COLNE’S Steven Burke, who now rides for the Motorpoint-Marshalls Pasta professional team, demonstrated his recent form on the track by setting a new course record for his local 10-mile course based on Thornton-in-Craven.

Burke, 22, clocked 20 minutes 59 seconds in the midweek Pendle Forest Cycling Club promotion, beating regular winner Jason Bateman by 58 seconds with Rob Dickinson third in 23-58 and Carl Pawson fourth with 24-57.

Less than two days later, Burke was entered for the Bolton Clarion 10 mile on the Garstang course, but in some tough competition he finished a rather disappointing third although his time was quicker in 20-26.

Although there were no planes above on that day, senior flight engineer Mark Holton was certainly flying on the A6 where he was aiming for the course record held by World and Olympic gold medallist Bradley Wiggins in 19minutes 24 seconds.

Preston’s Holton had clocked 19-44 or just 20 seconds short of the record in the North Lancs event at Easter and had hoped to improve sufficiently to go into the record books, but on the day his time was still short with 19minutes 41 seconds.

Further north on the same day Burnley’s Jimmy Wright was winning yet again, this time in the Barrow Central Wheelers Sporting Courses 20-mile time trial with 49-40.

Barnoldwick’s Pro Ian Wilkinson will be wearing the coveted Number One in the CiCEL International Classic Road Race in Rutland on Sunday following his outstanding win in the 2009 edition.

The event is claimed to be the British answer to the famous Paris-Roubaix event, replacing the French cobblestones with gritty off-road tracks.

The event has attracted a record entry of 200 riders including eight continental teams and will be held over the longer distance of 105 miles.