Gillingham and District Wheelers / Wheels Cycles 18.8

Joanne Jago and James Pittard were fastest female and male riders at the early-season Gillingham and District Wheelers 18.4-mile time trial in Somerset on Saturday afternoon.

41-year-old Bristol-based Jago, riding for Performance Cycles CC, clocked 57-40 to win the prize for fastest female by 1-36 from Isabella McNally (Westbury Wheelers), while vet Joanna Knight (Bristol South CC) was third, another 4-24 behind.

Pittard, the 23-year-old Didcot Phoenix CC rider from Wantage, covered the course in 44-36 to win overall by 18 seconds from Robert Francis (Pronto Bikes), with third spot going to the promoting club’s vet Shawn Gray in 46-12.

The course begins in Bruton and leads the riders down the B3081. Riders then head to Stoney Stoke and turn left through Charlton Musgrove where they follow the road north almost along the A303 until they are on the B3092.

From there they pass through Zeals, Stourton, Wilmington and North Brewham until reaching the finish near the junction with the A359 in Bruton.

Pittard placed second in the Chippenham and District Wheelers 22-mile event the previous weekend, while for Jago this was her first open time trial of the year.

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