Emily Martin earned the early advantage with victory in the women’s event at the WattShop 10, with John Archibald earning success in the open event on Saturday afternoon in Staffordshire.

Riding for Team Bottrill, Martin followed up her win at Manchester & District Ladies CA 10 by setting an unbeaten 22-09, while Archibald recorded a time of 18-23 to top the open category standings and secure a HUUB WattShop one-two with Dan Bigham after stage one.

Further back in the women’s event, Sally Turner continued a fine day for HUUB Wattshop by securing the runners-up spot in 23-15, while third place went to Chris Murray, of Army Cycling, in 24-26.

On the win, Martin said: “There was a strong headwind out, so it was definitely a day for splitting your effort.

“I was riding really strongly, then was pulled out on by a tractor towing a massive trailer full of grass, so I had to back it off as I was getting covered in it falling out and breathing it in!

“It was a relief to take the roundabout and feel the tailwind home.

“I managed to keep up my effort and managed to pick off some riders as we were getting caught up behind some cars.

“It would have been lovely to have broken into the 21s which I was on for, but I couldn’t complain at my performance nor the buffer I built for day two.”

“It was nice to get back to the HQ and get my helmet off so I could get the grass out.”

In the men’s event, Archibald’s clubmate Bigham was just eight seconds back in 18-31 for second and the final podium spot was taken by Alex Pritchard (Richardsons-Trek RT) in 19-31.

After the race, Archibald said: “Stage one is a basic out and back course with 2 x 30-45 second kickers in both directions.

“You never come out the skis except for the turn, so I just focussed on never letting the power drop and really emptying myself in the final minutes.

“It was pretty windy, but I know the course well, so was confident in what the road / course was like. Very happy with the relative performance to Dan, although he got his own back on me in stage two.”

Quickest open category road bike went to Casper von Folsach, tenth overall in 20-48, while fastest female road bike in 25-02 was Harriet Lowden.

Ahead of stage two, Open B category leader is Isaac Russell after posting 22-14, while Open C category goes to Paul Robinson in 23-49, with Roy Oakes setting 28-30 to lead Open D category.

In the women’s groupings, Female B leader is Sally Turner in 23-25, while Gail Lowe in 25-17 heads Female C and Female D is Sally Cunliffe in 26-41.

This 10-mile event, run on the K48/10 course, is an out-and-back circuit that features two testing climbs with 100m of elevation and starts on Lichfield Road to head northwest, tracking the Trent and Mersey Canal past Aston-by-Stone, until reaching the A51 roundabout where riders turn and retrace the route south-eastwards and face a fast final two miles through Sandon village to finish just south of 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. John Archibald (HUUB WattShop) 18.23

2. Dan Bigham (HUUB WattShop)    18.31

3. Alex Pritchard (Richardsons-Trek RT)       19.31

4. Leon Atkins (258 Protégé)  19.42

5. Jacob Storey (trainSharp)    20.02

6. Jack Levick (Rose Race Team)       20.08

7. Richard Oakes (Team Ohten Aveas)           20.32

8. Thomas Brazier (HUUB WattShop)           20.42

8. James Lowden (HUUB WattShop) 20.42

10. Casper Von Folsach (HUUB WattShop)   20.48

Female:

1. Emily Martin (Team Bottrill)          22.09

2. Sally Turner (HUUB WattShop)     23.15

3. Chris Murray (Army Cycling)        24.26

4. Harriet Lowden (Rapha Cycling Club)      25.02

4. Gail Lowe (Congleton CC) 25.17

5. Kate Kirkland (Born to Bike)         26.20

6. Sally Cunliffe (Velotik Racing Team)        26.41