The Open Time Trial at Wool, a sporting 42km course on the P454 was held on Sunday the 12th April 2026. 35 riders had signed up but maybe the blustery conditions led a few to not appear at the start.
However 28 did make it and were led off by Kev Ridge and Jonathan Charman on the tandem. Two and a bit laps of the circuit, a headwind along the West Holme – Wool stretch made going tough although there was the odd bit of relief where the terrain shielded riders from the wind. The long climb from Wool up Newtown Hill was a cross headwind, gusting at times, to make a tough ascent however turning at the barracks, descending to East Lulworth and then the range road we were blessed with a tailwind that meant fast speeds for all the riders.
The quickest time was set by Mikey Mottram in 1:01:14 on a road bike to win the day, nigh on 3 minutes faster than the next rider. A slow puncture resulted in one DNF but all others made it round successfully, last man John O’Brien who not only decided to make his life more difficult by competing on a tricycle but was also late the the start and gave himself a 15 minute time penalty rigorously enforced by the timekeepers!
Full results can be found both on the BJW website and result sheet at https://resultsheet.app/rsd/1775576924190×329093539516907500?show_result_type=Actual
Second placed TT bike absent at prize giving – Paul Jones
Thank you to all the riders that came to compete but a special thank you to all the helpers, John O’Brien for organising the entire event; Bob Richardson and Ros Spencer for timekeeping, and for all the helpers at the Durberville Centre and out on the course marshalling including Matt Blythe, Mark Hitchcott, Andy Cooper, Bruce Cameron, Maggie Kirk, Gary Chiverton, Tracey Colquhoun, Louise Burman, Jonathan Charman and Kev Ridge with apologies for anyone missing from that extensive list. It could not happen without you all.