Cycling: East Lancs Report

Georgina Cape, East Lancs Cycling

Last weekend the weather affected a number of rides and races, but the East Lancs still had riders out and about in numbers doing a variety of events.

Callum Belfield was the first rider to chalk up some success by riding the closed road circuit at UCLAN near Preston last Thursday evening.

In a group 10 riders racing for an hour, Callum maintained his place in the group as it was steadily reduced to six riders and then three for the final sprint in which he came a creditable second, but gained further points towards his second category status which he will surely achieve in the next few weeks.

Holme Valley Wheelers Two Day

On Friday evening Ben Trippier rode in the Holme Valley Wheelers Two Day Stage race centred around Holmfirth. The race involved two road races and a time trial over two days in a quality field comprising 70 competitors of elite, first and second category riders.

Stage one was a 40-mile race in which Ben finished 42nd in the bunch with 10 riders having escaped mid-way through to secure the higher placings. The following day started with a 10-mile hilly time trial where Ben recorded 26:14 mins to finish a creditable 24th place in the ever-reducing field of riders, but the third and final 60 mile road stage proved a stage too far when he retired after cramping up with 10 miles to go.

Janus RC 25-mile TT

On Saturday, East Lancs riders had two time trials to compete in but unfortunately those who entered the Janus RC 25-mile TT had little to cheer about as the event was cancelled two hours before the start due to road surfacing works appearing overnight.

Lancaster CC 10-mile TT

Those who entered the Lancaster CC 10-mile TT had more luck.

This event took place on the fast L1015 course between Kendal and Grange over Sands in Cumbria.

It was a headwind to the halfway turn which made the outward leg difficult but the rewards were gained with a superfast return leg.

The times recorded were as follows; Roy Neild, 23:56 mins; Jason Codling, 25:24 mins; Georgina Cape with a superb personal best of 25:46 mins; and Karen Bailey, 26:57 mins.

The event was won by Simon Wilson from Brother NRG Pro Cycling in the remarkable time of 19:17 mins.

Club Social Rides

The Club Social rides took place on Sunday as usual despite the strong wind making a cyclist’s life more difficult, with the medium ride going to Skipton and the short ride going over Blackstone Edge to Hebden Bridge, Peckett Well, Luddendun Foot and returning back over the lanes to Littleborough.