Espoir Kieran Morris (Oswestry Paragon CC) took a close victory by just 12 seconds in the Mid Shropshire Wheelers 10-mile time trial, while Frances Owen (Fibrax Wrexham CC) paced her way to victory in the women’s event.

After clocking 19-30 in the Hemel Hempstead CC a week earlier, 20-year-old Morris was looking to continue his good form and took the win in a time of 19-44 on the slower D10/23r course near Waters Upton.

Ben Lloyd (Fibrax Wrexham RC) and David Griffiths (Oswestry Paragon CC) joined him on the podium in the men’s event, Lloyd being the nearest with 19:56 and Griffiths finishing in 20:05.

The D10/23r is an out and back course which goes north along the A442 leading up to Hodnet where the riders encircle Espley Island and retrace back to the finish.

Morris was riding for the seventh time this season, having claimed a podium in one of those events earlier this year, where he finished second at the Nova Raiders 25-mile time trial event, another ride in Shropshire.

Lloyd was claiming his first podium finish of the season, making this also his highest placed finish this year in an open event. He closed out 2020 very well, finishing off with two wins but he is just now beginning to carry that form into this season. For Griffiths this secured back-to-back podiums for the first time this season.

In the women’s event it was 29-year-old Frances Owen that took top spot, finishing the course in 22.12, just short of 30 seconds quicker than the second placed rider.

It took a personal best of 22:41 for second-placed Monica Greenwood (Macclesfield Wheelers) to beat her nearest rival who followed behind just a second later, with a time of 22:42 for Charlotte Boothman (Team Lusso) who finished in third.

Owen had won her last three open events prior to this one, all over varying distances too. Her last event was a 100-mile ride in the Welsh Championships where she claimed gold, that did not slow her down today though as she showed her strength over the shorter distance and came away on top pf the podium yet again.

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

* A full gallery of images from this event by Kimroy Photography is available here

Results:

Men:

1. Kieran Morris Oswestry Paragon CC 19:44
2. Ben Lloyd Fibrax Wrexham RC 19:56
3. David Griffiths Oswestry Paragon CC 20:05
4. Dean Callister Nova Raiders CC 20:27
5. Chris Humphries Onimpex Bioracer RT 20:30
6. Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing 20:33

Women:

1. Frances Owen Fibrax Wrexham 22:12
2. Monica Greenwood Macclesfield Wheelers 22:41
3. Charlotte Boothman Team Lusso 22:42
4. Jenny Newton Nova Raiders CC 25:18
5. Tanya Samuels Fibrax Wrexham RC 27:01
6. Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 27:12