Promoting club rider Felix Wilkinson led the way in the Tetbury Velos 10-mile time trial in Wiltshire on Sunday, setting a new course record, while Charlotte Berry (Pro-Noctis Redchilli Bikes) duplicated this feat in the women’s event.

Wilkinson celebrated his 25th birthday in style this year, continuing an impressive run of form that has seen him claim a podium finish in every open event he has participated in this year. He rode the course in 19:16, setting this as the new time to beat for future riders.

Matt Boulton (Swindon Wheelers) came second, nearly a minute off the pace clocking in at 20:11. Robert Francis (Reflex Racing) topped off the podium coming in at 20:42.

The win secured back-to-back victories for Wilkinson, while it was the first podium of the season for both Boulton and Francis.

In the women’s event things looked similar. Charlotte Berry won comfortably, setting a course record of 21:32, which saw her finish 2 minutes and 15 seconds ahead of her nearest rival.

“I’m going fairly well at the moment but wasn’t the freshest coming into it so happy with a personal best and course record,” said Berry. “Conditions were fairly good. It was a bit drizzly, but traffic levels were all good. There was a nice tailwind finish – I could have done with a bigger chainring!”

Elizabeth Williams (Stroud Valley Velos) and Jo Wilkie (Ride 24/7) claimed the remaining two places on the women’s podium, clocking in at 23:47 and 24:04 respectively.

For Berry it was not only a course record but she also smashed her personal best by 39 seconds, a time only set at the start of this month. She continues to improve, making this her third victory in a row.

For Williams it was only her second open event of the season, her first over 10 miles, so this was also a personal best for her. Wilkie was the only woman in the top three not to set a new PB, although she only finished three seconds shy of one, as her quickest time over this distance was 24:01 set in 2019.

The quickest veterans in each event were Robin Short (Cotswold Veldrijen) in the men’s with a time of 20:50 and third placed Wilkie for the women.

The U47r course begins in Cricklade and heads north up the A419 until the Duke of Gloucester Barracks where the riders turn at the Driffield junction and follow the same route back to the finish.

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

Results:

Pos   Name        Team  Cat   Time 

1     Felix Wilkinson   Tetbury Velos    Senior      19:16 course record

2     Matt  Boulton     Swindon Wheelers Senior      20:11

3     Robert      Francis     Reflex Racing    Senior      20:42

4     Robin Short Cotswold Veldrijden    Veteran     20:50

5     Rob   Pears Bath Cycling Club Veteran (winner 50-59) 20:53

6     David Bolton      Bristol South Cycling Club   Veteran (winner 50-54) 20:57

                              FEMALE     

Pos   Name        Team  Cat   Time 

1     Charlotte Emily Daisy  Berry Pro-Noctis - Redchilli Bikes - Heidi Kjeldsen      Senior      21:32 course record

2     Elizabeth   Williams    Stroud Valley Velos    Veteran     23:47

3     Jo    Wilkie      Ride 24/7   Veteran     24:04

4     Joanna      Knight      Bristol South Cycling Club   Veteran (winner 60-64)      25:08

5     Anne  Clark PDQ Cycle Coaching     Veteran     26:20:

6     Kathryn     Butt  Westbury Wheelers Veteran (winner 50-59) 28:55

Vet 60-64   Paul  Winchcombe  Chippenham & District Wheelers           22:06

Vet 70-79   Tom   Woollard    Northover VT / Rudy Project / SCS       25:35

Vet 80-89   John J      Murphy      Gloucester City Cycling Club       29:44