David Fellows opened his 2024 season with victory in the open event at the Matlock CC Hilly 25-mile time trial in Derbyshire on Saturday afternoon, while Ellen Reynolds took the honours as fastest female.

Solihull CC rider Fellows took advantage of generally good conditions to post 1:00-19 on his road bike, more than four minutes ahead of runner-up Kevin White (Matlock CC) in 1:04-38, while overall third place and fastest time trial bike went to WardperformanceUK.com rider James Richards in 1:04-59.

The top ten was dominated by road bikes with just three riders on time trial bikes, meaning Richard Golding (Equipe Velo) in 1:07-13 and Jack O’Neill (Team Enable – MI Racing) in 1:09.27 completed the top three in the time trial bike category.

In the women’s event, Fellows had further reason to celebrate as his partner Reynolds took victory on a road bike for Elevate RT, clocking 1:13-23, while Rebecca Waterfield (Velo Bavarian) was third overall and second in the road bike category in 1:17-04 and a time of 1:18-28 helped Alice O’Neill to fourth overall and third road bike.

On her win, Reynolds said: “I had first done the course the other week and really enjoyed it as my first 25-mile event. I really like hill climbing and was looking forward to going for some PBs on the course. I’m super pleased with how it went, and hope to try some similar events later in the year.”

In the time trial bike category Maia Howell (Matlock CC) took top place in 1:16-08 with Pamela Moore, riding for Coalville Wheelers, second in 1:49-6.

On his victory, Fellows said: “I knew my time would be quicker than usual as the wind was blowing us up most of the climbs - I’ve done this event every year twice a year since 2018 and it was by far the best conditions I’ve ever done it in.

“I went pretty hard from the start to the A515 knowing I’d get the most assistance there and that I’d be able to recover on the downhill somewhat. I stayed as aero as I could and didn’t get held up at all - which for this course is very lucky. Shame to not dip under the hour but I was still pleased with my performance.”

This event, run on the AH/2 course, starts in Rowsley and heads left onto the A6 with riders following west on the B5056 to begin the looped section of the course by continuing towards Youlgreave then up Moor Lane, continuing towards Parsley Hay, where they turn north bound then left at Monyash and right along Buxton Road curving southeast down to Grangemill and then southbound to finish on the junction of Alport Road.

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

Results:

Open:

1. David Fellows (Road Bike) Solihull CC    1:00.19

2. Kevin White (Road Bike) Matlock CC      1:04.38

3. James Richards (TT Bike) WardperformanceUK.com       1:04.59

4. Mark Proctor (Road Bike) Matlock CC     1:05.22

5. Matthew Utley (Road Bike) Nottingham Clarion CC        1:05/48

6. Richard Golding (TT Bike) Equipe Velo    1:07.13

7. William Neill (Road Bike) MagCAD Designs       1:07.45

8. Nick Hammond (Road Bike) Ilkeston Cycle Club 1:08.37

9. Jack O’Neill (TT Bike) Team Enable – MI Racing            1:09.27

Women:

1. Ellen Reynolds (Road Bike) Elevate RT    1:13.23

2. Maia Howell (TT Bike) Matlock CC         1:16.08

3. Rebecca Waterfield (Road Bike) Velo Bavarian     1:17.04

4. Alice O’Neill (Road Bike) Velo Bavarian  1:18.28

5. Jessica Denman (Road Bike) Ilkeston Cycle Club 1:19.56

6. Alice Larkin (Road Bike) Glossop Kinder Cycling Club   1:20.52

7. Andrea Winkless (Road Bike) Coalville Wheelers 1:21.29

8. Hayley Moore (Road Bike) Ilkeston Cycle Club   1:23.40

9. Tracy Gregory (Road Bike) Buxton CC/Sett Valley Cycles           1:43.05

10. Pamela Moore (TT Bike) Coalville Wheelers      1:49.16