Simon Wilson maintained his winning start to the season with victory at the West Pennine Road Club 10-mile time trial with Joanna Patterson winning the women’s category.

After proving quickest at the Mersey Tri 10-mile time trial in April, HUUB WattShop rider Wilson has followed it up with victory on the Levens course in 18-00 to make it two mins from two events so far this campaign.

He enjoyed a fine 2023 campaign with wins at Kent Valley RC and Lancashire Road Club and will be looking to maintain similar success over the course of the 2024 season.

On his win, Wilson said: “It was a great event promoted by West Pennine and it was nice to see the juniors going quick! 

“Conditions were pretty good but I didn’t feel particularly great physically, so it just felt hard!

“Maybe a lack of racing showed but I tried to deliver the best ride with what I felt I had which seemed to work out okay.”

GTR – Return to Life p/b Streamline rider Douglas Watson sealed second place in 18-26 ahead of Joe Cosgrove (Team Bottrill) who managed a time of 18-42 for the final spot on the podium.

John Leach, of Rossendale RC, was quickest on a road bike in 29-16.

In the women’s event, Jo Patterson (Pro Endurance Coaching) clocked 20-34 to finish ahead of the field with Brother UK–Team OnForm rider Rachel Brown runner-up in 20-48, while third place was sealed in 21-44 by Anna Weaver (Team Kirkley Cycles).

Patterson said after her victory: “Levens is always a great event I like to do every year and the sun made this one more enjoyable.

“I came down with Jesse Dawson for this evening race. We both had bad crashes last year and are finding our feet again and he smashed this by almost hitting a PB and I was happy to get another race completed so it was a worthwhile trip!

“I went off a bit hard with the tail wind which meant the headwind leg home was a bit of a struggle but happy to get another sub 21 on the road back to strength.

“Thank you to all the organisers, marshals and other racers for making it a fun evening!”

This 10-mile event, run on the L1015 course, starts east of Levens southwest of the A6 and proceeds along the A590 in a south-westerly direction, encircling the roundabout on Lindale bypass and retrace along the A590 in a north-easterly direction to finish just short of Levens Bridge.

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

Results:

Open:

1. Simon Wilson (HUUB WattShop)  18.00

2. Douglas Watson (GTR – Return to Life p/b Streamline)    18.26

3. Joe Cosgrove (Team Bottrill)          18.42

4. James Holloway (Ribble Cycles)    18.56

5. Grant Bigham (HUUB WattShop)  18.59

6. Richard Bideau (Pendle Forest CC)           19.04

7. Graham Hollinger (Torvelo Racing)           19.07

8. Basil Monks (Edinburgh Road Club)         19.08

10. David Parkin (Velotik Racing Team)        19.14

Female:

1. Joanna Patterson (Pro Endurance Coaching) 20.34

2. Rachel Brown (Brother UK – Team OnForm)       20.48

3. Anna Weaver (Team Kirkley Cycles)         21.44

4. Lily Brindle (Brother UK – Team OnForm)           22.43

5. Katherine Swithenbank (360cycling)         23.04

6. Joanna Cebrat (360cycling)            23.10

7. Cara Rawlinson (Tactic UK WRT) 23.57

8. Sue Cheetham (North Lancashire Road Club)       24.06

9. Sophie Heighton (Ferryhill Wheelers)        24.58

10. Jennifer Nicol (Velo Club Vitesse)           30.37