Brighton cyclist Tony Richardson always rides well in tough weather endurance events and the tenth annual Salisbury Plain Challenge was no exception.

The course, which is used for military training, is one of the toughest in the South, and was made more dificult when snow fell during the event and the temperature was below freezing.

More than 1,000 riders took part and the main 50km event had a spectacular start as around 800 riders jostled for positions on Pear Tree Hill.

Wessex road race champion Daniel Lloyd (Bournemouth Arrow) set the fastest time of the day when winning the Elite category race.in 2hr. 18min.10sec.

Richardson (Brighton Mitre) finished seventh in the Masters Category event in 2hr.33min.37sec.

Mitre's David Clark finished eighth in the Veterans' category in 2hr.46min.55sec while Toby Neave (Blazing Saddles, Rustington) finished tenth in the junior race with 3hr.50min.24sec.

Many riders now do some of their training on icy winter evenings in the garage, pedalling away on a turbo trainer.

Now the Brighton Excelsior are to hold a 12-hour Turbo Marathon on Saturday, January 26. It will take place at the Adur Outdoor Centre in Shoreham. Relays of riders will take part, including members of Shoreham's VC Jubilee Club.

The marathon starts at 9am when Sussex 12-hour champion Dave Shepherd (Rother Valley CC) will set the pedals spinning.

Money raised will go towards funding the centre's activities. The Lewes Wanderers will have much to celebrate at their annual dinner next month. Peter Baker will again collect some of the silverware, having won the club's 50 and 100-mile championship, while Chris Martin won the 25 and 30-mile titles.

Veteran rider Harry Hemsley won the club's 12-hour championship, exactly 40 years after he won the Sussex titles.

Young riders Mark Burgess and Mark Winton both had an excellent year, with Burgess wining the track championship and Winton doing well in local road races as well as winning the club's ten-mile series.