Getting up at 6am to cram in the fruit and fibre, protein shake and hit the road for the Masters Champs I was feeling pretty good. A decent day greeted all the riders as we changed in the HQ. A small but high quality field gathered behind the lead car before the start of the Masters National Championships for 30-34 and 35-39 year old riders, 2 races within one event over 85 hard Hampshire miles. 10 laps of an 8.5mile circuit with a climb of Portsdown Hill each lap and great views over the coast from the top if you had a chance to glance over. This was always going to be a wearing race and hard to judge as the two races affect the tactics. I was really up for it and just thought attack, attack. I’ve confidence in my form with back to back 25mile TT wins over the last weekends. Shortly after the flag being dropped out of the neutralised section two riders attacked first time up the climb. I didn’t hesitate in following, bridging the gap, we were soon down to 2 as a Tor 2000 rider went back to the bunch. Getting a minute lead we pressed on to be joined by Corley’s Chris McNamara and a London Dynamo rider, we forged on for 4 of the 10 laps before a 6 man group bridged to us and immediately sat up.
It appeared that the bunch had be fractured over and over again in constantly trying to get across to us, which had taken its toll and our newly arrived break companions didn’t have the legs or inclination to push on and the race came back together. The next lap or so was steadier with a few attacks that lead to nothing, I covered them but they weren’t sticking. It was a chance to take stock, have some food and chat things through with my good friend James Williams of Pendragon.
Then eventual bronze medallist Nic Hutching fired off up the road, I set off in solo pursuit for a lap but to no again avail as we all came together before the climb. This ascent saw 4 of the favourites from the 35-39 race attack, we let them go our race still to be decided.3.5 laps to go and fatigue in the dwindling bunch was really showing, on the flats before the climb Andrew Hastings (Finchley RT) shot out of the bunch, there was no response and he soon had a massive gap. This looked too dangerous and I reacted, looking back I was alone the bunch not responding at all. Bridging to Andy really hurt after my efforts already, but I’d been eating and drinking well all race and felt prepared for the next laps. We set about decent turns and soon had a minute, a lap later 2.5 minutes and heading into the final lap 3.5 minutes. Nearly catching the 35-39 race we picked up one of their break on the way in, he helped where he could wanting to get back to the leaders of his race. With this gap the race was mine to loose, and I simply would not settle for silver after all my efforts, I really wanted this one, the jersey, the points, and the win for the team. Approaching the last climb Andy and I shook hands for a job well done and then it was all about the win. I considered an attack from distance but after 84 miles I knew I could buckle on the climb, I backed my sprint (not always a wise move for me). I let Andy set the tempo on the climb and into the rise to the finish line content to let him lead out the sprint. Leaving it late he jumped, I had to up my gears a couple of times and started to really get my sprint going. I can’t say I felt anything, it was a weird state, kind of out body, but I just pedalled as hard as I could. I was going a lot faster than my rival but I was running out of road to the finish line, shoulder to shoulder and then edging just in front as I crossed the line. “YEESSSS!!” I was over the moon with the win, my first on the road in the UK this year, and the first win for the team, a National Title to boot, brilliant! I’d like to say thanks to the organiser Sue Knight, the marshals, car commissaires and NEG and the great photos (war face aside) from www.chrisrhymerphotos.com 
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