West Bradford domiciled policeman Duncan Park, who pedals a bike as part of his job, had his best win of his come-back when he was top rider in the 18-mile Condor Road Club time-trial held in foggy conditions high up on the Pennines.

It was a close finish, but Park’s time of 48 minutes 20 seconds was just good enough to ensure the top award.

Burnley’s Peter Greenwood is never far from the top in those conditions and, despite now being in his mid-50s, took fourth in 48-49, followed in by Rossendale’s Paul Warrener (50-40) for sixth and Rob Dickinson of Burnley (51-36) for seventh slot.

After 18 events in the ongoing Sporting Courses (SPOCO) series, Greenwood lies second, Park third, Warrener fourth and Dickinson sixth, with Adrian Lawrence of the Bolton-based Lancashire Road Club in the lead.

Nathan Smedley, of the Nelson Wheelers, only turned 15 a week ago, but he has been showing his ability in North West time-trials and his latest success was his win in the annual heat of the George Herbert Stancer (GHS) time-trial for juvenile riders.

At the excellent Preston Sports Arena last Saturday, Smedley was fastest over eight one-mile laps of the closed road circuit, with a time of 18 minutes 53 seconds, and will therefore go forward to the National GHS final on a Midlands course on Saturday, September 12.

However, last Thursday, the big-guns shot him down in the Pendle Forest 10-miler with Jason Bateman recording 22m-16s, Paul Warrener 22-19, Dave Metcalfe 22-51, with young Smedley still a very creditable fourth in such competition with 23-29.

David Tomlinson of Clayton-le-Moors was the winner of the North Lancs Road Club 10-mile at Clitheroe with his time of 25m 13s – too good for Bob Matthews (25-30), Dave Hargreaves (25-45) and Stuart Timmins (26-40).

In the Rossendale Road Club 10-mile at Hapton, their own on-form Paul Warrener was an easy winner with 24 minutes exactly, beating Roy Flanagan (26-14), Mark Bateman (26-41) and newcomer from Scotland, Brad Marshall (26-44).

The North Lancashire Road Club promoted an LVRC road race around the Bashall Eaves circuit and organiser Frank Birtwhistle of Great Harwood had 90 riders on the program.

However, only two of our local cyclists were in the prizes, presented by ex-Olympic and ladies Tour de France rider Linda Kay (nee Gornall), with Peter Greenwood second in the 55-59 group and Dave Hargreaves 4th in the 60-64 group.