After a nine-year absence Matthew Bottrill (Team Bottrill) returned to the Kettering CC 20-mile event and came away with overall victory, while Leah Cuthbertson (Onyx RT) was the quickest woman on her road bike.

Bottrill, aged 46, set the NC1A course record of 41-52 on his way to victory nine years ago and despite being a minute slower on this occasion his result was the same.

The NC1A course sees riders start and finish near Lowick before take on a 20-mile undulating loop incorporating Sudborough, Bigstock, Stanion, Geddington, Weekley and Warkton.

The 10am start meant that the morning’s initial frost on the roads had disappeared by the time the riders set off and they could all concentrate on the challenges of the undulating roads that lay ahead of them.

Bottrill was part of the winning National Team Time Trial Championship squad last season and took his first individual open victory since 2021 on this occasion.

Scratch rider George Fox (George Fox Cycling Solutions) competed on his road bike and despite winning the category he had to settle for second overall in 43-20.

Fox also won the Brian Charouneau Trophy for being the fastest rider from a Northamptonshire based club.

Also competing on a road bike was Cuthbertson who was two minutes quicker overall than her nearest female competitor.

In the open time trial category Bottrill finished over one-and-half minutes quicker than Sam Walsham (Beeston Cycling Club) in second (44-31).

The battle for third in the category saw Antony Brown (George Fox Cycling Solutions) post a time of 46-56 which was 23 seconds quicker than Danny Metherell (VéloElite RC).

Veteran Linda Hubbard (Welland Valley CC) led the women’s time trial category stopping the clock in 58-19.

Maria Cayford, of host club Kettering CC, finished second time trial bike in 59-58, while Sarah Kelman (St Ives CC) was third (1-02-38).

Fox was in commanding form in the road bike category with his time almost four minutes quicker than Oliver Searle (Team Enable - M.I. Racing – McCann) in 47-15.

Meanwhile, third in the road bike category was Chris Bradbury (Team Milton Keynes) who stopped the clock in 49-55.

Overall women’s winner Cuthbertson stopped the clock in 56-17 ahead of the only other road bike competitor Linda Thomas (enDuRo team) who stopped the clock in 1-01-11.

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

Results:

Time trial bikes:
1 Matt Bottrill (Team Bottrill)             42.56
2 Sam Walsham (Beeston CC)           44.31
3 Antony Brown (George Fox Cycling Solutions)      46.56
4 Danny Metherell (VéloElite RC)    47.19
5 Jack Eastman-Nye (George Fox Cycling Solutions)           48.14
6 Cian Leveridge (Team PB Performance)     48.38

Women:
1 Linda Hubbard (Welland Valley CC)          58.19
2 Maria Cayford (Kettering CC)        59.58
3 Sarah Kelman (St Ives CC) 1:02.38

Road bikes:
1 George Fox (George Fox Cycling Solutions)          43.20
2 Oliver Searle (Team Enable - M.I. Racing) 47.15
3 Chris Bradbury (Team Milton Keynes)       49.55
4 Hans Van Nierop (unattached)         50.44
5 Scott Barber (Kettering CC)            53.28
6 Diego Patteri (Kingston Wheelers)  55.24

Women:
1 Leah Cuthbertson (Onyx RT)          56.17
2 Linda Thomas (enDuRo team)         1:01.11