Velotik RT team-mates Toby Williams and Sally Cunliffe were fastest male and female riders as the Manchester and District TTA staged their annual December 10-mile time trial in Cheshire on Sunday.

Beating the storms earlier in the weekend which led to the cancellation of another time trial further south, the Manchester and District TTA suffered a reduced field due to the challenging conditions.

Williams powered to victory on his road bike in a time of 23-35, 18 seconds faster than Barnsley Road Clubs Phillip Tyas, with third being Alan Chell (Crewe Clarion Wheelers) who was another 55 seconds off the pace.

And Cunliffe clocked 28-03 to take the women’s prize by almost six minutes from Sarah White, the Manchester Triathlon Club rider who was tackling the course near Byley on a road bike.

Cunliffe, 67 and from Denbigh, also went home as the fastest veteran on age adjusted time in 22-33.

Buxton CC pair Elizabeth and Jon Batt clocked 27-01 to win the tandems category, while in the fancy dress category the win went to Weaver Valley CC’s Lloyd Smith in 29-04.

Williams’ win comes at the very end of a 2023 season which has seen him win the Rhos on Sea CC 15-mile event, as well as setting a personal best time of 1-40-23 at the Cambridge CC Viking 50, which was good enough for sixth overall in a field stacked with talent.

He then went on to cover 280.84 miles at the National 12-Hour Championship and place seventh.

Meanwhile Sally Cunliffe has enjoyed a good 2023 season, with second spot at the Velotik 15-mile event back in April as well as winning her age group at the National Hill-Climb Championships in October.

She rode this same J4/20 course near Byley back in March in a Manchester and District TTA promotion, and was 41 seconds slower than she was in this December event!

“I’ll take that!” said Cunliffe when told she was quicker in this event than back in March.

“The forecast for today was heavy rain so I travelled to the event with a leaden heart planning to just do my best. But just before the start it stopped raining and it didn’t start again until afterwards!

“As I was riding down the last three miles I was thinking to myself that I’ve ridden in worse conditions in summer! It was quite mild and dry, which was lucky.”

And Toby Williams, from Ruthin, said: “I rode on a road bike because I wanted to try something different. It turned out to be a reasonable day although the surfaces were wet.

“I wanted to see where the power numbers were at for this time of year, and they weren’t too bad! I’ve now got a long winter of training before my first events in March.”

The event used the J4/20 course which begins near Byley and heads out to Cranage before turning north through Allostock and up to Toft before turning back down through Swan Green and on to the finish.

* 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:

Men:

1. Toby Williams (Velotik RT)           23.35

2. Philip Tyas (Barnsley RC)  23.53

3. Alan Chell (Crewe Clarion Wh)     24.48

4. Mick Hutchins (Congleton CC)     24.58

5. Chris Dyke (Team Lifting Gear Products)  25.04

6. Simon Price (Ruthin CC)   27.38

Women:

1. Sally Cunliffe (Velotik RT) 28.03

2. Sarah White (Manchester Tri Club)            33.57

Veterans on age adjusted time: Sally Cunliffe (Velotik RT)  22.33

Tandems: Elizabeth & Jon Batt (Buxton CC) 27.01

Fancy Dress: Lloyd Smith (Weaver Valley CC)        29.04