Last updated 19:40, Thursday, 15 May 2008

KESWICK Mountain Bikes riders featured strongly in the gruelling 114-mile Fred Whitton Challenge on Sunday.

Starting and finishing at Coniston, 1,000 riders tackled seven of the Lake District’s steep and high passes - Kirkstone, Honister,Newlands, Whinlatter, Cold Fell and Hardknott and Wrynose passes - plus all the lesser hills in between.

And despite sweltering heat and thunder showers new records were set.

Two riders, James Dobbin, of London team Arctic Premier, and Rob Jebb, of Wheelbase, Staveley, recorded five hours 40 minutes.

Ben Bardsley, of Keswick Mountain Bikes, finished in 5.53 and team-mate Andrew Wrigley clocked 6.12.

And KMB riders Chris Hope, Richard Houghton and Martin Nicholson all clocked times within the next 18 minutes as did Honister 92 Cycling Club rider Grant Law who notched 6.20.

By mid-day two cyclists had collided descending Honister Pass at the sharp bend crossing a bridge which is an accident black spot. They were taken to hospital by ambulance.

And in the afternoon a woman cyclist crashed riding down the 1-in-3 incline of Hardknott Pass and was airlifted to hospital by Air Ambulance helicopter."