Sussex riders Steve Elms and Jon Sharples were too strong for Hampshire stars Steve Walkling and Simon Berogna in the Sussex CA's 27-mile team time trial at Storrington.

Elms, five times winner of the Sussex 25-mile Championship, and former Sussex road race champion Sharples made the perfect combination.

The In Gear pair covered the tough circuit of Storrington, Houghton Hill, Fontwell, Arundel and Findon in an event record time of 58min.40sec.

Walkling and Berogna (VC St Raphael) went round in 59min.33sec, with VC Etoile pair Mike Coyle and Roger Smith third in 1hr.0min.30sec.

Last year's winners, Mark Jones and John Limpus (GS Stella), were fourth in 1hr.1min.33sec. The first four teams all beat the previous record time of 1hr.2min.13sec, held by Jones and Limpus.

Andy Payne and Steve Woodbridge (GS Stella) placed fifth in 1hr.3min.11sec. Paul Jones and Paul James (Crawley Wheelers) were sixth in 1hr.3min.41sec ahead of Bognor pair Mike Marchant and Steve Lenn (1hr.4min.1sec) and East Grinstead's Steve Dennis and Mark Beaumont (1hr.4min.4sec). Thirty eight teams entered.

Elms said: "It was good to see the sun, but it was windy at times and the long drag between Patching and Findon was very hard. We were pleased to set a record in these conditions."

Coyle, the victim of broken spokes two weeks in succession, was just pleased to have a trouble-free ride, apart from losing a few seconds when he and Smith had to stop when a chain came off.

James Dear (Eastbourne Rovers) added yet another second place to an ever-growing list in the Croydon CA 22-mile hilly time trial.

Linden Wey, a new Brighton Mitre recruit, finished tenth in the Fareham Wheelers 25-mile road race at Meonstoke.

There is a full programme of open events over Easter.

Crawley Wheelers have a 46-mile time trial on Good Friday while Brighton Mitre have a 10-mile time trial at Kirdford on Saturday.

There is circuit racing at Goodwood motor circuit on Sunday and on Monday the Mitre promote a hilly time trial, finishing on Saddlescombe Hill.