Billy Oliver (Team Bottrill) took the win in the Royal Dean Forest CC 25-mile time trial, staged on the R25/7 near Usk on Sunday.

Dark cloud, thin drizzle and a light breeze heralded the first race of the year on the Usk course between Monmouth and Raglan. The tester’s perennial nightmare – roadworks - meant a slight change in the parcours with a dip in times because of the extra undulations added in.

Oliver made a good weekend for Team Bottrill by opening his account for the season with a 53.41, fending off the challenge of Harry Walton (Cheltenham and County CC) by 27 seconds. Lyn Jones (EC Cycles) came third, another 28 seconds back with 54.36.

Oliver found it tough going, saying: “There was a cold biting wind in your face all the way until the final turn, with a tailwind back towards the finish. It’s a good, honest course, but the long dual carriageway run into the headwind is evil.

“Respect to the marshals and the starters stood out in it. I threw the aero-gains out the window, preferring a big base layer and winter gloves. It was a relief to get the result.”

Claire Hann (BAD Tri) won the women’s race with 1.04.51, nearly four minutes up on Michelle Robertson (Abercynon RC) with 1.-8.38. VC Raphael-Waites took the team prize, George Jones being the only junior amongst them, along with Andy Bevan and Jason Streather.

Results:
Position Name Club Cat Result
1 Billy Oliver Team Bottrill S 53:41
2 Harry Walton Cheltenham & County CC S 54:08
3 Lyn Jones E.C. Cycles V 54:36
4 Paul Jones Severn Valley Cycles S 56:11
5 Daniel Gough Swansea University Road Team S 56:29
6 Steven Powell Cwmcarn Paragon Road Club S 56:31
7 Jason Streather Velo Club St Raphael V 56:47
8 David Bucknall Royal Dean Forest Cycle Club V 56:48
9 Jay Hookins Offcamber S 56:49
10 Billy Dyer Devizes Town Cycling Club V 57:23
11 Gareth Jones Clevedon & District RC V 57:34
12 Paul Milner Worcester St. Johns CC V 57:45
13 Chris Martin Yeovil CC V 57:51
14 George Jones Velo Club St Raphael J 58:07
15 Graeme Davis Dursley RC V 58:25
16 Tim Butt Banbury Star CC V 58:49
17 Tom Cox Northover Vets Team V 59:21
18 Chris Fishbourne Abercynon Road Club V 59:29
19 David Evans Team Echelon - Rotor V 59:33
20 David Wilson-Evans Bynea Cycling Club V 59:35
21 David Francis Team NBCC V 59:43
22 Paul Stephens Ross on Wye & Dist CC V 59:51
23 Simon Dighton Beacon Roads CC V 59:57
24 Colin Wallace Merthyr Cycling Club V 1:00:08
25 Lloyd Morgan Cardiff Ajax CC V 1:00:11
26 Paul Jones Royal Dean Forest Cycle Club V 1:00:12
27 Danny Baker Somerset Road Club S 1:00:37
28 Simon Wix VTTA S.Wales V 1:00:40
29 Andy Bevan Velo Club St Raphael V 1:00:49
30 Justin Ford CC Blaenau Gwent V 1:00:53
31 Derek Dowdeswell Gloucester City CC V 1:01:17
32 Ian Lindsay Gloucester City CC V 1:01:23
33 David Wood Stourbridge Velo V 1:02:05
34 Gerry Mcgarr Gloucester City CC V 1:02:08
35 Austin Packer Cheltenham & County CC S 1:02:09
36 Carl Banwell Acme Whs (Rhondda) CC V 1:02:13
37 Chris Woolley Rhondda Triathlon Club V 1:02:15
38 Paul Lambert Chippenham & Dist. Whs V 1:02:35
39 Simon Kinsey Acme Whs (Rhondda) CC V 1:02:51
40 Kevin Bartlemore Acme Whs (Rhondda) CC V 1:03:08
41 Adrian Osborn Stratford Cycling Club V 1:03:28
42 Cliff Voller Newbury RC V 1:03:55
43 Karl Davies Stourbridge Velo V 1:03:59
44 Claire Hann (W) Bristol & District Triathletes (BAD TRI) W 1:04:51
45 Matthew Heaman Severn Valley Cycles V 1:05:13
46 Digby Rusling Royal Dean Forest Cycle Club V 1:05:56
47 Martin Waller Somerset Road Club V 1:05:59
48 Mathew Atkins Cardiff Triathletes V 1:06:04
49 John Shehan Bynea CC V 1:06:25
50 Jonny Webb Gannet CC V 1:06:30
51 Michelle Robertson (W) Abercynon Road Club W 1:08:38
52 Gaynor Hughes (W) Bynea Cycling Club W 1:09:14
53 Simon Fairclough Cwmcarn Paragon Road Club S 1:10:16
54 Gareth Hill Abercynon Road Club V 1:10:49
55 Diane Wilson-Evans (W) Bynea Cycling Club W 1:11:04
56 Kari Jones (W) Ride Bike Wales W 1:11:48
57 Josie Evans (W) Royal Dean Forest Cycle Club V 1:17:24
Alex Richards Abercynon Road Club S DNF
Brian Parker Abercynon Road Club V DNF
Steve Curry Ogmore Valley Whs V DNS
Gerry Peppin Corinium CC V DNS
Troy Mills Velo Club St Raphael S DNS
Ross Phelps Bristol Road Club S DNS
Clair Wadden (W) Bristol Road Club - SCU W DNS
Mark Brock Tor 2000/Kalas Sportswear Whitelake Scorpion CS) V DNS
Simon Ker Bath CC S DNS
Ben Phillips Bynea Cycling Club S DNS
Ian Deakin Mid Devon CC V DNS
Alexandre Touche Banks/Catford CC Equipe S DNS
Iain Cade Bath CC S DNS
Gareth Pugh Cwmcarn Paragon Road Club S DNS
Robin Ellis East London Velo S DNS
James Moverley Royal Dean Forest Cycle Club V DNS Apologies
Martin Keable Kettering CC V DNS Apologies
paul jones Ystwyth CC V DNS Apologies
Adam Morria Army Cycling Union S DNS Apologies
Paul Rees Bynea Cycling Club V DNS Apologies
Mark Alston University of Birmingham CC S DNS Apologies
Jon Wiggins Frome & Dist Whs S DNS Apologies
James Cook Cycology Bikes S DNS Apologies
Simon Coles Northover VT V DNS Apologies
Matt Slater Revo Racing V DNS Apologies