Matthew Wales (Pirate Juice CC) and Andrew Bradbury (Congleton CC) shared victory in the Manchester & District TTA 25 with both riders posting the exact same time, while Claire Harrison (Congleton CC) won the women’s event.

Wales and Bradbury both posted the same time of 52 minutes and three seconds to share the victory in Cheshire.

The event saw riders start on King’s Lane and then complete a starting loop heading down to Cranage before joining the A50 back onto the main course.

The main course saw riders complete two laps of a triangle shaped course heading out on the B5082 towards Rudheath, near Nortwich, before heading down on the A530 on the longest leg down to Middlewich before heading back to the finish on the B5081.

A torrential downpour in morning made way in time for the race to be held in warm and sunny conditions.

Wales was searching for his first ever open victory with a previous best fifth placed finish in last month’s Buxton CC/Sett Valley Cycles 10.

On that occasion Bradbury was the winner beating Wales by 34 seconds, but that deficit was reduced over the longer course as they shared honours on this occasion.

Alastair Ribbands (Manchester Wheelers) won the Crewe Clarion Wheelers 16.5 in May but had to settle for third this time out 35 seconds behind the winning pair.

Quickest veteran on scratch was Alan Chorley (Seamons CC) who clocked 53-32 ahead of team-mate Adrian Hughes in second (55-59) while Chris Southworth (Manchester Bicycle Club) was third veteran in 56-02.

The women’s event was dominated by Congleton CC riders who took the first three placings.

Taking part in her first open event of the season Harrison led the way with a winning time of 1-01-52 which was over six minutes faster than her nearest rival.

That came in the form of team-mate Lynsey Astles who finished second in 1-08-17 while fellow Congleton CC rider Lesley Norbury completed the top three in 1-14-21.

Results

=1 Matthew Wales (Pirate Juice CC) 52.03                                                                                                            

=1 Andrew Bradbury (Congleton CC) 52.03                                                                                                           

3 Alastair Ribbands (Manchester Wheelers) 52.38

4 Alan Chorley (Seamons CC) 53.32                                                          

5 Tristan Pilling (University of Derby Cycling Club) 53.52                                                                                 

6 Alex Raynard (Team Lifting Gear Products/Cycles In Motion) 55.13                                        

7 Adrian Hughes (Seamons CC)  55.59                                                                                                    

8 Chris Southworth (Manchester Bicycle Club) 56.02                                                        

9 Steven Hilton (Warrington Road Club/Horton Light Engineering) 56.30                                                 

10 Paul Shallicker (Coveryourcar.co.uk RT - Fitted and Tailored Car Covers) 56.31                               

Women

1 Claire Harrison (Congleton CC) 1:01.52                                                                                                

2 Lynsey Astles (Congleton CC) 1:08.17                                                                                                  

3 Lesley Norbury (Congleton CC) 1:14.21