Oliver Peckover triumphed as fastest male while Kate Allan was fastest female at the Finsbury Park CC 25-mile time trial in Cambridgeshire on Saturday afternoon.

In a time of 46-42, Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling’s Peckover took victory ahead of David Halliday (Team Bottrill) while Howard Bayley, of Blazing Saddles, took third place in 50-11.

“It’s a really positive result for me. I’m lucky I was just able to get on the bike and do it – the start line was almost my goal, just to get there,” said 24-year-old Peckover. I just had to take it day-by-day, but this result was unexpected really and I’m really happy with it.”

In the women’s event Allan helped Team Bottrill to further success in 50-32, finishing six overall, with Angela Carpenter (…a3crg) managed 52-41 for second place and Joanna Patterson, riding for Wahoo Endurance Zone p/b Le Col, completed the podium in 53-10.

As well as renewing rivalries with Patterson after the latter’s Commonwealth Games exploits, Allan also had to contend against some unwelcome intruders on the course.

“I’m terrified of wasps and I was chased by some on the start line,” she revealed. “I think that helped with a quick start! They were chasing me the whole way round. These were really good conditions as I like the heat because I take a while to warm up so I think heat helps, it gets the muscles going quicker.”

Allan, who juggles time trialling with raising two young children and running a sports marketing firm, added: “I’m delighted to win. It was really warm on the course, and I made the decision to ride with a bladder which was a sensible choice, I took that on halfway round and really helped with the second half to be hydrated and full of carbs.

“Jo and I have been in good contact this season, she is amazing and she is on fire, so to pip her here was great.”

The time trial saw a full field of 120 riders compete, with 19 females entered while there were 20 reserve riders on standby.

The event, on course F2A/25, starts just west of Madingley and heads eastbound before turning at the Madingley roundabout and proceeding westwards on the A428 past Hardwick and Cambourne, then retracing the route on the A428 eastbound, finishing on the A1303 sliproad.

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

* A gallery of images from this event is available here

Results:

Men:

1. Oliver Peckover (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling)  46.42

2. David Halliday (Team Bottrill) 49.47

3. Howard Bayley (Blazing Saddles)          50.11

4. Nic Pillinger (St Neots CC)        50.14

5. Paul Willcox (North Road CC) 50.20

6. Andy Critchlow (Norwood Paragon CC)              50.34

Women:

1. Kate Allan (Team Bottrill)         50.32

2. Angela Carpenter (…a3crg)      52.41

3. Joanna Patterson (Wahoo Endurance Zone)    53.10

4. Emily Martin (Weaver Valley CC)          54.06

5. Louise Robinson (Essex Roads CC)        55.51

6. Chantel Coetzer (Redbridge CC)            57.28