David Fellows continued his fine start to the 2024 season with victory at the Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club 2024 Hardriders 21-mile time trial on Sunday morning, with Naomi de Pennington finishing as quickest female.

Having won at Matlock CC 25-mile time trial in his opening event of the season, Solihull CC rider Fellows followed that up by setting 47-55 to win ahead of Max Bolton (Oxford University CC) who set 48-34, while a time of 51-02 helped Josh Lovell of the promoting club to take the final spot on the podium.

Fourth fastest overall and fastest road bike went to Richard Santhouse, in more success for the promoting club, who stopped the clock at 52-27.

On his success, Fellows said: “It was a tough headwind on the out leg and it was the first time in eight months I’d ridden my time trial bike in anger - but I stayed as aero as I could until the turn then worked to keep the speed high on the return leg but save as much as I could for the hill.

“When I got to the top I felt like I’d done enough to take the win for a fifth time. So it was just a case of cruising the last three miles. Thanks to Banbury Star CC for such a great event over the years!”

In the women’s event, de Pennington managed 54-35 to take the honours ahead Lydia Watts (Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club) who finished in 57-48, while Team Boompods rider Sian Marsh was just a second back in third in 57-49.

Fastest female on a road bike went to Ellen Reynolds, with 1:02-33 enough for the Elevate RT rider to also take fourth overall.

This event, run on the K4/21 course, starts just west of Banbury in Wroxton and sees riders head northwest on the a422 before curving around Blackwell Wood and then continuing westbound through Pillerton Priors until reaching Ettington, where riders turn and retrace the route all the way back to the finish life.

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

Results:

Open:

1. David Fellows (TT Bike) Solihull CC       47.55

2. Max Bolton (TT Bike) Oxford University CC       48.34

3. Josh Lovell (TT Bike) Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club           51.02

4. Richard Santhouse (Road Bike) Banbury Star Cyclists' Club        52.27

5. Simon Smith (TT Bike) ZeroBC Race Team         52.34

6. Ben Dodd (Royal Leamington Spa Cycling Club) 53.04

7. Nick Nixon (TT Bike) Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club          53.17

8. Tobi Ng (TT Bike) Team PB Performance 53.18

9. Thomas Briers (TT Bike) DRAG2ZERO  53.27

10. Cian Leveridge (TT Bike) Team PB Performance            53.54

Female:

1. Naomi de Pennington (TT Bike) DRAG2ZERO   54.35

2. Lydia Watts (TT Bike) Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club          57.48

3. Sian Marsh (TT Bike) Team Boompods     57.49

4. Ellen Reynolds (Road Bike) Elevate RT    1:02.33

5. Jill McKinnon (TT Bike) Kenilworth Wheelers     1:07.00

6. Hayley Holland (Road Bike) Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club            1:09.14

7. Kim Shaw (TT Bike) Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club            1:11.26