THE North Lancashire Road Club 10 mile time trials held at Clitheroe on a Wednesday evening have certainly been a big hit this year – with much of this due to the enthusiasm of event organiser Harry Haseley, of Great Harwood.

Ex-runner Harry moved over to the cycling scene several years ago and since then has encouraged other runners, and indeed many occasional cyclists, to have a go at cycle racing via these popular midweek events.

Last week, a record 35 lined up at one-minute intervals to start the 10 mile course, which is double the normal entry of two years ago.

Fastest on the night was Blackburn and District CTC’s Ian Stott, who clocked a winning 23 minutes 23 seconds, but this was still exactly one minute slower than his own course record set back in 2005.

Three from the promoting club followed with Duncan Park second (24-00), Fraser Snape third (24-05) and Paul Taylor third (24-23).

There will be no 10 mile at Edisford next Wednesday as Blackburn and District CTC are using some of the same roads for their 11 mile Sporting Courses event with Ian Stott turning organiser for this one.

The Pendle Forest Cycling Club have not been as successful with their entries this year with only two riders facing the timekeeper at Thornton-in-Craven on Thursday evening.

Best of the two was Forest’s Craig Holden covering the 6.2 mile loop in 15 minutes 03seconds with team-mate Bernard Clayton in 16-51.

The Rossendale Road Club usually hold their Tuesday evening events over a 10 mile course near Hapton but once a year hold an event over two laps of the Bolton-by-Bowland circuit for a total of 22 miles.

Another runner turned cyclist, Derek Schofield, was best with a time of 58 minutes 45 seconds just two seconds better than another ex-runner Paul Warrener.

Damian Ludlow of the Rossendale club took third in 59-53 and Jason Craven fourth with 1 hour 1 minute 5 seconds. Schofield now holds the famous ‘Festival of Britain’ Trophy which was presented to the Rossendale club in 1951.