Despite being raced on the potentially fast Aslackby course and with the wind in the right direction for some rapid times, the chilly conditions didn’t do the 11 riders who faced the timekeeper any favours.

Botteley recorded a respectable 23min 11sec and was followed in second place by Bart Kieres with 24.53.

Louise Day, showing improved form, produced a solid 25.28 to complete the top three.

Graham McAndrew was the next finisher in 26.58 followed by Matt Ticehurst who, after breaking his chain last week, faired much better to record a time of 27.16.

Club chairman Gerald Bone recorded his fastest time of the year to place sixth in 28.08 with Rick Wilson and Andrew Wade making up the rest of the solo rides with times of 29.53 and 30.27 respectively.

Adam and Peter Swallow returned to the racing scene after a years absence to ride a two-up and, despite momentarily going off course, recovered to record a time of 32.07.

Bone and Robin Day both travelled to King’s Lynn at the weekend to ride their open 10-mile race.

On a tough course not aided by the wind being predominently against them, both rode with distinction. Robin Day recorded 26.45 while Bone once again improved on his season’s best with 28.03.

Botteley raced in his first triathlon of the year at the weekend when he took part in the Southwell sprint race.

Competing against 500 other competitors, including several national championship medalists, he placed an excellent ninth overall and winning his age catergory for good measure.

After a solid swim, his weakest discipline, where he recorded a time of 6min 38 sec for the 400m, he set off into the bike leg in 88th place.

A trademark fast bike where he recorded the fifth fastest split out of all the athletes in 26.06 for the 11.5 miles saw him enter the final phase, a three-mile run, in 10th place.

Botteley managed to overtake one more adversary on his way to a 16.51 run time and, added together to his transition times, he recorded an overall time of 51.38.

l BMX star Arran Shrosbree enjoyed the European Championship experience despite failing to progress from the knock-out stages in Germany at the weekend.

The Robert Manning Technology College pupil, who was representing Great Britain, finished fourth and fifth in the knock-outs in the 16-year-old boys category.