Francesca Hall and Andy Nichols tackled undulating roads and tricky conditions to finish top of the timesheets in the Matlock CC 25-mile time trial on Saturday.

“It was foul weather – it was wet and what felt like gale force winds so it wasn’t particularly nice,” said women’s category winner Francesca Hall.

Nichols (B38/Cycles in Motion) is no stranger to an increasing gradient in time trialling, winning two hill-climb events along with a very respectable sixth place in the National Hill-Climb Championships last year.

The 29-year-old who now lives in Sheffield put his climbing skills to the test, posting a 1-00-33 to take his first victory of the year by 28 seconds after being set a marker by David Fellows.

Fellows (Solihull CC) had powered out of the blocks just a minute ahead of Nichols, setting a target of 1-01-01 – only winner Nichols could surpass that, leaving Fellows with his best result since September in second.

Rounding off the podium was Joseph Clark (Cycling Sheffield Giant) who clocked 1-03-14.

Francesca Hall (DAP Cycling Club) made the trip from Loughborough and fended off stiff competition to take victory in the women’s category.

A gap of one minute separated 23-year-old Hall from second placed Claire Swoboda as the youngster crossed the line in 1-13-31, quite impressive considering her navigational skills weren’t at their peak.

“I ended up going the wrong way – I took the wrong turning before a big climb so I lost a little time but it was good to get a good difficult ride in early on in the season,” exclaimed Hall.

“It was a really tough and interesting course, especially with the weather but it was quite a challenge on the hills – although it was nice have a traffic-free day and clear course to go at,” Hall continued.

An eight-time podium finisher including three wins, Hall is on course to surpass her 2018 campaign, one she wasn’t ecstatic with.

“I’m looking to improve on last year – it wasn’t a great season for me so a personal improvement is my goal. It would also be great to push for a top ten in one of the National Championships.”

Second-placed Swoboda (VC St Raphael) clocked 1-14-31 with Yasmin Marks (Beeston CC) a further three minutes adrift in 1-17-40.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. This report by Jack Cudworth.

Results:

1    Andy Nichols    B38/Cycles In Motion Male Senior     1:00:33

2    David Fellows    Solihull CC     Male Senior     1:01:01

3    Joseph     Clark CYCLING SHEFFIELD Giant    Male Senior     1:03:14

4    William    Perrett    University of Derby Cycling Club     Male Senior     1:03:25

5    Nicholas   Latimer    B38/Cycles In Motion Male Senior     1:05:01

6    Steve Gibson     Peak Road Club  Male Veteran 2  1:05:46

7    Rob Watkinson  Doncaster Wheelers C.C.    Male Veteran 1  1:06:13

8    Timothy    Jones University of Nottingham C C    Male Espoir     1:07:57

9    Kevin White Matlock CC Male Veteran 2  1:07:59

9    Andrew     Hicklin    Peak Road Club  Male Veteran 2  1:07:59

11   James Mellor     7 Hills Cycling Club Male Espoir     1:08:03

12   Daryl May  Sheffrec CC     Male Veteran 1  1:09:54

13   Hamish     Mcdougall  B38/Cycles In Motion Male Senior     1:11:21

14   Scott Harrison   Tuxford Clarion C C  Male Veteran 1  1:12:00

15   Trevor     Mayne Birdwell Wheelers    Male Veteran 2  1:12:30

16   Francesca  Hall D A P Cycling Club   Female     Senior     1:13:31

17   Claire     Swoboda    Velo Club St Raphael Female     Veteran 1  1:14:31

18   Giles White Sherwood CC     Male Veteran 2  1:15:18

19   Yasmin     Marks Beeston Cycling Club Female     Senior     1:17:40

20   Michael    Wilkinson  North Notts Olympic CC     Male Veteran 2  1:25:50

21   Andrew     Marshall   Matlock CC Male Veteran 2  1:26:40

22   Nigel Finch Mercia - Lloyds Cycles CC  Male Veteran 3  1:27:25

23   Howard     Partridge  TFN Triathlon Club   Male Veteran 3  1:27:32

24   Neil Devonport  TFN Triathlon Club   Male Veteran 3  1:42:13

x    Robert     Fowler     Rutland Cycling Club Male Veteran 1  DNF

x    Brad Pollitt    Chester Triathlon Club     Male Senior     Dns

x    Steven     Lyons Team Wheelguru  Male Veteran 2  Dns

x    Hannah     Larbalestier    Team Boompods   Female     Senior     Dns

x    John Hassall    Bossard Whs     Male Veteran 3  DNS

x    John Potter     Matlock CC Male Veteran 1  Dns

x    Lee  Statham    Houghton CC     Male Veteran 1  Dns

     Name Name Club       Status     Finish Time