Ian Lawton (Mersey Tri) took victory by 44 seconds in the West Cheshire Time Trial Cycling Association 50, while Deb Hutson-Lumb (Wrekinsport CC) won the women’s event.

Lawton, aged 40, matched his personal best 50-mile time of one hour, 50 minutes and 55 seconds to take his first victory of the season.

The D50/3R saw riders start on the A49 at Prees before heading north up to Prees Heath and then joining the A41 down to Tern Hill.

Competitors then completed a short out and back leg on the A53 to Market Drayton before heading onto the longest leg on the A53 and then A442 down to Wellington before making the return journey to Prees.

A cold temperature greeted riders in Shropshire and a gruelling headwind for the last 22 miles which hampered times.

Lawton was taking part in his first open time trial of the season with his last win coming in the Liverpool Braveheart BC 2-up in September 2019.

The battle for the podium positions was a tough one throughout with Ben Goodwin (Fibrax Wrexham CC) finishing second in 1-51-39 while veteran Tim Beardmore (Bridgnorth CC) placed third a further 36 seconds back.

Spindata had predicted that Lawton would be beaten by Beardmore recording a time of 1-51-38 but in reality his winning time was 43 seconds faster.

In the women’s event Hutson-Lumb, aged 57, recorded a second win of the season clocking a winning time of 2-08-37.

She also won the Velotik RT 15 in April and took his second win of the season finishing 58 seconds ahead of Joanna Cebrat (Bury Clarion CC).

Spindata had predicted that Hutson-Lumb would win in a time of 2-05-55 but the tough homeward conditions meant her finishing time was three minutes slower.

She was however almost a minute ahead of runner-up Joanna Cebrat (Bury Clarion) in 2-09-35, while third spot went to Janet Fairclough (Liverpool Phoenix CC) in 2-18-19.

And the team prize went to Wrexham Fibrax Road Club, with the winning trio being Ben Goodwin, Alistair Brown and Richard Elmitt.

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

Results:

Men:

1 Ian Lawton (Mersey Tri) 1:50.55

2 Ben Goodwin (Fibrax Wrexham CC) 1:51.39

3 Tim Beardmore (Bridgnorth CC) 1:52.15

Women:

1 Deb Hutson-Lumb (Wrekinsport CC) 2:08.37

2 Joanna Cebrat (Bury Clarion CC) 2:09.35

3 Janet Fairclough (Liverpool Phoenix CC) 2:18.19