RICHARD Gildea achieved an amazing third place when competing against some of the county’s finest riders in the National 12-hour Time Trial Championships at Bentley, Hampshire.

The 32-year-old Didcot Phoenix member clocked an astonishing 300.9 miles.

Gildea, who only took up time-trialling in 2015, last year broke the 50-mile and 100-mile club records and came 11th in the national hill-climb competition.

This was his first attempt at the 12-hour test, and it proved a memorable day, the event coinciding with his fifth wedding anniversary.

Abingdon cyclist Kate Bradley managed 237 miles, while Wallingford-based Alison Vessey clocked 220 miles.