Colin McDermott claimed his first win of the season with victory at the Farnham Road Club 25-mile time trial on Sunday morning, with fastest female going to Natalie Green.

Riding for Festival Road Club, McDermott lived up to his pre-race billing as Spindata favourite to set an unbeaten time of 52-50 for victory, ahead of the 55-28 posted by Chichester City riders’ Larry Wiltshire, with Matt Phipps-Taylor (Paceline RT) third in 55-57.

After six rides in 2024 – including runners-up spots at Southern Counties CU 10-mile time trial on March 16, and again Farnborough and Camberley CC 10 in April – McDermott has registered a first win since Jan 1 2023 when he triumphed at Southborough and District Wheelers 10-mile time trial.

“I was really pleased with the ride, if a bit off my best top end speed after my recent holiday,” said McDermott.

“This was my first ride on this new version of the Bentley 25 course. It's a little rolling with just a few holes to avoid but a great new course option with fast flowing roundabouts.

“The cross wind made things fairly tough both ways for riders so not as fast as it can be, but my legs felt strong. The clash with a3crg 50 today also helped with a number of fast riders choosing that, but I'm really only chasing 10s and 25s this year. Next up are some fast 10 courses over the next three weeks to hopefully edge down my PB.”

In the women’s event New Forest CC rider Green set 1:02-23 for victory, with Danielle Forshaw (Velo Club Venta) second in 1:06-45, and a time of 1:08-50 helping Emma McDermott of Oxonian CC to the final spot on the podium.

In other categories the fastest road bike competitor was Matt Phipps-Taylor (Paceline RT) in 55-57, while top tandem pairing was the national record holding Newbury Velo duo of Rachael Elliott and Ian Greenstreet in 51-04.

This 25-mile event, run on the H25/88 course, is an out-and-back circuit that starts just east of Farnham on the A31 and heads northeast past Bentley and then Alton before reaching the roundabout at Froyle where riders turn and follow the route back to Farnham, turning at Holybourne and then again at Froyle, before completing a full return leg to finish near the start line.

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

Results:

Open:

1. Colin McDermott (Festival Road Club)     52.50

2. Larry Wiltshire (Chichester City Riders)    55.28

3. Matt Phipps-Taylor (Paceline RT)  55.57

4. Jim Burdett (Addiscombe CC)       56.31

5. Graham Lane (Addiscombe CC)    56.34

6. Paul Haywood (Epsom CC)           56.37

7. Gregory Woodford (Reading CC)  56.51

8. Neal Beauchamp (Kingston Wheelers CC)            57.00

9. Dan Burton (Endurance X Nature RC)      57.46

10. Adrian Blacker (VTTA Surrey/Sussex)     57.54

Female:

1. Natalie Green (New Forest CC)     1:02.23

2. Danielle Forshaw (Velo Club Venta)          1:06.45

3. Emma McDermott (Oxonian CC)  1:08.50

4. Hillary Briggs (Serpentine Running Club) 1:09.09

5. Caroline Wyke (CC Sudbury)         1:30.26