John Brearley was fastest male at the 10-mile Birdwell Wheelers time trial at Hatfield Woodhouse on Saturday afternoon, with Gillian Campbell taking the honours in the women’s event.

Riding his first event of the 2023 season, Brearley finished more than a minute ahead of the field with the ADDFORM Vive Le Velo rider stopping the clock in 20-20 for first place.

Brearley said: “It was my first solo event in over a year. It predicted it to be close, expected it to be closer than it was.

“I don’t train on my time trial bike so I haven’t ridden it since October so it was a weird sensation. It’s my fastest time on that course. I maybe could have gone even quicker in better conditions.

“I have some track events coming up as well as some road races. I’m a jack of all trades, really.”

There was drama behind Brearley though, with Team Bottrill’s Mathew Stonley securing second place by just one second in 21-24 from Benjamin Williams (Cliff Pratt Racing) who finished in 21-25, while Stonley’s teammate Stuart Henderson was just 10 seconds further back in fourth with a time of 21-28.

This marks a fine start to the season for Brearley, as well as his first win in more than a year since victory at the City RC (Hull) 2-Up TTT 26-mile time trial on March 12 2022, and his first individual victory since the City Road Club Hull 10-mile time trial on September 19 2021.

Campbell, riding for Born to Bike, came home in 26-54, while Cheryl Symonds of Hull Thursday RC claimed the runners-up spot in 27-30, narrowly ushering Lydia Turan (JRC Interflon Race Team) into third with 27-23.

This 10-mile event, run on the O10/1 course in South Yorkshire, starts on the A614 and heads south to the turn at Blaxton.

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

Results:

Men:

1. John Brearley (ADDFORM Vive Le Velo) 20.20

2. Mathew Stonley (Team Bottrill)     21.24

3. Benjamin Williams (Cliff Pratt Racing)     21.25

4. Stuart Henderson (Team Bottrill)    21.28

5. Andrew Miller (ADDFORM Vive Le Velo)           21.38

6. Ady Dench (Team Sheffield)          21.46

Women:

1. Gillian Campbell (Born to Bike)    26.54

2. Cheryl Symons (Hull Thursday RC)          27.20

3. Lydia Turan (JRC Interflon Race Team)    27.23

4. Sharon Clifford (SheHair Racing Team)    29.25