We’ve lost count a bit, but we think that this year saw the eleventh, or possibly twelfth, running of the Salisbury Plain Challenge New Year Rough Ride. Thorough research aside, it’s a classic event offering 25, 38 or 50km rides or a 50km race option for the competitively minded. The turnout was, as usual, impressive, with 1,258 riders rolling out onto the Imber Ranges.

The very best conditions for the New Year Rough Ride are cold, crisp and still. On frozen ground it’s a fast course (well, not the way we ride it, but you know what we mean). This year, though, conditions were unusually mild (about ten degrees warmer than last year and well above freezing) making for soft going in places and times were generally slower than last year. Thankfully, though, it stayed dry and there wasn’t much wind – in the past we’ve done this event in winds of bike-toppling strength and been reduced to the granny ring on the flat. On a tandem.

As the first race of the year it’s always a hotly-contested affair. Last year it was Zak Toogood who took top spot, but this time around he could only manage fourth. Third was Andy Blow, second Chris Birch (Evans Cycles) and in first place Sam Gardener (Evans Cycles) in a mighty 02:03:53. Bet he didn’t stop for soup halfway round…

Full results are available at www.spambiking.co.uk. As usual, proceeds from the event go to a selection of charities including childrens’ leukaemia charity CLIC and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.