The first KCC Open TT of the year took place on Sunday with the riders facing cold but dry conditions for the annual local TT season curtain raiser.

The Mark Bell Memorial Hilly is a great opportunity for riders to test their fitness after a winter of indoor training and long zone 2 rides on the road with the aim of carrying one of the 2 fabulous trophies away at the end.

Winning the Mark Bell Trophy for the fastest Northamptonshire rider was George Fox of George Fox Cycling Solutions with a time of 42:49. George was pleased afterwards as it was a personal best for him on this course by a minute. George also took home the Brian Charouneau Trophy for the fastest rider from a Northamptonshire Club.

Alex Hodgkinson had travelled down from Ilkeston CC and came home 2nd in 47:19 narrowly beating 3rd place Tony Brown racing for George Fox Cycling Solutions in 49:39.

In the ladies section Linda Hubbard of Welland Valley was the fastest in 56:09 ahead of Maria Gent in 58:42.

Overall the event was a success and there is plenty to build on for future events perhaps by having a separate road bike as well as a TT bike category. I’d like to see more riders taking the same pleasure as this year’s riders from next year’s event.

Of course any event can only be successful if there are people willing to support it and volunteer their time. The nature of the circuit means that we needed 9 marshals as well as other support on the day from club members and I’d like to thank David Robinson, Noel Toone, Roy Crombie, Jon Thorne, Martin Keable, Mick Wood, Roger Reed, Stephen Webster, Andy Parker, James Belton, Josh Cayford, Jamie Stockham and Charlie Stockham for everything that you contributed.

Also a word of thanks has to go to Michael Dobbs for his photos of the riders. As you can see the photos were really good and captured the spirit of the racing.