James McLaughlin followed his inter-insular road race win with victory in the time trial event in Jersey, clocking a fantastic time of 55-58 over the 25-mile course. (Picture by Mike Brehaut, 0592380)
JAMES MCLAUGHLIN underlined his status as one of the most promising young sport stars in the island as he won by a mile the weekend’s inter-insular time trial in Jersey.
The 17-year-old absolutely smashed the competition over the testing 25-mile course to win by nearly two minutes from second-placed fellow Elizabeth College student Dan Arblaster, who is also 17.
The time difference equates to approximately a mile. He also ended up just 17 seconds off the course record set by Commonwealth Games rider Sam Firby.
It completed a remarkable double for McLaughlin, one week after claiming the inter-insular road race honours.
‘James’ time was unbelievably good,’ said Guernsey Velo Club president Gary Wallbridge.
‘It’s an awkward course with so many bends, so many junctions, so many ups and downs and so many marshals. It’s not like going on a dual carriageway where you can sit there and pedal.
‘It’s a technical course and to go and get 17 seconds off the course record is great.’
The course started at St Ouen Manor, taking in Bal Tab Circuit and then crossing the top of the island to St Martin, right to Maufant and then back to St Ouen along narrow country lanes.
McLaughlin’s time of 55min. 58sec. also saw him smash the junior record by a massive 7-24.
His coach is local cycling star Ann Bowditch.
‘It’s fantastic. I thought he would do well,’ she said.
‘The way he rides really does suit that course and he’s riding so well at the moment.
‘He’s very, very determined and he’s training very, very hard.
‘He’s asked me for more training. He’s got huge potential and he knows what he wants. He always rises to the occasion.’
The tricky circuit did temporarily find out Arblaster as he went off course for 40 seconds before realising his mistake and getting back on track.
He finished in 57-53 and three seconds ahead of third-placed Chris Spence of Jersey.
Guernsey’s Aaron Bailey produced to a great ride to come fourth.
Bowditch was the fastest woman in a field of 10, finishing in 27th place and beating Jersey’s top rider Helen Goulding by 3-30.
Her time of 1-03-29 is a new course record, taking 1-43 off the previous best set by Melissa Messervey in 2003.
‘It was my first time on that course and it’s a very complicated one,’ Bowditch said.
‘It does distract you when you don’t know where you’re going. It’s always nice to win the inter-insular.’
Callum Hill-Smith turned in a top performance recording a time of 1-02-51 to ensure he was fastest of the 16-year-olds and third in the junior category.
Fourteen-year-old Alex Falla shone, knocking five minutes off his personal best for the distance.
Jersey had the consolation of winning the veterans’ category.
Andy Muns took the honours in 59-46.
Guernsey’s strongest veteran Graham Le Maitre unfortunately suffered technical problems and was unable to make the start.
The time trials also ran competitions for veterans based on a pre-set time for the various age groups.
Riders aim to beat the standard time and the person beating the time by the biggest margin wins the competition.
Guernsey’s Allan Renyard won the standards competition, ahead of Jersey’s Allan Miller. They have been competing against each other since the 1960s and are as fiercely competitive now as they ever have been.
Article posted on 17th June, 2008 - 2.30pm
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