SWINDON Road Club's Steve Marchant returned on form to win the Over 40s category in the third round of the National Rudy Project Time Trial series.

A visit to Ashford in Kent proved worthwhile for the Lechlade-based rider, despite a last-minute course amendment due to roadworks that reduced the distance to only 19 miles.

Marchant covered the course in 44 minutes and seven seconds to take first place by just 16 seconds which was also enough to place seventh overall in an senior event won by national champion Michael Hutchinson.

Rob Merrison took third place in the 70-kilometre Bluestone Banbury Road Race on Sunday.

Australian Rob was ever present at the front of the peleton on an undulating circuit near Banbury and stood his ground in the last few miles to place third after a tough race.

There was a disappointing ride in the National 25-mile Time Trial Championships for Jason Costello who punctured and lost two minutes to place 45th with a time of 56min 48sec.

Costello was looking for a top 20 place when a front flat put paid to his efforts on the Hampshire course. Stuart Dangerfield won the title in a time of 50.50.

But Costello bounced back with third place in the Bourne-mouth Jubilee ten-mile time trial on the P613 course, near Andover, in a time of 20.37.

A steady crosswind ensured that the club record of 20.08, set by Steve Marchant on the same course last year, was for now safe.

Even so, Costello has a sub-20 minute ride in his sights this season. Paul O'Driscoll also timed well at 22.15 to place 26th overall.

Costello powered his way to victory in the latest edition of the weekly Swindon RC and Corinium CC ten-mile time trial.

Hot and dry conditions with a steady breeze saw some respect-able times with a few riders setting personal bests on the local Latton course.

Overall times as follows: J Costello (SRC) 21.50, A Norwood (CCC) 23.12, P O'Driscoll (SRC) 23.14, N Mawson (SRC) 23.19, M Dolman (CCC) 23.25, A Wilcox (CCC) 24.01, C Bishop (SRC) 24.09, J Ashurst (CCC) 24.19, T Jordan (SRC) 24.40, M Allen (SRC) 24.55, J Smith (SRC) 25.00, B Telford (SRC) 25.07, M Pakham (CCC) 25.30, R Patterson (SRC) 25.38, M Foyn (CCC) 25.46, S Gooch (HWCC) 25.50, D Mitchell (CCC) 25.51, D Roper (CCC) 25.58, M Mason (SRC) 26.16, D Higgs (SRC) (Jun) 26.58, D Martin (CCC) 26.58, C Paginton (Evans RT) 27.17, G Peppin (CCC) 27.20, M Appleby (CCC) 27.29, S Telford (SRC) (Jun) 27.35, J Mitchell (CCC) 28.03, A Kirk (CCC) 28.43.

The fourth round of the Cotswold League series, promoted by Swindon RC, at the Castle Coombe racing circuit, near Chippenham yesterday (Wednesday), will be followed this Saturday by the Cricklade Festival Road Race.

This annual event is set to start from the Cricklade Leisure Centre at 10am.

Contested over 11 laps of a 5.5km circuit in and around Cricklade, it finishes on the B4040 just before the Leisure Centre roundabout at approximately 11.30am.

For more information about Swindon RC, please contact Bryan Telford on 01793 726020 or visit www.swindon-rc.co.uk