Saddle up at Saddleworth

Photo: Anthony Miller

Saddleworth Mountain Time Trial hosted by Saddleworth Clarion Cycling Club. Pic shows Francis Woodcock from Bury Clarion.

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A STRONG field of 65 riders saddled up for the Saddleworth Mountain Time Trial, a testing 19-mile course including the climbs of 'The Isle of Skye' and 'Wessenden Head'.

Conditions were favourable with the last riders off missing the promised rain and all the competitors benefitting from a slight tail wind on the first climb.

The women's race was close, with Mossley-based Vanessa Whitfield (The Racing Chance Foundation) pipping Ripponden's Nicola Mathews (Boot Out Breast Cancer CC) for the £100 first prize in a time of 59 minutes, 11 seconds. Mathews posted 1:00:11.

The result saw Whitfield extend her lead in the North-West Sporting Course competition.

Francis Woodcok, of Bury Clarion, was the first junior rider home, stopping the clock in 59:37, with Moorside's Thomas Anchor (Saddleworth Clarion) taking runner-up spot.

PRIZE

Champion System rider Lee Baldwin recorded 49.07 in claiming the men's first prize of £100, with ABC Centerville's Louis Szymanski second and Craig Battersby third.

The first Saddleworth rider back was Kieran Manchester, who was seventh in an impressive 51.44.

Buxton CC/Sett Valley Cycles edged out Saddleworth Clarion for the team prize, with Glossop Kinder Velo completing the podium places.

The Clarion are now looking forward to hosting their Father's Day charity event, 'The Turnpike Challenge'. It is open to all riders and is jointly hosted by the Rotary Club of Saddleworth. Proceeds go to Prostate Cancer.

Saddleworth Clarion results ­-

Kieran Manchester 51:44; Andrew Thornley 57:58; Simon Cullen 58:1; Matthew Cheetham 1:00:00; William Evans Saddleworth 1:02:03; Noel Disbury 1:03:33; Thoma Anchor 1:06:38; Nick Hutchinson 1:07:29; Stuart Hyde 1:07:35.