George Evans and Sally Cunliffe were fastest male and female riders respectively as Chester Road Club staged their annual 14-mile early season time trial in Cheshire on Saturday afternoon.

Evans, the 20-year-old Team Bottrill-Vanguard rider from Wrexham, clocked 29.41 for the D14/2 near Broxton to win by almost two minutes from Chester Road Club’s own Tom Brazier, who was also second in the 2017 event. Third spot went to Philip Ellison (Thatto Cycles), another 14 seconds back.

Fastest woman was Sally Cunliffe (VC Melyd), the 2017 winner. The 61-year-old from Flintshire clocked 39.25 this time, more than two minutes quicker than her winning time from 12 months previously.

That gave her the win in this year’s event by almost three minutes from Milly Deer (North Shropshire Wheelers), while Sharon Clifford (She Hair RT) was third, another minute back.

Marsh Track RT rider Chris Mann was once again the fastest junior rider with a time of 33-36, being 1-49 quicker than he clocked in the 2017 event. He took the win by 2-30 from Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Ronnie Tse, while Jamie O’Connor (Chester RC) was third.

And the veterans on target time was won narrowly by David Wilson (North Shropshire Wheelers). He covered the course in 41.29 to give him a plus of 4-04, just three seconds better than Revolution Racing’s Stuart Proctor.

The event was run off on a cold but bright and sunny afternoon, with only a light south easterly wind which gave the 89 riders a tailwind start – but once they were in the sheltered lanes the wind was not much of a factor.

Starting out near the junction of the A41 and the A534, the course takes riders on an anti-clockwise loop, turning left towards Aldford and down the B5130 through Churton, around the fringes of Holt before heading back east along the A534 towards the finish.

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

Results:

1. George Evans (Team Bottrill-Vanguard)   29.41 (course record)

2. Tom Brazier (Chester Road Club)  31.34

3. Philip Ellison (Thatto Cycles)        31.48

4. Alex Jones (Team Elite)     32.08

5. Dave Cullen (Tri Central UK)        32.21

=6. Toby Williams (Liverpool Phoenix CC)  32.58

=6. John Thelwell (Tri Central UK)   32.58

8. Steve Downey (Pirate Juice)           33.07

9. Mike Hill (Chester RC)      33.24

10. Tony Cullen (Tri Central UK)      33.30

Team: Tri Central UK (Dave Cullen, John Thelwell, Tony Cullen)  1:38.49

Women:

1. Sally Cunliffe (VC Melyd) 39.25

2. Milly Deer (North Shropshire Wh) 42.21

3. Sharon Clifford (She Hair RT)       43.19

Juniors:

1. Chris Mann (Marsh Tracks RT)     33.36

2. Ronnie Tse (Mid Shropshire Wh)  36.06

3. Jamie O’Connor (Chester RC)       37.12

Veterans on target time:

1. David Wilson (North Shropshire Wh) (41.29)       +4.04

2. Stuart Proctor (Revolution Racing) (33.39)           +4.01

3. Mark Brierton (Wigan Wheelers) (33.38)  +3.29