Simon Wilson and Charlotte Boothman were the fastest male and female riders respectively as Wigan Wheelers staged a 10-mile time trial near Bilsborrow in Lancashire on Saturday.

Wilson, the 37-year-old Ribble Pro Cycling rider from near Burnley, clocked 19.37 to take victory by 23 seconds from David Allonby (Springfield Financial Racing Team), while third spot on the podium went to Croston Velo’s Tom Rigby who was another four seconds adrift of Wilson’s pace.

And 34-year-old Boothman, the Rawtenstall-based rider with ABC Centreville, covered the L1022 course in 23-43 to take victory in the women’s category by nine seconds from Team Merlin rival Deborah Moss, while Lindsey Styler (Croston Velo) was third fastest female, another 1-21 back.

“It was fairly cold to start with, and there was a headwind on the way out,” said Wilson. “It’s good to get another win, but really I just wanted to get a good ride in on a course which was being used for an open time trial for the first time.

“I thought it would be faster out and hard on the way back, but it was the other way round I think. The profile looks like it should be draggy on the way back but it wasn’t too bad.”

Although it’s only a small village, Bilsborrow provided congestion for some riders, although nothing too worrying for most in the event.

The L1022 course starts near Claughton-on-Brock and heads south on the A6 through Bilsborrow (where the event headquarters was based at the village hall), through Barton and on to Broughton, before turning round and retracing north.

For Wilson, this was the latest in a string of victories as his 2018 season continues to start well.

He has won all four events he has ridden so far in 2018. The Manchester BC 12.4-kilometre event in early April saw him win by almost two minutes, and he followed it up with victory in the Withington Wheelers 10 the following weekend.

More recently, he won last weekend’s Runcorn CC 10 near Bickerstaffe – again being the only rider to go under the 20-minute mark and winning by 1-17.

But his luck ran out in Sunday’s Wigan Wheelers 30-mile time trial, where Wilson punctured and pulled out after five miles. He is hoping for better luck next weekend when he rides the Thames Velo Road Race.

For Boothman – just like Wilson - it was also her fourth win in the women’s category, although she has ridden several more events in 2018.

Her victories have included the Beacon Wheelers 15, the Leigh Premier RC 10 and the Kent Valley RC 22.4, while she was second fastest female at the Border City Wheelers 20 and North Lancs Road Club 10 back in March, as well as being runner up at the nelson Whe4elers 50 and Beacon Wheelers 10 this month.

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