TONIGHT the Blackburn and District CTC promote their annual two-up time trial on the 10 mile Barton/St Michaels course and event secretary Dave Collinge has received a healthy entry of 40 pairs of riders for this event, writes DAVID BROWN.

Collinge himself will get things underway at 7pm when he starts first of the teams along with new juvenile CTC rider Adam Pinder.

The rest follow on at two minute intervals with several CTC teams riding including one of two ladies - Caroline Palmer and Helen Lang.

Among the favourites for the winning pair will be Clayton Velo's Michael Ellerton and Dave Metcalfe and previous fastest Gethin Butler and Nigel Clementson.

The Blackburn CTC racing team again showed their renowned hill-climbing ability last Saturday afternoon when they filled four of the top seven places in the nine mile climb from Kendal to Shap Summit.

Great Harwood's Carl Helliwell continued to benefit from a recent month-long bike tour in South America by finishing second in the excellent time of 26mins 19secs behind the 25min 08 sec ride of overall winner Butler.

Peter Greenwood of Burnley and the Clayton Velo took third in 26m 19s with Dave Ebbrell (CTC) fourth in 26m 20s, Ian Stott (CTC) sixth in 26m 35s, Dave Collinge (CTC) seventh in 26m 52s and Michael Ellerton (Clayton Velo) ninth in 27m 14s.

Stuart Whitehead of Langho and the North Lancs Road Club was fastest rider in the Wednesday evening North lans Veterans time trial over 10 miles at Gsrstang with an impressive 22min 10sec performance on a cool evening.

Other local club members beating the 25mph barrier were Simon Phillips 22m 37s,Peter Briscoe 22m 53s, Dave Hargreaves 23m 27s, Dave Brown 23m 34s (fastest 60 plus rider), Dave Stamp 23m 40s, Steven Wilkinson 23m 40s, Frank Kerry 23m 47s (best on age standard 60 plus) and Dave Clough 23m 52s.

The good spell of weather has attracted larger fields for the evening events in our area with Paul Warrener of the Rossendale Road Club winning his own club's event on the Accrington-Burnley road in 23m 01s just three seconds faster than Dave Edwards of Blackburn and District CTC.

Roy Healey (25m 10s) and Jerry Peel (25m 51s) took third and fourth, while new juvenile William Brown followed his second place last week with 26m 14s.

The Pendle Forest held a 10 mile time trial based on Thornton and two Clayton Velo riders fought out the top placings with Dave Metcalfe fastest in 22m 37s and Russell McLean second in 23m 42s.

Steve Singleton (PF) took third in 24m 22s and Chris Smedley (Nelson Wheelers) fourth in 24m 35s.

At Edisford near Clitheroe, Fraser Snape of Blackburn and the North Lancs Road Club was again best in his own club's promotion over 10 miles with 23m 53s.

Peter Briscoe (NLRC) came second (24m 49s), Paul Warrener (Rossendale RC) third 25m 33s and Nigel Waddington (NLRC) fourth in 25m 59s.