George Fox had the perfect preparation for next week’s National Road Bike Championships with victory in the open event at the Northampton & District Cycling Association 9.8-mile time trial on Saturday afternoon, with Victoria Shipley the fastest female.

Riding for George Fox Cycling Solutions, Fox set an unmatched 22-00 on his road bike to the overall success, narrowly ahead of Paul Pardoe in 22-02, with the Peterborough CC rider quickest on a time trial bike while third place went to David Mead (Team Enable MI Racing – McCann) in 22-12.

On his victory, Fox said: “This was my last race before the National Road Bike Championships next week so it was the final test of all the equipment that I intend to use.

“It’s a tough course with a 2.6 mile drag in the middle which is never easy but really tests the legs as well.

“The Northampton and District CA Series is great as they’re all local races and always has a great atmosphere, especially yesterday in the Rockingham Forest Wheelers clubhouse, a rarity within the sport now.”

In the women’s event Shipley (eNduRo team) clocked 29-22 for first place, with Lindsay Clarke (Fenland Clarion CC) runner-up and fastest road bike in 29-45, while a time of 31.22 helped Kettering CC’s Maria Cayford to third spot.

This event, run on the NC25 course, starts just north of Ashley and sees riders head northbound through Medbourne, continuing along Drayton Road and through Drayton village then left in Great Eaton onto Stockerston Lane and onto the crossroads where and left sees riders reach the finish at Medbourne village.

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

Results:

Open:

1. George Fox (George Fox Cycling Solutions) Road Bike   22.00

2. Paul Pardoe (Peterborough CC)     22.02

3. David Mead (Team Enable – M.I Racing – McCann)        22.12

4. Jack Patmore (George Fox Cycling Solutions)       22.50

5. Jack Eastman-Nye (George Fox Cycling Solutions)          23.39

6. Cameron Walker (Elevate RT) Road Bike  23.57

7. Dan Whitehouse-Smith (Army Cycling)    24.08

8. Adam Wells (Rockingham Forest Wheelers)         24.15

9. Steven Brierley (VeloElite RC) Road Bike 24.41

10. Kevin Hobbs (Peterborough CC) 24.50

Female:

1. Victoria Shipley (eNduRo team) TT Bike  29.22

2. Lindsay Clarke (Fenland Clarion CC) Road Bike  29.45

3. Maria Cayford (Kettering CC) TT Bike    31.22

4. Lynne Scofield (Rockingham Forest Wheelers)   34.39