NEW Forest Cycling Club's Phil Gates was pleased to improve his personal best ten-mile time on Sunday in the Salisbury Road Club-promoted East Dorset Cycling Association event staged at Andover.

Triathlete Gates, who fits in swimming, running and cycle training around his job at Fawley Refinery, clocked 24.41, which earned him 22nd place, and trimmed ten seconds from his previous best time recorded back in April.

The 39-year-old said conditions were perfect for fast times and had nothing but admiration for the winning 21.04 from VC St Raphael's Mark Wareham.

"It was a good day, a beautiful morning. Ideal conditions. It's been good to get a couple of 24s this year," he said.

Second place went to Andy White-head of Thurcroft CC with 21.4, while Andover Wheelers' William Grainger was third with 22.05.

New Milton-based Terry Jefferies of Salisbury Road Club finished one place ahead of Gates with 24.35.

Another New Forest CC competitor Pete Walsh was pleased to finish with 26.05 for 34th place.

Last week's annual 8.5-mile time trial promoted by New Forest CC for the Cyclists' Touring Club New Forest Week had to be cancelled for the first time because of heavy rain.

Visibility was very poor, particularly on the busy B3054 section of the course between Hatchet Pond and Bull Hill crossroads.