Last updated at 08:03, Friday, 22 May 2009

THE first cycle racing of the Lakeland Sprinters 2009 season took place at Rowrah Karting Stadium.

Strong winds the previous week had prevented riders from doing anything other than brushing up their skills from last season but a full racing programme was on the cards this week.

For division one riders, tension was high in the final laps as the handicap road race came to a close.

In a tight finish, where only seconds separated the riders, first across the line was Alex Hargreaves, of Brigham.

Hargreaves is keeping up a long-standing family tradition as both his dad and grandad – Rob and Ken – are highly successful cyclists, too.

Second across the line was one of last year’s stars, Hensingham rider George Bennett, while third place was taken by Daniel Baron, of Ennerdale.

Fourth to cross the line was one of the most heavily handicapped riders, William Hughes of Gosforth, with Liam Tinnion fifth, Calum Young sixth, Kristian Cook seventh, Stephen Gascoigne eighth and Sam Hayworth ninth.

Time trial (1km) results: – Daniel Baron (2.13 pb), Liam Tinnion (2.17 equal pb), William Hughes (2.20 pb), Alex Hargreaves (2.27), Calum Young (2.29 pb), George Bennett (2.32 pb), Kristian Cook (2.38 equal pb), Stephen Gascoigne (2.42 pb) and Sam Hayworth (2.53).

With a number of riders just moved up into division two the pressure was on some of last year’ riders in the 1km time trial.

Fastest on the night was David Thomas (2.57 pb), Matthew Last (3.01 pb), Charlie Frankland (3.13, pb), Heather Thomas (3.18 pb), Sam Drake (3.24 pb), George Hodgson (3.33 pb), Elsie Barker (3.37 pb), Jenny Hunter (3.37 pb), Adam Watson (3.49), Heather Hughes (4.24) and Mabel Symonds (4.50 pb).

In the division three 500m time trial the times were: Lucy Hewitt (1.50 pb), Ben Frankland (2.19), Alex Bewley (2.21), Jack McDonagh (2.26), Maddy Smith (2.30), Olivia Fearon( 3.30).

And in division four, also 500m: Lucy Hunter (2.18 pb), Hannah Melville (2,40 pb), Joshua Hewitt (2,40 pb), Poppy Watson (3,02 pb), Molly Rankin (3,03 pb), Adam Melville (3,36 pb), Jackson Bewley (4,27 pb), Connie Symonds (5,00 pb) and Poppy Rankin (5,54 pb).

Lakeland Sprinters will race every Wednesday through to September 2 at Rowrah Karting Stadium. New riders and divisions two, three and four start 6pm and division one 7pm.

First published at 19:24, Thursday, 21 May 2009
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk