ALTON/Owens Cycles Cycling Club shrugged off the winter weather and celebrated a successful year at the annual dinner and presentation of awards, held at Alton Rugby Club.

Nearly 50 members and guests were present as club chairman Mike Hayward, assisted by event organiser Alan Jacob and guest of honour Alan Murchison, conducted the 2017 awards.

Rick Froud took many of the top honours, but was absent on the night because his job has taken him to pastures new in the Liverpool area.

After much success in recent seasons, he wanted to leave his mark before leaving the club and this he did in spades, taking both the 10 and 25-mile Time Trial titles and the Vets 10-mile Time Trial Trophy.

Iain Cotton, in his first full season with the club, dominated the other awards. After some 20 years away from competitive riding, he found the form of his teenage years to win the Club Events Championship, the Short Distance BAR and the 10-Mile League Cup, as well as finishing runner-up behind Froud in two events.

Shaun Blow had a haul of six second and third-place medals.

Junior member Hamish Kuperus took the Hill Climb Championship and Chris Clarke claimed the Track Championship. Jim Woods was delighted to receive the popular vote award of Club Member of the Year.

Alan Murchison, accompanied by partner Vicky Gill, entertained and educated the audience with his insights into nutrition for athletic performance. A renowned Michelin-starred chef and former restaurateur, Alan now focuses his life around his other passions – elite level cycling and running, and the nutritional aspects of both.

Murchison ran for Scotland in his early athletics career, but has gone on to win European and World AG duathlon titles. He is one of very few athletes to have run a sub-30min 10km race and ridden a sub-20min 10-mile time trial.

Vicky Gill is a professional triathlete and the Winchester-based pair both regularly take part in the Alton evening time trials, very often carrying off fastest times.