HAINAULT ROADS CYCLING CLUB duo Ian Short and Chris Tomkins opened their season with sublime displays in the Maldon & District CC Hilly time-trial. This demanding 20-mile early season classic based around the Great Baddow area in mid-Essex is the first i

HAINAULT ROADS CYCLING CLUB duo Ian Short and Chris Tomkins opened their season with sublime displays in the Maldon & District CC Hilly time-trial.

This demanding 20-mile early season classic based around the Great Baddow area in mid-Essex is the first in a series of SPOCO or Sporting Courses events and serves as an ideal taster for Hainault's own hilly time-trial on Sunday.

Short displayed his burgeoning fitness with an outstanding fourth place, crossing the line in just 50 minutes and 48 seconds, a little over two minutes behind winner Dean Lubin of PCA Ciclos Uno, who took the event in 48.42.

"I felt strong on the climbs and it's always a relief to open the season with a solid ride," Short said later.

Finishing 23rd in a field of 62 competitors, Tomkins rode to an admirable 56.10 and shaved four minutes and 38 seconds from his 2008 effort in the same event.