THE latest championship-counting time trial for Colchester Rovers saw riders testing themselves over the Little Bentley course.

Unfortunately, the weather had taken a turn for the worse and conditions were extremely wet, but with championship points at stake, there were some times posted which certainly impressed.

The course this year has been extended slightly, in light of some safety concerns over the historic finishing position, so riders tackled 10.8 miles rather than the more usual 10.0 miles.

Quickest Rover in the championship contest was Mark Lloyd, with 25 minutes 30 seconds, ahead of Giles Askham who, returning from injury, clocked a strong 25m 59s and Jim Reed on 26m 28s.

Velo Schils Interbike's Doug Allan, although not able to compete in the Rovers championship as a non-club member, took the bragging rights on the night - by a single second from Lloyd as he posted 25m 29s.

There was another superb outing from Rovers youth rider Tom Carson, who smashed his personal best by two minutes with a time of 28m 49s.

Unofficial timings on the night suggested that equated to around the mid-26 minute mark at the ten-mile mark, which is an excellent time for such a young rider.