News & Features

The predicted fast times in South Wales materialised over the weekend, as Chris Fennell (The Independent Pedaler) clocked 45-06 for the R25/3h to win the Bynea CC 25 on Sunday.

Meanwhile, his team-mate Emma Lewis stopped the timekeepers watches in 49-41, a new personal best time by 57 seconds and only the second time a woman has gone under 50 minutes for the distance.

Meanwhile, Josh Tarling (Team Backstedt Bike Performance) wasn’t far off the juvenile competition record, the 15-year-old clocking 49-14.

Competition record holder Marcin Bialoblocki was a non-starter.

Elsewhere, Ben Stancombe and Becky Taylor both broke course records on their way to victory in the Godric CC 50 in Norfolk.

Stancombe (Team Velovelocity) was 39 seconds faster than the previous course best by a male rider, while Becky Taylor (Wisbech Wheelers) beat her own course record by more than three minutes.

Portishead CC’s Arthur Franklin was a clear winner of the 73 Degrees Bicycles/Chippenham & District Wheelers 50-mile event in Wiltshire on Sunday.

His time of 1-50-06 was more than two minutes clear of runner-up Nick Livermore (Bristol South CC), while fastest female was another Bristol South rider in Kate Mactear with 2-13-28.

In Essex, veteran Colin Ward (Essex Roads CC) covered the E21/50 near Fambridge in 1-44-27 to take an even more convincing victory. He was nine and a half minutes quicker than his nearest rival in second spot, while top female was Chelmer CC’s Lauren Kirchel with 2-04-44.

Mark Smith (Crawley Wheelers) continued his good recent form with victory in the Southern Counties CU 50 near Dial Post in West Sussex, setting new course and event records even after riding to and from the event!

His time of 1-45-55 was more than six minutes better than runner-up Stephen Williamson (a3crg), while Jane Wiley (7Oaks Tri Club) was top female in 2-17-11.

And in Kent, Neil Lauder (Arctic Tacx) completed a weekend double with victory in the Kent CA 50 near Brenzett. He clocked 1-47-05 to win by just 23 seconds from Andrew Meilak (VeloRefined Aerosmiths), while Pip Jenkins (Southborough and District Wheelers) was best woman in 1-58-51.

Lauder had won the Southborough and District Wheelers 10 the previous day.

Former National 25 and 50 medallist Emily Robertson (NOPINZ) clocked 55-33 to finish the Bossard Wheelers charity 25 near Tempsford in Bedfordshire as top female and eighth fastest overall, while Luke Clarke (TMG Horizon) was overall winner with 51-09.

Over the same distance, Joseph Dobson (Manchester BC) was fastest in the Chester RC event at Prees in Shropshire, while Kate Giddings (Liverpool Century RC) was fastest woman with 1-00-07.

Team Swift colleagues Gemma Frost and Lewis Timmins were the winners of the testing Alnwick CC 13-mile event in Northumberland.

Timmins covered the testing course in 27-43, which was 47 seconds better than runner-up Phil Hall (Breeze Bikes), while Frost covered the M13 in 31-56.

And also on Saturday, Stuart Fairweather (Team Velovelocity) and Rebecca Johnson (Brother.UK) were fastest male and female riders at the Anglia Velo 10 near Earsham in Norfolk.

Fairweather was the only rider to go under the 20-minute mark with 19-57, while Matt O’Brien (Plomesgate CC) was second with 20-49. Johnson’s time of 23-03 was 48 seconds better than Cindy Berry (DAP CC).

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.

* See the individual event listings for more detailed reports on these and other time trials.