Wilson sets new record, Booth fastest female at Levens 10
Simon Wilson (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) set a new course record on his way to taking the men’s victory at the Springfield Financial Charity 10, while Erica Booth (Lancashire Road Club) won the women’s event.
Wilson, aged 41 and from Padiham in Lancashire, set a new course record 17 minutes and 29 seconds to break the previous course record of 17:53 set by Dan Bigham in August 2020.
Carrying on his form from the Tour of Britain, he was delighted at taking a huge 24 seconds off his fellow Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling team-mates record.
The popular L1015 South Lakeland out and back course, saw a significant number of riders withdraw overnight as heavy rain was forecast during the night and early morning. But as dawn broke the rain stopped and as the first rider started at 7.30 the course was dry with barely any wind. That left near perfect conditions for the remaining 64 riders from the original 90.
In the women’s competition 42-year-old Erica Booth took victory clocking a time of 22-12. Joanna Cebrat (Bury Clarion CC) took second with 23:27 and Sue Cheetham (North Lancashire Road Club) was third in 24:57.
This was Wilson’s first ride since he placed third at the National 25-Mile Championship in August, and also comes after he took top spot in the National Team Time Trial Championship in June alongside Bigham and James Shaw.
Booth’s victory was her fifth open time trial win of the season, having won the Lancashire Road Club 25 and East Lancashire Road Club 25-mile events in July, as well as the VC Cumbria 25 in June and the Barrow Central Wheelers 21 in May.
Wilson’s time of 17-29 gave him victory on the day by over a minute and a half from Richard Bickley (Giant Kendal RT), with David Ashton (Army Cycling) taking third.
An impressive fourth place went to 15-year-old juvenile Patrick Casey (Team Lifting Gear Products) in 19-17 and missed out on a podium finish by just three seconds.