Sean Mullen (Richardsons-Trek RT) stormed to victory by 54 seconds in the hilly Birkenhead North End CC 22, while Keri Parton (Team Boompods) was a convincing women’s winner.

Scratch rider Mullen, aged 26, won during his only open time trial finish last season and got his 2023 campaign off to a winning time clocking a time of 43 minutes and 54 seconds.

Starting near Broxton in Cheshire competitors headed straight out on the fast but undulating A41 past No Mans Heath and Gindley Book towards Whitchurch.

Once competitors reached the edge of the Shropshire town riders joined the A49 heading back north, at Ridley the course turned onto the A534 (Wrexham Road) for the final leg of the race.

The course had a sting in the tail with a climb at the 18-mile point through Bulkeley and then headed down to the finish.

Mullen, from the Wirral, won the Crewe Clarion Wheelers 14 last season and was the only rider to break the 44-minute mark to also take victory on this occasion.

Under-23 rider Kieran Morris (Total Tri Training) won the Yorkshire Cycling Federation 10 last month but had to settle for second this time out in 44-48.

Completing the podium positions was Ben Goodfellow (Fibrax Wrexham RC) who stopped the clock in a time of 45-05.

Quickest veteran on scratch was Alan Broadbent (Graham Weigh Racing-Deeside Olympic) whose time of 50-00 was 21 seconds faster than fellow veteran Neil Buckley (Port Sunlight Wheelers).

Meanwhile, Nick Giles (Pocomotion Road Club) was the quickest road bike with his time of 53-08 just 13 seconds faster than Angelo Derosa (Graham Weigh Racing-Deeside Olympic) in 53-21.

In the women’s event Parton was the only rider to break the hour mark stopping the clock in a convincing winning time of 55-39.

The 34-year-old also won the Liverpool Braveheart BC 10 last weekend and continued her winning form with a fine winning time.

Veteran Rebecca Holland (Chester RC) was second woman in 1-01-54 while Sally Cunliffe (Ruthin Cycling Club/Clwb Seiclo Rhuthun) was a further minute behind (1-03-04).

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

Results
1 Sean Mullen (Richardsons-Trek RT) 43.54
2 Kieran Morris (Total Tri Training) 44.48
3 Ben Goodfellow (Fibrax Wrexham RC) 45.05
4 Thomas Brazier (HUUB WattShop) 45.59
5 Grant Bigham (HUUB WattShop) 46.11
6 Matthew Wales (Fibrax Wrexham RC) 46.38

Women
1 Keri Parton (Team Boompods) 55.39
2 Rebecca Holland (Chester RC) 1:01.54
3 Sally Cunliffe (Ruthin Cycling Club / Clwb Seiclo Rhuthun) 1:03.04
4 Tanya Samuels (Fibrax Wrexham RC) 1:06.54
5 Vicky Hinstridge (Ruthin Cycling Club / Clwb Seiclo Rhuthun) 1:07.24
6 Elaine Jewkes (Chester RC) 1:12.25