YORK racers Rich Sharp and Jess Bacon are targeting British Cycling National Time Trial Championships glory after enjoying their best seasons in the saddle so far.

Sharp is also wanting to become one of the UK's top ten fastest-ever club time trial riders over ten miles as he continues his upward trajectory.

Sharp, 33, currently sits top of the Yorkshire Cycling Federation Time Trial League table, having won back-to-back races in April at the Ravensthorpe Cycling Club ten-miler and the YCF event, against some of the best riders in the region.

He has twice gone under 20 minutes in ten-mile time trials - a notable achievement for amateur racers - firstly when winning a YCF event in April (19 minutes 59 seconds) and again when fourth at the City Road Club Hull event a month ago (19-52) - where the great Bradley Wiggins raced last year in an attempt to break the British record for Alex Dowsett's fastest-ever ten-mile TT by a professional, which stands at a ludicrous 17-20.

Sharp is now targeting a sub 19-minute time this year for a ten-miler.

His latest outing brought a fourth-placed finish in the YCF League 15-mile time trial this month, when he clocked 29-34 for an average speed of 30.6mph.

Bacon, 37, has only been racing for five years but is currently on a roll of six wins from eight club race starts this year, beating the course record in Holme Valley Wheelers' 25-mile TT at Leeming Bar last time out.

After winning a bronze medal at the UCI World Masters in Denmark last year - less than a year after her daughter was born - she is now targeting even faster times and medals at the national TT championships.

The pair's rise has coincided with their partnership with York Cycleworks, which began last September on the back of decent campaigns in time trials. As "ambassadors" for the store, they receive kit, coaching advice, performance testing and mechanical assistance.

A spokesman for York Cycleworks said: "Rich's goals for the rest of the season are to race at the nationals for the ten- and 25-mile TTs and to attempt to go below 19 minutes for a ten-miler, which is some going for an amateur.

"Jess wants to place well at the national 10 and 25 TT championships, as well as looking to race her first 50 and 100-mile races. She is also aiming to ride a sub 21-minute ten-mile TT, which again would be something special."

* YORK Cycleworks are organising two women's races at the cycling circuit at York Sports Village on Saturday.

It starts at 1.30pm with a Go Race! 30-minute friendly race for ladies trying it out. This will be followed at 2.30pm with a 40-minute Category 2/3/4 race for club riders wanting to gain category points and for anyone wanting race experience.

A spokesman said: "The aim of these races is to promote women's cycling and encourage women to get into racing in a fun, friendly and supportive environment."

For details, visit yorkcycleworks.com or phone on 01904 626664.

* ALEX DALTON, of Wold Top Actif Racing Team, won the Clifton Cycling Club Road Races at the Sheriff Hutton circuit.

Although the weather stayed dry for the League of Veteran Racing Cyclists race in the morning, rain affected the final stages of the British Cycling summer road race in the afternoon.

It was still ridden at relatively high pace, which nullified virtually every attack, with no one getting more than 30 seconds ahead.

Results

British Cycling, Clifton Clifton CC: 1 Alex Dalton (Wold Top Actif RT), 2 Stuart Percival (GMC Fire Services), 3 Andrew Sedgewick (Langsett Cycles RT), 4 Fraser Rounds (Unnat), 5 Daniel Smith (TS Racing Team OTR), 6 Levi Moody (Drops CT), 7 Gavin Ward (Prima Team racing), 8 Richard Moore (Squadra RT), 9 Jay McCarthy (Green jersey RT), 10 Joel Hewitt (Saint Piran).

LVRC, Clifton CC, Group A: 1 James Sharp, 2 Damian Evington, 3 Simon West; Group B: 1 Robin McKinnon, 2 Steve Gibson, 3 Karl Smith; Group C: 1 Steve Ellis, 2 Martin Hopkinson, 3 Melvin Blackford; Group D: 1 Paul Stubbs, 2 Graham Balshaw, 3 Melvin Hartley. Group E: 1 Vinny Smith, 2 Garry Hill, 3 Andy Coates. Group F: 1 Reg Haigh, 2 Rob Matheson, 3 Alistair Green. Group G: 1 Richard Booth.