HARRY Aspden, Blackburn's best known cyclist, sadly passed away on Sunday at the ripe old age of 91.

Aspden had lived almost all of his married life in Langho and was remembered by generations of local folk for his pedalling to his work at the Ribble Valley Rating Office on Wellington Street St Johns in Blackburn for around 40 years.

His wife Caroline, whom he had married in 1936, had predeceased him by two years at the age of 93 and they leave a daughter Penny.

Harry will be remembered as a top class racing cyclist especially since joining the veterans ranks when he was winner of the North Lancs Veterans Best All Rounder competition on more than 20 occasions as well as claiming many national awards.

He will, however, be equally remembered for the wonderful way that he could put pen - or in Harry's case an ancient old typewriter - to paper and produce many exceptional articles for the cycling press.

Additionally he was my own predecessor of this column for 25 years up to 1978.

The funeral service will be held at Blackburn's Pleasington Crematorium on Monday, May 12 at noon when a large gathering of his old friends is assured.

IN the Coniston Grand Prix the Blackburn and District CTC placed Ian Stott second overall in 51m 42s against the winning time of Preston's Gethin Butler of 49m 18s.

Dave Collinge was in seventh place in 53m 44s, but in the absence of a third man, the Clayton Velo claimed the team award with 50 plus veteran Peter Greenwood clinching an excellent fourth overall in 52m 30s backed by Michael Ellerton, ninth in 54m 06s and Chris Edmundsen 32nd in 59m 15s.

On Sunday at Holcombe, Ian Stott finished third fastest (33m 47s), Billy Rodgers of the Rossendale Road Club fourth (34m 19s) and Dave Collinge fifth (35m 05s) with Butler (32m 44s) again the winner.

On Saturday at Garstang, the Nelson Wheelers were team winners in the 10 mile event thanks to Steve Wilkinson of Barrowford, who was riding as a veteran for the first time and clocking 24m 34s plus Chris Smedley of Colne in 24m 40s and junior rider Michael Horn of Barrowford in 25m 13s.

Fastest in the Ribble Valley Cycle Racing Club 25 promotion at Garstang on Sunday morning was the 56m 32s of Chorley racing cyclist John Morgan and second was Langho's on-form Stuart Whitehead who returned 57m 08s.

This was just 10 seconds faster than Stuart had clocked to win the Wednesday afternoon veterans 25 mile event on a course based on St Michaels on Wyre where Peter Briscoe of Clayton Velo excelled himself with 58m 02s, Peter Haigh of Nelson Wheelers returned 59m 30s and Dave Hargreaves of the North Lancs Road Club was also under the hour barrier with 59m 43s.

Tonight, the North Lancs Road Club begin their weekly series of 10 mile events from Edisford near Clitheroe with a start time of 7pm and next Tuesday the Rossendale Road Club hold the first of their weekly 9.4 mile time trials from outside Accrington Cemetery at the same time.