VELO Club Cumbria hosted the Rudy Project series time trial, a national event on a par to a national championships on what is now regarded as one of the best courses in the country, certainly for the scenary.

Race organiser Sandra Cowley was pleased to receive 164 entries for this prestigous event which attracted all the current top riders and the defending champion.

The weather on Sunday was cold and with a cutting wind, not ideal conditions and although the expected win came from Michael Hutchinson, API Metro in a time of one hour five minutes and 45 seconds it was outside his last year’s course record.

Zac Carr, of Team Clean, was second in 1.6.52 and picking up the bronze medal was Preston’s Gethin Butler with 1.9.22.

Velo Club Cumbria had two teams entered, one in the senior race and a veterans team.

In the seniors event which was two laps of the circuit, 32 mile, Brian Payton, VCC, Eaglesfield was a creditable 10th in 1.13.01, with Mark Amor, VCC, Whitehaven, 22nd in 1.16.19 and Brigham’s Rob Hargreaves, VCC, 25th in 1.17.22, good enough to take second team to Preston Wheelers.

Also Cumbria Velo’s team of vets came second to Team Swift/Allsports. In the one lap vets event Ronnie Cowen, VCC, Egremont, had an excellent ride to lead in his team with 40.02, 38th and averaging 22.48 mph. He was 25 seconds ahead of team mate Barry Sullivan, Whitehaven, 40.27, while third counter, David Shipp, VCC, finished 49th in 44.19.

Local girl, Helen Scott, Border City Wheelers was 15th in 44.14

In the Tuesday evening 10-mile race, on-form Peter Brear won in style winning in 21.32, more than half a minute in front of Cockermouth rider Jonathan Fletcher, who was home from racing in Belgium.

His time of 22.07 was one second ahead of Brian Payton, VCC, Mark Amor, VCC, clocked 22.44 and Mark Percival, VCC, 23.16 with Barry Sullivan sixth in 23.37 and first o/40.

Chris Knowles was seventh in 23.40 with Honister ‘92 roadman Robert Glaister eighth in 23.58. Keith Ashbridge was next in 24.05 followed in by Honister rider Andrew Wrigley 24.08 for 10th.

Other finishers: 11, Adam Powe, 24.11; 12, Julian Cooke, 24.32; 13, Dave Robinson and Des Morris, Tri Lakeland, 24.50; 15, Ronnie Cowen, 25.05; 16, K Wiltsure, 26.05; 17 and first juvenile, Simon Martindale, 26.07; 18, Mark Wells, 26.31; 19, Dave Shipp, 26.48; 20, L Anderson, 26.58; 21 and first woman, Helen Scott, BCW, 27.37; 22 and first o/50, Josef Sadowski, 27.38; 23, Jim Powe, 27.54; 24, S Wilson, BCW, 28.39; 25, Mark Gascoigne, 28.58; 26 and first junior woman, S Symonds, 29.41; 27, I Vatter, 30.42; , 28 and first o/70, John Smith, Bramley Whs, 30.59; 29, Mark Cullen, 31.38.