REPORT: VTTA 12 Hour National Championship, by Anthony Farrell

Anthony Jones and Joanna Cebrat were crowned Veterans TTA title holders for 2025 at the National Championship in South Wales, which was incorporated into the Welsh CA event near Raglan in Monmouthshire.
Jones (VMCC powered by Y Beic) covered an age adjusted distance (AAD) of 315.19 miles, while best VTTA female was Joanna Cebrat (360cycling) with 285.80 miles on AAD.
The event was the last of our national championships for this season; run on the roads in the area around Raglan it was not a what one might call a fast course.
37 riders faced the timekeeper led off by Mary Corbett and Norman Harvey on the tandem trike.
As we approached the circuit coming from Manchester it was impressive to see the speed of riders who had been on the road for six hours, with the eventual top three operating at 25 mile an hour plus. Others were carrying their individual support systems and they were not slow.
The course consisted of a morning circuit of 93 miles, followed by circuits of 25 miles and the eventual finishing circuit of 15 miles. The course was well marshalled and there was a great deal of support for the riders.
The weather for most of the event was good, a changing wind not really impacting on the performances. Late in the day between 4.30pm and 5.30pm riders experienced a biblical downpour for ten minutes on the finishing circuit and, to rub salt in the wounds, a hailstorm on the opposite side of the circuit.
Competition throughout the event was close, Anthony Jones and Chris Gibbard frequently exchanging the lead. The final result shows just how closely they were matched, Anthony prevailing on actual time by a mere 0.22 miles.
Mary and Norman, recording 174.67 miles, demonstrated great skill in manoeuvring the tandem around a course that had a few sharp bends.
Each time we saw them they both had energy enough to smile and say “Hi”.
Five groups were entered for the event, Surrey/Sussex, West, Wessex, East Midlands and South Wales. It was the home team comprising Chris Gibbard, Rob Powell and Anthony Jones, running out champions and with a total of 986.100 miles (AAD)
Brian Hygate, Peter Tomlin and Lee Williams took Wessex to second place with 849.13 miles with West in third.
Brian Hygate established a new group age record with 165.96 miles on actual.
In the female category Joanna Cebrat, Manchester & Northwest, made a winning return to championship events recording 255.03 on actual giving her a winning AAD of 285.80 miles.
Her success is all the more creditable having missed the majority of the season recovering from a road traffic accident earlier in the year.
Credit and thanks must go to Simon Kinsey, his team and Roger Field, whom I would entitle Logistics Officer- in- Chief.
The team successfully extended the history of the 12 hour event in Wales, now into its 90th year. On the evidence of this event, WCA will be confident that the 2026 CTT championship is in good hands.

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