up by Jim Montgomerie and Paul Hudson, with times of 23-42 and 23-45 respectively.

The Fareham club also had a prize winner in the women's category, with Judith Walton taking 24-47 to fill second spot, 35 seconds clear of Mary Corbett (Sotonia CC) in fourth.

A cold prevented Glenn Longland (Antelope RS Holdings RT) from joining Neville Stroud in the separate race for tandems and their absence left the way clear for Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers' new 10-mile record breakers, Steve Brown and Paul Foxwell, to take 61 seconds out of the promoting club's Simon Foster and Lee Gardner.

The southerly winds which blew across the Andover course increased overnight to give competitors a hard ride over the last seven miles to the finish on the outskirts of Bournemouth for the Arrow Fircroft Hotel 25 on Sunday morning.

And the winner, Ray Hughes (Clarence Wheelers), was one of many who over four minutes longer than their qualifying times to complete the distance.

Hughes finished only 66 seconds off the three-year-old course record of 51-57 set in more favourable conditions to win by almost two minutes, in 53-57.

Graham Harman (Sotonia CC) and Matt Parton (Antelope RT) were among another 18 who beat the hour.

Results

Andover Wheelers 'middle-markers' 25, Thruxton Down - 1, R Bright (Interbike RT), 22-19; 2, D Cottington (Charlotteville CC) 22-21; 3, M Kurpyta (Somerset RC) 22-23; 4, S Grace (TV Vet) 22-28; 5, P Marshall (Fareham Wheelers) 22-34; 6, B Short (Bikeshop UK) 22-51; 7, L Green-street (Newbury RC) & A Parker (North Hampshire RC) 22-53; 9, T Ryan (Bath CC) 23-2; 10, N Moore (VC Camelot) 23-3.

Tandems - 1, S Brown & P Foxwell (Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers) 19-33; 2, S Foster & L Gardner (Andover Wheelers) 20-34; 3, P Dansie (Unity CC) & L Ralph (Clarence Wheelers) 22-41.

Bournemouth Arrow Fircroft Hotel 25, Bournemouth - 1, R Hughes (Clarence Wheelers) 53-3; 2, M Wareham (VC St Raphael) 55-0; 3, S Walkling (VC St Raphael) 55-13; 4, B Greensmith (Primera Bournemouth) 55-46; 5, T Icke (Poole Wheelers) 55-56; 6, A Peach (Sigma Sport RT) 56-17; 7, J Gilfillan (Primera Bournemouth) 56-34; 8, A Stanton (VC St Raphael) 56-40; 9, P Evans (Sport Fagley) 56-53; 10, S Berogna (VC St Raphael) 56-54; 11, G Harmor (Sotonia CC) 56-59; 12, I Ayliffe (Salisbury RC) 57-38; 17, M Parton (Antelope RT) 59-23; 19, P Lafford (Crabwood CC) 1-0-3; 20, S Martingale (Sotonia CC) 1-0-12; A Dodkins (TV Vet) 1-1-0; W Grainger (Andover Wheelers) 1-1-10; P Whatley (Salisbury RC) 1-2-11; T Jefferies (Salisbury RC) 1-2-49; J Sloan (Southampton TC) 1-3-38; R Burch (Sotonia CC) 1-3-51; A Sharpen (Sotonia CC) 1-4-4; R Smith (Antelope RT) 1-4-28; C Crocker (Sotonia CC) 1-4-56; J Baddeley (Southampton TC) 1-5-55; S Longland (Antelope RT) 1-12-24; G Haswell (Sotonia CC) 1-14-31.

Tandems - 1, S Brown & P Foxwell (Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers) 58-38.