ADAM Hart won his first club trophy in Worcester St John’s Cycling Club's opener this season.

Hart clocked 51 minutes 18 seconds in the Heron Shield 19.5-miler from the Carrington Bridge, Worcester, to a roundabout just outside Tewkesbury and back.

Competitors had to use a 66-inch gear or lower which meant pedalling fury was the order of the night for the 12 competitors.

Dan Jones finished second, just 18 seconds back from Hart, while Dave Preece was third with 51.41 and Dave Walker managed 52.06.

Less than a minute separated the top four which made for a really close contest.

Eighteen riders chose to ride unrestricted with Richard Cartland fastest in 47.12 followed by Julian Bouchet in 50.42 and Richard Rollasson in 53.21.

Three St John’s riders completed the Fred Whitton Challange which covers 109 miles and all the Lake District’s passes. The route tested riders with the 30 per cent ascent of Hardknott Pass after 100 miles of the course.

Dave Allen took seven hours 33 minutes to complete the route, while Thomas Forrester and Ed Dursley completed the challenge for the first time in 9.17.

They started and finished at Coniston, Cumbria, with 1,200 riders taking part in cool weather and Rob Jebb winning in 5.47.

Severn Valley Velo held a 10-mile open time trial at Evesham with more than 100 entering the event.

In rain and a hard headwind on the return leg, Jon Simkins was the fastest with a fine 21.15 ahead of Richard Bradley.

Hart was Saints’ quickest rider in 23.23 with Walker registering 23.39 and Martin Staines 23.55, while Jonathan Wheeler also defied the foul weather.