HAMPSHIRE time triallists, Rowan Horner (VC St Raphael Waite Contracts) and Mick St Leger (Real Cost Car Imports) played prominent roles in this year's national 100 mile championship.

And Horner, a school teacher from Sarisbury Green, is hoping that the result will stand.

Twice in the past month he and clubmate, Chris Birch, have had claims for a new British tandem record for the distance vetoed after covering short courses.

But on this occasion his time of 3hrs 53min 26sec was beaten by only two others, meaning that he is the winner of the bronze medal, two years after winning gold in the team classification.

Former champion Kevin Dawson (Pete Read Racing) led at all intermediate time checks to win his third national 100 mile title, in 3:41.47.

Clubmate Joel Wainman joined him on the podium as runner-up with over three minutes in hand on Horner, but it was the efforts of the unseeded St Leger from Chandler's Ford which surprised many onlookers.

Seemingly out of contention as eighth fastest at 25 miles, St Leger improved his position in each of the following three-quarters to finish as unexpected fifth, in 4:01.7.

Eamonn Deane (Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers) beaten by Horner in his club's 100-mile race at Wimborne on July 1, made a winning return to a 25-mile course in East Dorset to win this race for a second time, but with only five seconds to spare.

Steve Walkling (Portsmouth North End CC) was his closest challenger, taking 55min 18sec to finish second.

But the race for the team honours was much more decisive, with Deane enjoying the presence of two clubmates Andrew Cooper and Steve Pye in the top ten to clinch this classification.