SOME of the best para-cyclists in the country flocked to Essex to compete in the National Para-Cycling Championships.

Hosted by Southend Wheelers, athletes with conditions ranging from cerebral palsy to visual and physical impairments gathered in Canewdon and at Ilford’s Redbridge Cycling Centre last weekend to compete in disciplines involving hand cycles, tandem bikes and time-trial machines.

The time-trial - which started at King Edmund’s School in Rochford, was won by reigning C5 champion William Bjergfelt ahead of Paul Simmons, who was racing with a broken vertebrae.

In the tandem class, Stephen Bate MBE and Adam Dugglebury MBE were in a class of their own and Laura Cluxton and Matilda Gurney took the honours in the women’s class.

In the female C class, Frances Brown and Alex Brooke-Turner (H4/5 hand cycle category) were the winners.

“It was a huge honour to be asked by British Cycling to host the National Para-Cycling Championships and welcome some of the top athletes in the UK to Essex,” said Adam Jones, of Southend Wheelers.

“Many said how much they’d enjoyed their experiences over the two days, with the time trialists complimenting the Canewdon course. Frances Brown, who won the WC1 event, tweeted her thanks for the club running a well organised and smooth event, adding that she thought the course was fun and challenging.

“It was also wonderful to see members of the public spectating along the route, applauding the competitors and cheering them on and marvelling at how fast disabled people can pedal a bike or power a hand cycle.”

For full results, visit southendwheelers.org.