Melissa Denman (Ilkeston CC) and Adam Kenway (Brother UK) were fastest female and male at the Leicestershire Road Club’s 27.2-mile road bike event in Derbyshire on Sunday.

Denman clocked 1-21-40 to take a comfortable victory by almost five minutes from Beeston CC rival Sally Maitland, while another Ilkeston rider completed the podium with third – Smudge Smith clocked 1-26-27 for the AH/1 course near Twyford.

And in the men’s event Kenway’s time of 1-04-56 gave him the win by 3-37 from Ratae RC’s Alex Whitmore, with Michael Cooke (Nottingham Clarion) third, another 11 seconds off the pace.

It was an overcast day for the 27.2-mile event with a rising wind and occasional spots of rain making it even more challenging on a twisty circuit. Conditions meant that the course record set last year by professional rider James Shaw was never under threat.

Nottingham Clarion won the team prize with Cooke and Uttley being joined in the winning trio by Gavin Jones with 1-13-49, giving them a combined time of 3-31-18. Uttley was also the fastest veteran in the event.

Amongst the younger riders, Beeston CC’s Ryan Williams was the fastest junior with an impressive time of 1-11-20, while best Espoir was Ilkeston CC’s Euan Bell with 1-15-23.

This was Kenway’s second open time trial of the season so far. The former National Hill-Climb Champion placed second in the Merlin Cycles Classic Series second round road bike category. He was 13th in this same Leicestershire RC event last year, when he was 35 seconds quicker.

This was Denman’s first open time trial appearance of the season so far. She competed in this same event 12 months ago, when she placed seventh with her time of 1-20-41 being a minute quicker than her time in 2022.

The course starts near Twyford before heading south to Keyham, across to Tilton on the Hill, then once at Braunston in Rutland they head back up to Knossington, Somerby, Little Dalby and Great Dalby, where they head back down to finish just outside Twyford.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.

Results:

Men:

1. Adam Kenway (Team Brother UK) 1-04-56

2. Alex Whitmore (Ratae Road Club) 1-08-33

3. Michael Cooke (Nottingham Clarion0 1-08-44

4. Matthew Uttley (Nottingham Clarion0 1-08-45

5. Robert Rusch (The Dead Parrots) 1-08-47

6. Simon Inman (OVB) 1-09-28

Women:

1. Melissa Denman (Ilkeston CC) 1-21-40

2. Sally Maitland (Beeston CC) 1-26-23

3. Smudge Smith (Ilkeston CC) 1-26-27

=4. Gretchen Zoeller (Ilkeston CC) 1-27-08

=4. Larissa Alexander (Coalville Wheelers) 1-27-08

6. Catherine Hughes (Ilkeston CC) 1-27-44

Veterans: Matthew Uttley

Team: Nottingham Clarion (Michael Cooke, Matthew Uttley, Gavin Jones 1-13-49) 3-31-18

Juniors: Ryan Williams (Beeston CC) 1-11-20

Espoir: Euan Bell (Ilkeston CC) 1-15-23