Conditions suit brilliant Bridge

Photo: PICTURE: ANTHONY MILLER

Oldham Century member Mark Flynn gets up to pace.

CYCLING:

SIMON Bridge went close to matching Olympic gold medalist Chris Boardman's record in near perfect conditions at the Oldham Century Cycling Club's Ian J Crossley Memorial Mountain Time Trial.

The course, from Greenfield over the Isle of Skye road to Meltham and back via Wessenden Head, was in good nick after contractors finished their work just in time. Mild weather also contrbuted to good times.

Manchester Wheelers rider Bridge made good use of the conditions to finish the course in 48 minutes 48 seconds — closer than anyone else has got to former Wheelers man Boardman's mark of 45 minutes.

In second place finished Callum Nicholson of Team Wallis/CHH Racing Team with 50:06, edging in front of last year's winner Sam Clark, who was third with 50:38.