Charmaine Pullen and Chris Fennell were fastest female and male riders respectively, as Kent Cycling Association staged a 25-mile time trial near Challock in Kent on Sunday.

Fennell, the 23-year-old from Kent who rides for The Independent Pedaler, covered the Q25/8 course between Canterbury and Ashford in 51-01 to win by more than two and a half minutes from his brother Nick Fennell (Thanet RC) who clocked 53-33, while third spot went to Andrew Meilak (VeloRefined.com Aerosmiths) with 54-54.

Behind the podium places, Nick Wilson (Rye and District Wheelers) was fourth with 56-28, while Tom Rowing (Abellio-SFA RT was fifth, another 15 seconds back.

Folkestone Velo Club veteran Charmaine Pullen, 49 and from Canterbury, was fastest female with 1-05-39 which was more than seven minutes quicker than the next best woman in Natasha Jarman (Southborough and District Wheelers), while Rebecca Wilson (Rye and District Wheeler) was just two seconds behind Jarman in third.

The Q25/8 course starts near Molash before heading to Chilham and joining the A28 Canterbury road heading north east. Riders turn before reaching the outskirts of the city, and head back down the A28 as far as Ashford, before turning once again and heading back up, finishing just west of Chilham.

Fennell secured many victories in 2018, and has already started to show good form in the 2019 season. A week before this victory in the Kent CA 25, Fennell had already notched up his first victory of the season by winning the Ogmore Valley Wheelers 25 in South Wales, clocking 46-45 to make the journey to Rhigos worthwhile.

He is next due to be in action in the Kent CA 10 next Sunday as well as the Thanet RC two-up 9.5-mile event on Easter Monday. After that, he has also entered the VTTA Kent 30 on April 28.

Pullen’s victory is not her first of 2019, although she had to share the spoils with Hannah Graveney as they both clocked 24-56 to jointly win the Southborough and District Wheelers 10 on New Year’s Day.

She is also down to ride the Thanet Road Club two-up event on April 22, as well as the VTTA Kent 30-mile test on April 28.

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