With riders first and second overall, Johnstone Wheelers successfully defended their Georgetown Cup title at the Velopreda 7.5-mile time trial in East Renfrewshire on Saturday.

Iain McTavish clocked 14.44 for the course from near the Inchinnan Industrial Estate to Houston and back, taking solo victory by just six seconds from his team-mate Matt Howitt.

Meanwhile the third step on the podium went to Glasgow Wheelers’ Craig O’Brien who was another eight seconds off the pace.

McTavish and Howitt were joined by another six riders from Johnstone Wheelers in clocking a combined time of 2-07-23 which was a new record for the event.

That meant they successfully defended their Georgetown Cup title with the next best team being 2021 winners VC Glasgow South who were just over five minutes further back, while Fullarton Wheelers were third, another 3-20 off the pace set by Johnstone Wheelers.

Second overall and part of the winning team from Johnstone Wheelers, Matt Howitt said: “After winning last year, about two or three weeks ago we got a show of hands for entrants from the club to try and defend the trophy.

“We had a few regular time trial riders from the club and a few riders that dusted off their TT bikes as they hadn’t been used since last year and a few riders on road bikes to get the numbers up.

“With local knowledge of the course and a few riders that are regularly going under 15 minutes on the Georgetown circuit we knew we were in with a good chance of winning it.

“It was a nice surprise to get the team record but the conditions were favourable and quite a few of us went faster than last year.”

A full field of 175 riders competed in the annual end of season event, which this year was greeted with perfect conditions.

In other categories, the tandem prize went to the only entrants in Ala and Andy Whitehead, the Rockingham CC pairing who covered the distance in 26-05.

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

Results:

Team (eight riders to count):

1. Johnstone Wheelers            2:07.33

2. VC Glasgow South 2:12.30

3. Fullarton Wheelers 2:15.51

4. Glasgow Ivy CC     2:17.59

5. Paisley Velo 2:18.08

6. Glasgow United CC            2:19.58

Individuals:

1. Iain McTavish (Johnstone Wheelers)          14.44

2. Matt Howitt (Johnstone Wheelers) 14.50

3. Craig O’Brien (Glasgow Wheelers)            14.58

4. John MacArthur (Glasgow Nightingale CC)          15.07

5. David McCormack (Paisley Velo)  15.10

6. Hans Forhaug (Glasgow United CC)         15.25

Tandems: Ala and Andy Whitehead (Rockingham CC)         26.05