Road club riders host yearly cup

LAST Tuesday, Rossendale Road Club hosted the President’s Cup, the annual 21mile cycling time trial from Whalley to

Settle.

On a perfect summer evening, Bury Clarion brought along a strong squad to challenge the valley club but couldn’t match the outstanding performance from Patrick Hickey, who not only won the event in a time of

44:01 min, but also set a new course record.

Joe Cadwalleder was the best BC rider and pushed Rossendale’s Mark Berry back into 3rd place by just 10 seconds, 46:18 to Berry’s 46:28. Other valley member’s results were Tony Bowler 5th (48:21) and Roy Flanagan 9th (51:44).

In a recent new addition to the club’s activities, several members are now taking an interest in midweek ‘crit’ racing, run at Salt Ayre and Steve Burke centre at Barrowford. ‘Crit’, or Criterium (not criterion), racing is mass start road racing, generally held on short, traffic free circuits, ideal for novices and juniors, and there are plenty of options available in the north west.

At the latest event at Barrowford, Tony Bowler finished a strong 8th in the 3rd/4th category race, with Mark Berry 9th and Iain Hazell 12th.

Visit British Cycling website for more details.

On the social scene, club members and friends had a very pleasant ride through West Lancashire, taking in the dam top of Belmont Reservoir.

All are welcome on these rides which take place every Thursday, leaving Kay St car park at 6.15pm.

Rides take around two hours and the pace is set to suit all, with two groups being the norm, and all are welcome to join in.

Next Tuesday sees the return to Hapton for the evening

10-mile time trial.

As before, all are welcome, enter on the line from 6.30pm with first rider off at 7pm.