Jake Sargent (Team Bottrill) proved quickest in the Severn Road Club 12.5-mile time trial in Gloucestershire on Sunday, while Josie Harcourt (FTP Fulfil the Potential Race Team) was fastest female.

Sargent clocked 24-32 to leave team-mate Rob Francis second with 25-18, and third spot going to Matthew Cox (FTL Fulfil the Potential Race Team) who was another 48 seconds off the pace.

Harcourt – riding a road bike – clocked 31-39 to finish as fastest female by over four minutes from veteran Joanna Legge-Knight (Bristol South CC) with 35-43, while another Bristol South rider Mary-Jane Hutchinson was third female with 39-55.

Overnight rain on the U7x course left some standing water but it wasn’t enough to put the event in danger. Usually run over 25 miles, the Severn RC event had to be shortened to 12.5 miles because of roadworks and temporary traffic lights on the course, so riders used this out and back course on the A38 to Slimbridge roundabout and back.

“As first races of the year go it couldn't have been better!” said Sargent. “The overnight rain had stopped just in time and the sun had come out warming things up nicely.

“I was very happy with my ride. I've not had the smoothest lead into the season and being ill a couple times in the last six weeks hasn't helped, but I think I executed my race plan perfectly. I’m really looking forward to the next few races!”

And fastest female Josie Harcourt said: “I was pleased with how my first TT of the season went. It was a tough headwind on the return leg but I think I paced it well. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season!

“My winter training has been going well, I don’t have a coach so I do my own thing, but have been doing a lot of sweet spot work recently which I think has been paying off.

“It gives you a lot of bang for your buck and since I’m a PhD student, I don’t always have time to go and do massive training days or winter camps so I need to try and get the most out of the intervals I do on the turbo.”

Harcourt next plans to be in action at the University of Bristol CC 10-mile event on March 9, while Sargent is targeting the Bath CC hardriders 20-miler next Sunday as well as the Chippenham and District Wheelers hardriders 22 the weekend after that.

In other categories at the Severn Road Club event, fastest two-up was the University of Bath CC pair Dylan Griffiths and Renzo Casale in 26-11, beating their team-mates Jacob Hardy and Daniel MacLean-Howell into second by 1-45.

Karl Norris (360 VRT) was fastest over-50 rider in 26-50 for fourth overall, while the over-60 prize went to Nick Giles (Pocomotion Road Club) in 29-37.

* 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:

Open:

1. Jake Sargent (Team Bottrill)           24.32

2. Robert Francis (Team Bottrill)        25.18

3. Matthew Cox (FTP Fulfil the Potential Race Team)          26.06

4. Karl Norris (360 VRT)       26.50

5. Tony Chapman (Frome & Dist Wh)           27.14

6. Tim Radley (Gloucester City CC)  28.05

Women:

1. Josie Harcourt (FTP Fulfil the Potential Race Team)         31.39

2. Joanna Legge-Knight (Bristol South CC)  25.43

3. Mary-Jane Hutchinson (Bristol South CC) 39.55

Road bikes:

1. Aidan King (FTP Fulfil the Potential Race Team) 28.18

2. Andrew Metherell (Velo Club Bristol)        29.01

3. Nick Giles (Pocomotion Road Club)          29.37

Women: Josie Harcourt (FTP Fulfil the Potential Race Team)          31.39

Veterans 40-49: Tim Butler (Gloucester City CC)     28.16

Veterans 50-59: Karl Norris (360 VRT)         26.50

Veterans Over 60: Nick Giles (Pocomotion Road Club)        29.37

Female Veterans: Joanna Legge-Knight (Bristol South CC)  35.43

Two-up:

1. Dylan Griffiths & Renzo Casale (Univ of Bath CC)          26.11

2. Jacob Hardy & Dylan MacLean-Howell (Univ of Bath CC)         27.56

3. Elizabeth Williams & Dan Smith (The Ark Cycles)           32.15