LAST week's Southport ten miles time trial turned out to be a memorable event for Bury Clarion riders. On a super night for racing Bob Duckworth aimed to get inside 26 minutes and this he did with a 25.58. This was a personal best time as was Ernie Roughley's time of 26.13.

Our new member Philip Ball recorded an excellent 27.39 in his first time trial while Phil Collins took the lead in the three events counting towards the club's ten-mile time trial championship with 24.58. Frank Jefferson just maintained his edge over Ernie Roughley with 26.09. The friendly rivalry between these two continued in last Sunday's Nelson Wheelers 25 miles time trial with Frank again being faster with 1.10.22 against Ernie's 1.11.01.

Martin Lee, who currently leads our Best All Rounder competition, is at present more focused on his running activities and in Glasgow's recent Millennium Marathon he finished in fifth place and was the third fastest British runner. His time was 2.35.16 and he is now training for the Cologne marathon.

Entry fee for the club's NLTTA 25 on Sunday, September 24 is £2 and should be in the hands of Adrian Smith by September 8.

TANDEM RIDING CLUB

FOR THE VISUALLY

HANDICAPPED

THE run of good turn-outs for the club continued for last Sunday's ride to Whalley Abbey with eight tandem pairs and one solo completing the 45 miles round trip. It was for the most part an uneventful run except for a blown out tyre on the tandem steered by Paul Wood from Prestwich and stoked by Derek Pritchard. The modern fold up tyres make it convenient to carry spares and this measure meant that the pair could continue to enjoy the full day's run.

Last Wednesday evening's run was attended by three new riders with visual impairment, who enjoyed a short outing around north Bury before the evening dropped its early curtain.

The run on Sunday is to Hebden Bridge, meet at the Tottington HQ at 8.45am.

BURY CTC

THE A group's ride last Sunday was to have been to the village of Hoscar, near Rufford in West Lancashire. This plan was swiftly abandoned when we were informed that the new landlord of the pub we visit was charging £2 for a pot of tea!

As the B group were going in the same direction, it was decided to have a joint run to Croston. Under sunny skies we rode out through Bolton, Lostock, up the A6, turned for Aspull, then to Standish and Parbold Hill.

Parbold Hill, though only 400ft above sea level (Ramsbottom station is 420ft), is the highest hill in West Lancs and offers panoramic views. Normally from here you can see the mountains of North Wales but not on this day. The sky was black and it was beginning to rain. Taking care on the steep descent, we turned into the lanes and headed for Rufford and doubled back into Croston.

As always, we were made welcome in the tearoom, a far cry from Inglewhite, with as much tea as we could drink. The CTC produces a "Cyclists Welcome" window sticker and on our next visit they will be awarded the accolade.

Turning for home it started to rain again and this was to last, on and off, for most of the return journey. Back in the saddle and on the flat terrain we were soon eating up the miles through the West Lancashire lanes that are as delightful as any in Cheshire. Here the fields were full of crops ready for harvesting. We skirted Camelot Theme Park, then over Coppul Moor Road and on to Adlington, and then it was back on main roads through Horwich, Bolton and back to Bury.

If anyone wants to enter the Beard Cup Hill Climb Challenge, held on September 17, please contact Ian Ross on 01925 7555080 before September 11.

This Sunday's rides are to (A) Littondale, Bury 8.30am, Edenfield 9am or (B) Haworth, Bury 9am, Rochdale 9.30am.