JAMES Griffiths hit top form in the Ludlow Brewing Company’s opening 25-mile time trial.

He made the most of the absence of rival, Steve Minton, to win the event in 59 mins, 24 seconds.

Griffiths, who was last year’s time-trial league winner, was closely followed by Clancy Wilson in a time a minute over the hour of 1:01 minutes.

Junior Gill Richards shone in his 25-mile time-trial, taking in sixth place in 1 hour, 6 minutes.

Minton achieved an incredible pace on the opening race of the season on the Brimfield 10-mile course, setting a remarkable time of 22 minutes.

There was incredibly stiff competition at the top of the leader board, with Griffiths 30 seconds adrift of last year’s overall leader James Griffiths.

Junior Gill Richards also put in a great performance in a field which attracted 25 riders.

Simon Ward has made a good start to the new Roadman’s Cup competition which was ridden on the Craven Arms hilly course.

Ward set a superb pace in a time of 28:25 minutes, with, Jack Stanton Warren at 28:38 minutes and James Griffiths flying around in 29:11 mins.

Penny Priest topped the women’s section in 31:21 mins and was followed by Catherine Coley in 33:02 mins.

The race can only be ridden with on-road bikes and no time trial bikes are allowed.

The event will consist of four rounds and competed over four varying courses in distance.