Just when it looked as if James Dear was going to win the Central Sussex CC 25-time trial at Ashurst along came London rider Tim Stevens to beat his time by eight seconds.

This certainly spolit the Friston rider's celebrations.

Dear (Eastbourne Rovers) recorded 56min.43sec to go to the top of the results board.

His time withstood the onslaught of several other top seeded riders until Stevens (34th Nomads) clocked 56min.35sec. to win the Ron Ewart Memorial Trophy.

Third fastest was Paul Smith (API Bikes) in 57min.10sec. Mark Sinnott (Epsom CC), the fastest rider in the UK last year over 30 miles, finished fourth in 57min.55sec.

Stewart Jardine (Twickenham) was fifth in 58min.48sec. Last year's winner, Storrington's Mark Jones (GS Stella) who is recovering from a cold, placed sixth with 1hr.0min.11sec.

Dear said: "It was the same old story. Just when I think I have done the fastest time, then one or two of the last few riders on the start list beat my time by a few seconds.

"I won two open races last year but had a whole string of second and third places. Still, I've been working on streamlining my riding position so I am hoping to improve my win rate this year."

Sinnott said: "It was a hard morning and Stevens and Dear both rode extremely well. Stevens is a classy rider, so Dear did well to just be beaten by a few seconds."

Marina Bloom (Crawley Wheelers), who is more at home over longer distances, recorded 1hr.6min.11sec to win the women's event.

Hastings rider Martin Markowski (VC Bayeux) finished 13th, one minute behind winner Barry Elcombe (Festival) in the 70km Perf road race in Hampshire.

Muddy conditions for the Gorrick mountain bike race at Eversley were thought to be the worst ever.

John Leyland (Horsham Riders) finished second in the Grand Veterans' event. Michael Thyer and Stuart Aspinall, of Southwater Cycles finished third and fourth. Southwater Cycles' riders Ian Petheridge and Gordon Smith finished ninth and tenth in the veterans' race, while their teammate Paul Byford placed sixth in the Masters event.

Lyn Ford (Horsham Riders) finished second in the women's fun race.