Gary Rushmore and his King's Lynn CC clubmates were the newsmakers in the Breckland '10' on the Hingham-Watton road.

Rushmore won in 22:07 with Daniel Bloy, also of the Lynn club, second in 22:24, while Stephen Twell (24:03), in only his third season of racing, completed the winning team.

Rushmore also beat his veterans' age standard by the largest margin and only the promoting club's policy of one individual prize per rider diverted the 'Best on Standard ' award to Jim Reed (Colchester Rovers).

The standards of the Veterans' Time Trials Association have been radically overhauled for the new season and Rushmore, a very young 'vet' at 42, would have had little chance of success on age standard under the old system.

The Lynn success will have been particularly heart-warming for their coach, Dave Green, serving with the RAF in Afghanistan and keeping in touch by email.

The course was Hingham to Watton and back, instead of the circuit via Great Ellingham used in recent years. The outward leg was the tough one, but it was dry and relatively warm and on the return leg riders had the full benefit of the tailwind – Bloy reporting hitting 35mph.

Mark Cook (Beds Roads) and Mark Solley (Diss CC) tied for third, in 22:40. Age group prize for 40-49 went to Matt Carter of promoting club CC Breckland (24:08), and that for 50-59 to Neil Vaughan (VC Norwich, 23:43). Chris Nudds (CC Breckland, 23:51) took the 60-69 award and Brian Foster (Norwich ABC, 33:05) the 70-79 group.

By next morning conditions had deteriorated considerably. Vaughan raced again in a cold CC Sudbury Mad March Hilly time trial, taking 11th place with 56:50 for the 35km, one place behind Norwich rider David Staff (Velo Velocity, 56:29).

Big race on Sunday was the 86-mile mass-start season-opener, the Crest Road Race, west of Saffron Walden. It was cold, windy and wet enough for punctures to claim many victims – 58 of the 80 starters did not finish.

An early break built up until it contained 11 riders. Punctures and retirements took their toll on the leading group which was down to six when with about five miles to go Vince Devine (Finchley Racing Team) escaped to take the win.