Jon Howard (Team Echelon) took a slender victory by just five seconds in the VTTA (Midlands) 15, while Kelly Murphy (AWOL O'Shea Worx) was a clear winner of the women’s event.

Veteran rider Howard recorded a winning time of 33 minutes and 45 seconds over the 15-mile distance which was just five seconds faster than Tim Beardmore (Bridgnorth Cycling Club).

The K47/15 event saw riders start just outside Welland before a tough start on the B4208 before turning onto the A438 towards Forthampton.

Turning back northerly on the undulating roads competitors passed through Longdon back towards Upton-upon-Severn back onto the A4104 for the finish.

After a wet start to the morning conditions had cleared somewhat for the event despite there still being water on some parts of the course.

Competitors faced a northerly wind making the opening section of the course challenging.

Howard finished runner-up in the same event last season losing out by nine seconds on that occasion after posting a time of 33-35.

Despite going slightly slower this time out Howard, aged 54, from Kidderminster, was not to be denied winning his first open time trial of the season.

Beardmore finished third in the Bridgnorth CC Hill 21 last weekend and went one place better this time out finishing second on scratch in 33-50.

The battle for third was equally as close as Luke Allen (Team Echelon) posted a time of 34-13 which was five seconds faster than Joseph Costello (Legato Racing Team) in 34-18.

Despite missing out on third overall on scratch Costello was the fastest veteran on age adjusted time. His Legato Racing Team also picked up the fastest team of adjusted time award Jon Howard and Susan Semple.

Haydn Davies (Giant CC Halo Films) was second veteran on adjusted time while Neil White (Ambion Racing Team) was third.

In the women’s event Murphy, aged 33, from Sutton Coldfield, posted a winning time of 34 minutes and 37 seconds to take her first open time trial victory of the season.

Susan Semple (Legato RT) led the charge behind finishing second in 39-12 while Denise Burrows (AeroCoach) was third 40-18.

In the three-up team time trial competition the ZeroBC Race Team trio of Peter Oliver, Mike Logue and Graham Winstone        took victory in a time of 35-57.

Second placed team and quickest on veteran adjusted time was Christopher Davis (Giant CC  Halo Films), Mike Amery (VC Sevale Malvern) and William Davies (VC Sevale Malvern) who stopped the clock in 39-58.

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

* A gallery of images from this event is available here

Results:

1          Jon       Howard           Team Echelon 33:45

2          Tim      Beardmore       Bridgnorth Cycling Club        33:50

3          Luke    Allen   Team Echelon 34:13

4          Joseph Costello           Legato Racing Team (LRT)    34:18

5          Antony            Neads  PDQ Cycle Coaching  34:35

6          Kelly   Murphy           AWOL O’Shea Worx  34:37

7          Dan     Whitehouse-Smith       VØRANJE     34:45

8          Rikky Hughes            Droitwich Cycling Club         34:47

9          Martin  Lines   Team Echelon 35:52

10        Neil     White   Ambion Racing Team 35:54

11        Gavin  Lancaster         PDQ Cycle Coaching  36:02

12        David  Tucker Cheltenham & County Cycling Club 36:06

13        Haydn Davies Giant CC-Halo Films  36:14

14        Alastair            Semple            Legato Racing Team (LRT)    36:36

15        Aaron  Lawrence        Exeter Whs CC           36:53

16        Eddie   Humphreys      Nottingham Clarion CC         36:59

17        Ian       Taylor  Beacon Roads CC       37:38

18        Deano  Sibthorpe         Team Echelon 38:08

18        Mark    Wise    Team Enable - M.I. Racing - McCann           38:08

20        Susan   Semple            Legato Racing Team (LRT)    39:12

21        Denise Burrows          AeroCoach      40:18

22        Andrew           Simpkins         Team Echelon 40:23

23        Rob     Oconnor          Team Enable - M.I. Racing - McCann           40:35

24        Philip   Wooldridge      VTTA (Midlands)       40:57

25        Andy   Oliver  Team Enable - M.I. Racing - McCann           41:19

26        Elaine  Simpson          Nottingham Clarion CC         41:34

27        Emma  Bexson            Stratford Cycling Club           41:53

28        Deborah          Sheridan          Warwickshire Road Club        43:34

29        Sandra Burrows          Vive Le Velo   44:13

30        Steve   Price    VC Sevale (Malvern)  45:20

31        Lewis  Lawton            Swindon Road Club    45:55

32        Geoff   Booker Oxonian CC    49:12

33        Ian       Cooper            Bossard Whs   49:13

34        Eamonn           Sheridan          Warwickshire Road Club        53:09

35        Alan    Shuttleworth    Weaver Valley CC      54:54

Women:

1. Kelly Murphy - AWOL O'Shea Worx  34:37

2. Susan Semple - Legato RT   39:12

3. Denise Burrows - AeroCoach   40:18

4. Elaine Simpson - Nottingham Clarion CC   41:34

5. Emma Bexson - Stratford CC   41:53

Three-up TTT

1          Peter    Oliver  ZeroBC Race Team     35:57

1          Mike    Logue  ZeroBC Race Team     35:57

1          Graham           Winstone         ZeroBC Race Team     35:57

2          Christopher      Davis   Giant CC  Halo Films 39:58

2          Mike    Amery VC Sevale (Malvern)  39:58

2          William            Davies VC Sevale (Malvern)  39:58

3          Simon  Drewett           ZeroBC Race Team     40:04

3          Martin  Prior    ZeroBC Race Team     40:04