NORTH DEVON Wheelers provided half the field as 24 riders started the cycling season with the Round The Houses time trial from Bishops Tawton.

Taking in Kings Nympton Station, South Molton, Filleigh and Portmore, the club's 32-mile open event was won by Mark Lees of Southfork Racing in 1-14-23.

Somerset RC's Dean Robson was second in 1-15-11 and Wheelers' Simon Edney was third in 1-17-27.

The club's Thursday evening 10-mile time-trial series of 15 races starts on April 15 with the first rider leaving Bishops Tawton at 6.30pm.

That start time will be 7pm in subsequent weeks.

Registration takes place in the Methodist Church Hall from 6pm.

The out-and-back course follows the A377 to Umberleigh.

A year's membership of the Wheelers costs £12 for adults, £5 for juvenile/juniors (aged 12 or over) and £18 for families.

Non-club members are welcome to have a go at a time trial and can ride as a guest in up to three club events during the season.

For safety, all riders must wear an approved helmet, display a working rear light on their bike and know the Highway Code.

To find out more about the club, see www.northdevonwheelers.com.

Round The Houses — ND Wheelers: Harry Edney 1-33-55 (1st Juv), Daniel Weston 1-42-50 (2nd Juv), Ray Retter 1-24-29 (1st O60), Chris Stone 1-24-47 (2nd 40-49yrs), Patrick Weston 1-41-15 (2nd 50-59), Ross Macdonald 1-25-08, Dave Rouse 1-28-39, Chris Birch 1-28-53, Justin Reinke 1-29-58, Mark Henderson 1-32-32, Tony Whitehead 1-53-27.

● Southfork Racing's Jane Cumming won the veteran women's category in the first National Point Series mountain biking race in Mansfield.

Cumming, from Braunton, finished 20 seconds clear of the reigning champion.

"It was a really exciting track with a quite a few technical bits," said Cumming. "It was just what you want for mountain biking."

Southfork team-mate Luke Edgar was on his way to victory as he led his first expert class outing but suffered a race-ending puncture. Chris Green was 36th.

Veterans Pete Dawe, Nick Butler and Sean Connock finished 18th, 41st and 69th respectively.

Henry Benning, in his first National race was 24th in the sport class.