TAVISTOCK Wheelers Henry Foxhall and James Chapman have been putting their early season form to the test by competing in the Camel Valley Cycle Club series of ten-mile time trials on a course starting at Probus, near Truro.

The series consists of four races on consecutive weekends, allowing riders to compare times from week to week. Each must complete three events, with the fastest three times being added together for the final race order.

In the first event, both Tavistock riders were in new territory having never ridden the course before. A strong wind made conditions hard with Henry posting a time of 25 minutes 20 seconds — just down on his personal best. James was not far behind though. With a ride confirming his strength as an up and coming junior, he came in only 14 seconds down on his team-mate.

Richard Stenton riding for the Plymouth Corinthians CC came in at 24.50.

Gary Thatcher of Camel Valley Cycle Club made a good start to the series winning with an impressive 22.30, with a winning margin of 29 seconds over team-mate Alan Ryder.

The second event saw more favourable conditions, as morning mist and rain turned into a warm dry afternoon. Times were improved from the week before for almost all riders including both Wheelers.

Henry improved by 11 seconds to set a new personal best for the distance, and his quickest ever average speed of 24mph to finish in 25.08. James Chapman had an extremely strong ride to come in only two seconds behind.

The stage is now set for the conclusion of the series in two weeks' time, and for the rest of the season.

Gary Thatcher increased his stranglehold on the series with an impressive time of 21.48, with Alan Ryder again in second place. Richard Stenton finished with exactly the same time as the previous week.