This Wednesday’s time trial is the final long-distance race of the season and yet again there’s some serious silverware up for grabs, this time the Russell Memorial Bowl which was presented to the club eighty years ago. You can read more about it here.
Changes for 2023
Before jumping into the details of the race, there are some important changes for 2023 which all riders must be aware of:
- For 2023, we have decided to return to the umbrella of Cycling Time Trials which provides more flexibility and also allows us to host guest riders from other clubs who won’t have to pay any kind of third-party membership, we hope to see riders from around the region come to test themselves
- There is no pre-race registration for the first time since 2019, entrants can now just turn up, sign on, pay and race
- Front lights and helmets become mandatory, even for hill climbs. Rear lights have been required for several years.
Race HQ
Sign-on and race number collection starts from 6pm in the car park just by the National Herb Centre and closes at 6.40pm with the first riders off at 7.01pm.
Race Officials
Timekeepers: Rhys Martin and Oli Wright
Marshals: Fay Barrington, Simon Bull, Matt Adams and Team Cherwell (Phil Gilkes)
Race Route
After a standing start, the course takes riders along a long gentle descent to the outskirts of Banbury. The course then continues through the first roundabout by the Sainsbury’s local shop and on to the next (marshalled) roundabout where a u-turn is performed to return back up the B4100, past the start and some words of encouragement from the timekeepers before the descent down Warmington Hill. Riders stay on this road all the way through the new roundabout at the army depot and onwards (and upwards) to Gaydon and the next marshalled roundabout where another u-turn is made. Then it’s back along the course, up Warmington Hill and along to the outskirts of Banbury once again. After going straight through the first roundabout the riders will once again go all around the second roundabout and back along the course to the finish line near Camper King.
Course records
| Date | Name | Time | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Aug 2020 | Luke Norris | 0:54:56 | M | BSCC |
| 24 May 2017 | Jon Simpkins | 0:55:05 | M Non-BSCC | Drag2Zero |
| 3 Jul 2019 | Naomi de Pennington | 1:02:56 | F | BSCC |
| 07 Jun 2023 | Lydia Watts | 1:01:45 | F Non-BSCC | Hutchinson Brother |
| 05 Jul 2023 | Joseph Hedley | 1:08:47 | M | U18 BSCC |
| 8 Jun 2022 | Peggy Simpkins | 1:09:20 | F | U18 BSCC |
| 25 May 2022 | Alex Putt | 1:10:03 | M | U16 BSCC |
| 25 May 2022 | Poppy Kisley | 1:11:28 | F | U16 BSCC |
Entry fees
All riders who have to pay will do so by contactless means at the race HQ before collecting their number. We accept payment via debit card, credit card, Apply Pay, Google Pay, Android Pay but no cash, IOUs or promises of beer are accepted!
Banbury Star members who have paid the TT supplement: £0
Other Banbury Star members: £3
Team Cherwell members: £4 (paid by club)
Other guests: £5
Parking: £1
BSCC members can opt to pay the TT supplement at any point during the season.
Useful links
The Timekeeper’s Top Ten Time Trial Tips – by Keri Williams