Road bike competitor James Bullen (Team TMC) was quickest at the Sussex CA hilly event which was reduced to 19 miles, while time trial bike rider Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne (Team Boompods) was fastest woman.

Major roadworks at Balcombe Station meant that the supposed 25-mile event was reduced to 19 miles. The start was delayed 30 minutes because of frost and ice on the hilly Sussex course.

Bullen, aged 32, won four open road bike events last season and opened his account for 2024 with a winning time of 44 minutes and 17 seconds.

Fellow road bike competitor Finn Dunton (Project 51) provided the nearest challenge finishing just 41 seconds behind in 44-58.

Dunton also helped Project 51 to the team prize alongside Ian Vagg and Liam McLaughlin.

Rounding out the men’s road bike category was Mark Aldred (Kingston Wheelers CC) who stopped the clock in 46-30.

In the women’s event time trial bike rider Hodgkins-Byrne recorded a winning time of 48-26 which was over six minutes quicker than her nearest female rival.

Hodgkiss-Byrne won the Newbury Velo 15 and Utag RT 10-mile events last season and opened her tally for 2024 at the first time of asking.

Hilary Briggs (Serpentine Running Club) was the only other woman on a time trial bike and stopped the clock in 1-01-57.

Second woman overall and leading road bike competitor was Sien Van der Plank (New Forest CC) in 54.44 who beat Ida Smith (Onyx RT) into second (56-04).

Stuart Bettis (One Resourcing RT) was the quickest open time trial bike competitor with his time of 45-10 also placing third overall.

Karl Roberton (Worthing Excelsior CC) was second in the category in 46-27, while Paul Tippett (Crawley Wheelers) finished third (47-34).

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

Results:

Road bikes:
1 James Bullen (Team TMC)  44.17
2 Finn Dunton (Project 51)     44.58
3 Mark Aldred (Kingston Wheelers CC)        46.30
4 Jonathan Smith (Onyx RT)  47.02
5 Ian Vagg (Project 51)           47.34
6 Liam McLaughlin (Project 51)        49.43

Women:
1 Sien Van der Plank (New Forest CC)          54.44
2 Ida Smith (Onyx RT)           56.04

Time trial bikes:
1 Stuart Bettis (One Resourcing RT)  45.10
2 Karl Roberton (Worthing Excelsior CC)     46.27
3 Paul Tippett (Crawley Wheelers)     47.34
4 Nicky Wilson (Crawley Wheelers)  49.21
5 Ian Cheesman (Worthing Excelsior CC)     49.44
6 Tony Reeves (GS Stella)      50.37

Women:
1 Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne (Team Boompods)        48.26
2 Hilary Briggs (Serpentine Running Club)   1:01.57