Brighton Excelsior's Andy Attwood was the star turn at his club's out-of-season time trial on New Year's Day, although his time was way down on the rest of the field.

Andy, wearing a deerstalker hat and a knickerbocker suit - the fashionable attire for cyclists a century ago - rode round the ten-mile course in 38min.11sec on a cumbersome 1905 Dursley Pedersen cycle.

He said: "It was a festive occasion and a good time to show off the gear I bought at an auction."

Charlie Parsons, who clocked 25min.52sec, was the official winner of the members' event with Stuart White second in 26min.22sec and Keith Balcombe third in 27min.47sec.

The fastest time of the day, though, was the 25min.4sec recorded by Mike Anton (East Grinstead CC) in a private trial. Alastair Carter (VC Etoile), 16, also rode a private trial and was fastest junior in 28min.50sec.

Several open New Year time trials took place around the country and Forest Row star Sean Yates gave In Gear their first win of the year in the Southborough and District Wheelers ten-mile event in Kent.

Yates clocked a speedy 22min.30sec but it was a close call because he was only two second faster than runner-up Terry White (VC Londres).