Johns takes 100-mile win

JUST three weeks before his main event of the year, an Ironman triathlon, Tim Johns gave every indication that he is in peak form, with victory in the most-gruelling Guernsey Velo Club event of the year, the 100-mile time-trial. Conditions at the crack of dawn yesterday were far from ideal - a blustery north-westerly wind and frequent showers. Yet 11 hardy competitors still turned out.

There was a choice of distances: a 50-mile time trial was run concurrently.

Johns' Ironman challenge will involve a 1.5km swim, 110-mile bike ride and then a half-marathon.

'I was pleased with my ride and have only four more hard training sessions,' said Johns, who went for a half-hour run just minutes after his victory.

Second-placed Colin Ozanne fell just 40 seconds the wrong side of the five-hour marker, with Shanine Wray an impressive third.

In the 50-mile event, Graham Le Maitre underlined his recent fine form with a convincing win, breaking the two-hour barrier for the first time.

Le Maitre has improved his 50-mile times by nearly 10 minutes in recent weeks, which will surely attract the attention of the Island Games Selectors, keen to send a strong time trial squad to the Shetlands.

Second place went to Mike Dean, who has also been in good TT form recently.

Ann Bowditch was the first woman home in fourth place overall, despite suffering a mechanical failure.