LEIGH Premier Road Club brought their 40th anniversary celebrations to a close at their annual buffet and prize presentation evening, welcoming their special guest of honour, local cycling legend, Dave Lloyd.

The club was formed in 1964 after the demise of the old Leigh Cycling Club, and two founder members, Dave Burgess and Tom Sackfield were present on the night.

In this, their anniversary year, the club has enjoyed great success in many aspects of cycling, with club road race champion, Jack Hill, winning the British Universities road race championship, and also on the track, the Universities pursuit and points race titles. Jack also featured prominently in a number of top domestic races, before going on to race in Belgium with the support of the national Dave Raynor fund.

The club's riders also featured highly in road races throughout the year, and in particular, in the "North West Recycling.co.uk League" series of road races, where Mark Turnbull won the series overall, and brother Nathan finished 4th and Simon Bridge 11th.

On the time trialling scene, Darren Topping won the club's 25 and 50 mile championships, receiving the trophies from his coach for the last two years, Dave Lloyd.

Nathan Turnbull won the 10 mile and "Sporting Courses" time trial championships, whilst Martin Sackfield took the long distance 100 mile championship.

However, the club "Best all Rounder" time trial championship, based on average speed over 25, 50 and 100 miles, was won in a close competition, by less than 0.1 mph by veteran Derek Unsworth from Martin Sackfield.

In the Veteran category, the "Best all Rounder" championship, based on times set against the national age standards for 10, 25 & 50 miles, was won by Bill Fairhurst with an overall plus of 37min 40secs from Derek Unsworth with a plus of 32-55.

The "Bateson Trophy", presented to the Most Improved Rider, went to Gareth Hinde, who also received a gold standard award for beating the hour at 25 miles for the first time.

The club 10 mile points championship, based on a midweek series of time trials at Rainford was won by Eddie Doyle.

The club also recently took possesion of a new trophy, in the shape of a glass pyramid, donated by mha Ltd., a company owned by another founder member, Mike Howard. It is to be presented annually to the winner of the open 10 mile time trial organised each year by the club. This year's winner, Steve Feeney of Chester Road Club was present on the night to receive the trophy.

The club succesfully promoted their annual open 10 mile time trial in May, on the Rainford by pass, with all finishers receiving a commemorative anniversary mug, containing a special cartoon drawn by Cycling magazine cartoonist John Helms.

The club has now started its winter Sunday runs, and will also be organising a couple of weekends away, including a visit to Dumfries and Galloway. If anyone is interested in the club, check out its website