Viz 2009

Southport Cycling Club brought the 2008 season to a close with the final event on the calendar, the Boxing Day time trial. The race held on the Coastal Road between Weld Road and Pontin's roundabout saw a field of eleven riders doing battle against the watch. The race has had mixed fortunes over the past few years, 2005 saw a cancellation due to lack of interest, 2006 saw only two riders competing, however 2007 showed a bit of a revival with twelve riders making the start. Clearly the weather does play a big part in the number of riders taking part but it is encouraging to see that interest has been maintained.

As expected the club's time trial specialist Dave Hilton posted the fastest time of 13mins 37sec with Spencer Coltman some 24secs back taking second spot and Steve Duffell a further 14secs back taking third.

The full result for the Boxing Day TT 2008:

Dave Hilton, 13mins 37secs; Spencer Coltman, 14mins 01secs; Steve Duffell, 14mins 15secs; Andy Bristow, 14mins 55secs; Rob Chesters, 15mins 06secs; Steve Ginty, 15mins 13secs; Allan Taylor, 15mins 38secs; Andy Judge, 15mins 42secs; Ellis Hart, 16mins 49secs; Ross Scholes, 18mins 03secs; Jason Vickery, 18mins 22secs.

Despite the cold and icy start to the new 2009 season the first weekend of the year saw a good turn-out for both the Saturday and Sunday club runs. The Saturday run through the lanes around Croston and Mawdesley before heading off to Cleeves Hill attracted over a dozen riders and the longer Sunday run to Scorton via Woodplumpton and Harris End Fell with a return across the Fylde saw a group well into double figures.

The long distance section were also in action over the opening weekend, the Bolton based pair of Dave Walker and Lee Hunt completed the Southport-Settle-Southport 200k Audax on Saturday with Ken Taberner putting in a solo effort over the same route on Sunday.

Tomorrow evening sees the third event in this current winter Revolution Series of international track race meetings held at the Manchester Velodrome. Racing starts at 7.00pm and features the some of the UK's new cycling MBE's as the star attractions. The previous two meetings were sold out so it would be advisable to check ticket availability before travelling.

Members are reminded that subscriptions for the new 2009 year are now due to club treasurer Bill Lloyd. Next Monday at the clubroom Ken Beck will be collecting the final orders for new club kit.

Southport Visiter report 6^th Jan 2009 by Paul Mayor

For Southport Cycling Club riders last weekend finally provided more amenable weather than had prevailed from the beginning of the new year when icy roads followed by a spell of wind and rain opened the new season.

The improved riding conditions were welcomed by all groups, the recreational riders who just want to enjoy riding and keeping fit, the long distance Audax riders who are taking on the challenge of completing at least one 200km ride per month throughout the year and the racing members who are in the usual desperate winter fight to gain some level of fitness before their season begins.

The racing members haven't got many weekends to go before the local season opens on Sunday 1^st March with the Clayton Velo Spring Classic 90km Road Race. Saturday 7^th March sees the traditional start to the Merseyside road race calendar with the staging of the Eddie Soens Handicap on the Aintree circuit and for the club's time trial riders the Combined Clubs hold a 10mile event on the Brock course. Sunday 8 ^th march sees another opportunity for the road racers with the promotion of round 1 in the CDNW series which will be staged by Ribble Valley CRC on the Treales circuit with race headquarters at Elswick Village Hall. Race distances will be 85km for the elite riders and 65km for categories 3/4.

With the recent folding of the once famous Kirkby Cycling Club the promotion of the Eddie Soens Handicap looked in jeopardy but because the event has both national as well as local status the loss to the racing calendar was unacceptable. The event will continue, now being run by the Merseyside Cycling Development Group.

Members are reminded that subscriptions for the new 2009 year are now due to club treasurer Bill Lloyd.

The weekend clubruns will depart as usual from the Plough bus stop, Preston New Road. The Saturday run leaves at 9.30hrs. The Sunday run leaves at 9.00hrs. The weekday runs also depart from the Plough bus stop; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday all at 9.30hrs. The Saturday and weekday runs are covered at a more comfortable pace, so if you're new to cycling these runs are the way to start. On that note, a polite reminder to the racing members, don't ruin the clubruns by turning them into your training rides. There are no medals for making it hard for your non-racing colleagues, you will just get on the short list for the half wheeling trophy.

Southport Visiter report 6^th Feb 2009 by Paul Mayor

Southport Cycling Club has this week received confirmation of its success in bidding for a grant from the Merseyside Community Foundation Grass Roots Award Scheme. The club made the application for the grant based on a package of proposals with the aim of trying to introduce more young people to cycling and thus improve the club's membership profile. The award of £5000 over three years will provide a major boost to the club's plans which will be based around a series of events, both skills and competition based, which will be held during spring and summer near the clubroom in Victoria Park. Inevitably there will be much detail to discus before event arrangements are finalised and the programme can commence and it will require some willing club members to dedicate both time and effort to ensure the package is a success.

To that end there will be an Extraordinary General Meeting at the clubroom, Victoria Park, at 8.00pm on Monday 9^th February.

The main agenda item will be to discuss and adopt a child protection policy into the club's constitution.

Last weekend saw a good turnout of Southport Cycling club riders for both the Saturday and Sunday clubruns. Over 20 riders on each day enjoyed the dry ice free conditions the despite the strong easterly wind.

The Saturday run headed out through Banks, across the exposed moss to Tarleton and then through Croston to the cafe stop at Rufford marina. Some riders then headed back to Southport, the remainder took to the West Lancashire lanes to Aughton, over Cleeves Hill before returning to Southport to clock up a respectable 40 mile round trip.

The Sunday run was joined by some of the new members of the Kinesis UK Racing Team together with their manager and Southport club member Chris Truett who were out on a training ride. Again it was cold with a strong easterly wind and the Southport club riders were thankful for the shelter on the outward leg towards Preston, but it was only short lived as the Kinesis boys turned off at Bretherton island and headed for Rivington. The remaining riders reorganised and continued the battle into the wind passing through Preston, Longridge, over Chaigley and onto a welcome coffee stop at Waddington cafe. The return leg through Bashall Town, Chipping, and Preston Marina proved somewhat easier with the final leg back to Southport run at a fast tempo with the assistance from the strong tail wind. A good solid 77 miles for the mileage log.

Southport Visiter report 13^th Feb 2009 by Paul Mayor

Members of Southport Cycling Club are planning a brief respite from the current spell of unfriendly riding weather with a visit next Thursday (19^th Feb) evening to the Velodrome in Manchester. It is not quite like an escape to the sun for some winter training as the riders in top international teams have just experienced in the January Tour Down Under and the Tour of Qatar which ended last week. However barring a major disaster, the club's riders should at least be able to enjoy some action on the super fast wooden surfaced track in the dry and warm indoor atmosphere. Once again the plan for the evening will to divide the riders into two groups. There will be an A group for those riders looking for a more structured evening of training and a B group for riders who just want ride but at a more relaxed pace. Members are requested to be at the Velodrome for 19.30hrs to allow time for administration and set up of the hired track racing machines before the session commences at 20.00hrs. Members should note that the bikes are fitted as standard with "Look" pedals and compatible shoes cane be hired at the venue. The cost of a hire bike will be £9.10p and members will be required to pay £5 for the session, junior riders will get to ride for free, guest riders will pay £8.

In spite of the poor riding weather the last weekend's Sunday clubrun attracted almost twenty riders. With the threat of ice and snow on the higher routes the riders sensibly kept to the coastal strip after the run out to Preston and finally made for Knott End after a tour around the maize of lanes that makes up the Fylde. Not the most challenging run but at least ice free and all safely home with 70miles to log.

For the long distance riders of Southport Cycling Club's Audax group next Saturday (21^st Feb) sees the staging one of the classic early season events, the North West Passage 200km, which starts and finishes in Rochdale. The event organisers have also included a 120km version of the ride for those riders who perhaps are a little more realistic as to their level of fitness at such an early point in the events calendar. The route for the 200km ride rarely drops below the 200m contour. The weather can turn what is in normal circumstances a challenging ride into around 10 hours plus of survival.

The weekend's clubruns will depart as usual from the Plough bus stop, Preston New Road. The Saturday run leaves at 9.30hrs. The Sunday run leaves at 9.00hrs. The weekday runs also depart from the Plough bus stop; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday all at 9.30hrs. The Saturday and weekday runs are covered at a more comfortable pace, so if you're new to cycling these runs are the way to start. On that note, a polite reminder to the racing members, don't ruin the clubruns by turning them into your training rides. There are no medals for making it hard for your non-racing colleagues

Southport Visiter report 27^h Feb 2009 by Paul Mayor

Southport Cycling Club's visit to the Manchester Velodrome last Thursday turned out to be a big success with a total of almost forty riders trying out the super fast wooden surfaced track.

Riders were seeded into two groups one containing those riders looking for a hard workout on the night and those with more modest ambitions of just enjoying riding on a track which has produced a clutch of Olympic and World champions.

The evening was designated for training but to add a little competition for the Southport club riders organiser Colin Baldwin set up a one lap, 250m time trial.

Spencer Coltman was fastest clocking the only time under twenty seconds with his 19.86secs ride. Junior rider Andy Judge put in a terrific ride to take second fastest recording a time of 20.57secs.

Other times for 1 lap:

Ross Scholes, 21.06secs; Neil Thompson, 21.57secs; Chris Wooton, 22.07secs; Andy Wicks, 22.45secs; David Ashton, 22.64secs; Gil Taylor, 23.89secs; Derek Unsworth, 24.06secs; Andy Grice, 25.64secs; Jim Gunn, 26.06secs; Sandra Clitheroe, 26.64secs; Rich Collins, 27.00secs; Jason Vickery, 27.05secs; Carol Doyle, 28.02secs.

Last Saturday provided the challenge for the long Southport Club's long distance riders in the form of the 200km North West Passage Audax event. A group of six riders from the Southport CC, Allan Taylor, Steve Duffell, Dave Hilton, Damon Peacock, Lee Hunt and Steve Ginty took on a tough ride starting and finishing in Rochdale with outward controls at Settle and the turn round at Kirkby Lonsdale. The return leg routed riders via the Lune Valley, Quernemore, Scorton, Longridge and Haslingden. With an 8.00hrs start for the event the riders including the six from Southport got away in dry and relatively mild conditions, not bad considering the weather that has prevailed in previous years. The day remained dry but cloudy with just enough wind to test the stamina of riders over the closing miles. However all six Southport riders completed the route within daylight in under 10hours clocking up 128miles for their efforts.

Southport Visiter report 6^th March 2009 by Paul Mayor

This weekend sees the start of the racing season for a number of riders from Southport Cycling Club with three events being held locally. Racing gets underway on Saturday morning with the Eddie Soens Memorial Handicap held on the Aintree Club Circuit. The time trial riders get their chance in the afternoon with the North Lancs Combined Clubs ten mile time trial. Sunday morning sees round one of the Cycling Development North West (CDNW) race league held on the Treales circuit on the Fylde.

The Eddie Soens Memorial Handicap race is the 48^th edition of the nationally recognised event and to date boasts a field of one hundred and forty six riders ranging from the UK's top domestic racing teams down to individual junior club riders. The race will be held over 30 laps of the 1.64m circuit with riders split into four groups according to ability with elite and 1 ^st cat riders starting last. Racing will start at 9.30hrs with group one away, 4^th cat, women, youth A and junior riders, who will given a maximum lead of three minutes. Group two will have two minutes lead with group three at one and a half minutes. Because of the relatively short length of the circuit three minutes lead is about the most the first group can be given so it is more or less inevitable that the last group away, the scratch group of elite and 1 ^st cat riders, will overhaul the rest of the field. However it will be good experience for the younger riders to be in the mix with top flight even if the liaison is brief. Southport Cycling Club riders are, Andy Judge (junior cat) group 1, Martin Phillips (3 ^rd cat) and Milan Sihelsky (3^rd cat) both group 2.

Saturday afternoon's ten mile time trial gets underway with first rider away at 14.01 on the course based on the A6 between Garstang and Hampson Green. The field totals eighty eight riders from thirteen North West Clubs including a large contingent of eleven riders from Southport Cycling Club headed by Dave Hilton. The race headquarters are at Catterall Village Hall.

Sunday's round one of the CDNW Race League Series starts at 10.00hrs with the roll out to the circuit at 9.45hrs from the race headquarters at Elswick Village Hall. The event includes two races run simultaneously, a National B race for Elite, 1^st, 2^ndand 3^rd cat riders held over 87km and a Regional B race for 3^rd, 4^th, Women and Junior cat riders held over 66Km. Southport Cycling Club riders are Andy Judge (J cat), Martin Phillips (3^rdcat) and Stephen Clark (3^rdcat). It's going to be a tough weekend for young Andy and Martin.

It is with sadness that the club has learned of the passing of one of its former members, Tom Marsden, who died last Thursday 26^th Feb. Tom was a club member in his teenage years, joining in the 1960's continuing into the 1970's. In later years although no longer a club member he continued riding until he suffered from a stroke some three years ago from which he unfortunately never made a significant recovery. His funeral will be held at 11.00hrs Friday March 13 ^th at St Helens Crematorium.

Those members who are involved in the Southport Club's Go-Ride scheme are reminded that there will be an information gathering visit to a Go-Ride event at Litherland Sports Centre on Tuesday 10^th March. Note the starting time is now at 13.30hrs. Final details and transport arrangements will be made at the clubroom on Monday evening 9^th March.

Southport Visiter report 20^th March 2009 by Paul Mayor

Tomorrow sees the first of the three rounds of the Terry Dolan sponsored annual youth races staged by the Southport Cycling Club on the Victoria Park circuit.

It is expected that a total of between ninety and one hundred riders covering age groups, under 8's, under 10's, under 12's, under 14's and under 16's, will be competing over the next three Saturday's. Last weekend in the Cycling Development North West (CDNW) Youth league event, for the same age groups, also held on the Southport club's Victoria Park circuit, an amazing total of one hundred and thirty five riders were in competition.

The format for the racing will see riders contest two races each week against others in his or her age group with prizes awarded for the individual races, however the prime objective for riders in each of the age groups is to score points based on finishing position in all of the six races of the three week series and claim the title of overall series champion.

Once again the Southport Cycling Club has received generous sponsorship from Terry Dolan Cycles, providing not only prizes for the individual races held over each of the next three Saturdays, but also the major prize for the overall three week series winner of each age group.

The first in the three week series of races commences at 9.30hrs tomorrow with the second and third rounds held on Saturday 28^th March and 4^th April respectively.

On the senior road race scene Steve Clark has made a respectable start to the season scoring points in the first two rounds of the CDNW Maxgear.Co.UK sponsored race league. He took 10^th place in the opening event of the series in the Ribble Valley CRC promotion at Treales on Sunday 8^th March followed last Sunday with an 11^th place at Saighton in the Chester RC event. Martin Phillips finished 16^th at Chester with former Club member and sponsor Bob Whitfield taking 15^th place riding under his own colours of R Whitfield RT.

Southport based Kinesis UK RT, fielding an almost entire new line up of riders for 2009, got off to a good start to their season earlier in the month with a podium place in the classic Eddie Soens Memorial Handicap held on the Aintree circuit. New signing Matt Kipling, a former mountain biker from the North East, took a well earned third place behind former Kinesis rider Tom Murray, now riding for Plowman Craven-Madison, who was second and the race winner and Beijing team pursuit gold medallist Ed Clancy, Halfords Bikehut team.

Overall Kinesis UK had three finishers in the top ten, James Stewart (6^th) and Steve Lampier (8^th) with James also claiming first place in the points competition.

The Southport club's time trial riders are also in action this weekend spread over a total of three events. Saturday sees riders competing in the Altrincham Ravens CC '25' based on Goostrey and Lancashire RC '10' on the Garstang course, followed on Sunday with the Merseyside Ladies CA '10' at Pulford.

Members are reminded that there will no Saturday clubrun whilst the Victoria Park races are being held. The Sunday clubrun will depart as usual at 9.00hrs from the Plough bus stop, Preston New Road. . The weekday runs also depart from the Plough bus stop; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday all at 9.30hrs.

The weekday runs are covered at a more comfortable pace so if you are new to cycling these are the runs to join, new riders are most welcome.

Southport Visiter report 27^th March 2009 by Paul Mayor

Southport Cycling Club's Terry Dolan Youth Circuit Races got underway last Saturday with a total of eighty riders in five age groups, ranging from under 8's up to under 16's, entered for the first of three Saturday's events held on the club's Victoria Park circuit. The format for the racing sees riders contest two races each week against others in his or her age group with prizes awarded for the individual races, however the prime objective for riders in each of the age groups is to score points based on finishing position in all of the six races of the three week series and claim the title of overall Series Champion. Ten points are awarded for a race win with eight points for second place down to one point for ninth place. Each week the opening race for each of the five groups is a scratch race followed later by a handicap race based on finishing position in the first event.

Although the weather was dry for the 9.30hrs start to the racing programme there was no sign of the sun. The temperatures that had prevailed throughout the week were just a distant memory and as the day progressed the cold began to bite making it a bit of an endurance test for the race officials who were out on the course until early afternoon. The riders however seemed little affected by the cold and produce some spirited racing with both U16's and U8's group leaders scoring two wins and taking a maximum of 20 points in the overall series competition.

Results from week one after two races:

Under 16's: Harry Tanfield, Cleveland Wheelers, 1^st (20pts); Thomas Mazzone, Team Royal London 360 Isle of Man, and Matthew Holmes, Sport City Velo, =2^nd (15pts). Under 14's: Chris Lawless, Eastlands Velo, 1^st (16pts); Jacob Ragan, Eastlands Velo, 2nd (15pts). Under 12's: Leighton Sharman, Eastlands Velo, and Joel Partington, Eastlands Velo, =1^st (17pts); Robert Armstrong, Ribble Valley Juniors, 3rd (14pts). Under 10's: Matthew Braybrooke, Eastlands Velo, 1^st (18pts); Andrew Hathaway, Bolton Hotwheels, and Daniel Gibson, Liverpool Century RC, =2^nd (15pts). Under 8's: Kieron Morris, Mid Shropdhire Whs, 1^st (20pts); Olivia Braybrooke, Eastlands Velo, 2^nd (16pts).

The second round of the three week series of races commences at 9.30hrs tomorrow with the third and final round held on Saturday 4^th April.

The Southport club's time trial riders were in action last weekend, riding against the clock in total of four events. On Saturday afternoon Dave Hilton clocked an excellent early season time of 57mins 20secs to take 6^th place overall the Altrincham Ravens CC 25 mile event. Veteran Bill Lloyd clocked 1hr 9mins 33secs. Times for the riders in the Lancashire RC '10' on the super fast Levens course, also held on Saturday afternoon have not yet been posted. Times for Sunday's Merseyside Ladies CA '10' at Pulford also remain unpublished. Sunday saw the Ribble Valley CRC round of the Lakes and Lancs sporting course series (SPOCO) held over a 19 mile course around Longridge. Local rider Peter Williams from Croston riding for Pinarello- CandyTV clocked 44mins 23secs to take the race win. Southport rider Colin Ross clocked 1hr 03mins 10secs.

The weekday runs are covered at a more comfortable pace so if you are new to cycling these are the runs to join, new riders are most welcome.

Southport Visiter report 3^rd April 2009 by Paul Mayor

The second round of the Southport Cycling Club's, Dolan Cycles sponsored, series of youth races was held last Saturday in Victoria Park. Once again there were dry conditions but the lack of sunshine coupled with the almost gale force north westerly wind made the race day tough for the riders and a bit of a survival test for race officials who were standing out on the course for almost four hours. The old adage 'March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb' was turned completely on its head. In spite of the poor weather a further fourteen riders signed on for action for the second round bringing the total number of race entries in excess of ninety. The races were once again all closely fought and only U16's and U8's week one leaders, Harry Tanfield and Kieron Morris, managed to hold on to their positions with Kieron being the only riders to have scored maximum points to date.. In the U14 group, Jacob Ragan, Sport City Velo, scored maximum points with two race wins to establish a three point lead over week one leader Chris Lawless, Eastlands Velo. Jacob is now well set for a second successive win in the U14 group having won the series in 2008. Next year he will move up into the U16 group. U12 group saw Joel Partington and Leighton Sharman, both Eastlands Velo, finish again on equal points. The last two races tomorrow are sure to be a real fight for the title of their group series champion. The U10 group is also close with Andrew Hathaway, Bolton Hotwheels, taking over from week one leader Matthew Braybrooke, Eastlands Velo, by a margin of just three points. Their last two races also look like being closely contested.

The group leaders after the second round in the series and a total of four races, from a maximum possible of 40 points, are as follows:

Under 16's: Harry Tanfield, Cleveland Wheelers, 1^st (36pts); Matthew Holmes, Sport City Velo, 2^nd (25pts); Chris Latham, Sport City Velo, 3^rd (20pts). Under 14's: Jacob Ragan, 1^st (35pts); Chris Lawless, Eastlands Velo, Eastlands Velo, 2nd (32pts); Charlie Tanfield, Cleveland Wheelers, 3^rd (18pts). Under 12's: Leighton Sharman, Eastlands Velo, and Joel Partington, Eastlands Velo, =1^st (33pts); Robert Armstrong, Ribble Valley Juniors, 3rd (26pts). Under 10's: Andrew Hathaway, Bolton Hotwheels, 1 ^st (35pts); Matthew Braybrooke, Eastlands Velo, 2^nd (33pts); Daniel Gibson, Liverpool Century RC, 3^rd (29pts). Under 8's: Kieron Morris, Mid Shropdhire Whs, 1^st (40pts); Olivia Braybrooke, Eastlands Velo, 2^nd (30pts); Sam Kendall, unattached, 3^rd (25pts).

The third and final round in the series starts tomorrow at 9.30hrs in Victoria Park and it could be all change again. Only Kieron Morris looks to be in a comfortable position in the U8's group where he has a 10 point lead. The remaining groups are still up for grabs.

Last weekend saw a number of the club's time trial riders in action. Dave Hilton took a solid 4^th overall in the Manchester & District TTA 10mile event on Saturday afternoon. He clocked 22mins 52secs in less than ideal conditions and was only 28seconds behind race winner Barry Charlton, Lyme RC, who clocked 22mins 24secs.

Sunday morning on the A6 at Garstang saw near neighbours Andy Grice and Pete Leonard form a rare pairing to ride the Preston Wheelers 2up 25mile TT. Andy and Pete both live on the Fylde not far from the Atomic Energy establishment at Salwick, maybe it was something in the air that prompted them to join forces, they posted a time of 1hr 5mins 15secs. Event winners Mark Holton and C McCulloch, Shorter Rochford RT, clocked an impressive 51mins 47secs.

Members are reminded that there will no Saturday clubrun whilst the final round of the Victoria Park races is being held. The Sunday clubrun will depart as usual at 9.00hrs from the Plough bus stop, Preston New Road. . The weekday runs also depart from the Plough bus stop; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday all now at 9.30hrs.

Southport Visiter report 10^th April 2009 by Paul Mayor

The third and final round of Southport Cycling Club's weekend series of youth races was held last Saturday in Victoria Park where over the past three Saturdays a total of one hundred riders ranging from under 8yrs up to 16yrs have been competing in their respective age group races. Unlike last year when heavy rain on the final day forced cancellation of half of the race programme this year the final round of two races for each age group were both completed albeit in sunshine but with a biting cold wind sweeping across the circuit. As in previous weeks 20 points were available from the two races in each of the five age groups towards the title of Series Champion and apart from U8 group leader from week two, Kieron Morris, who had a maximum of 40 points from four races and looked unassailable, the remaining group tiltles were all still there for the taking, particularly the U10 group where week two leader Andrew Hathaway did not make the start for the final round.

The final group results after the third and final round in the series, from a maximum possible of 60 points from six races, are as follows:

Under 16's: Harry Tanfield, Cleveland Wheelers, 1^st (50pts); Matthew Holmes, Sport City Velo, 2^nd (37pts); Chris Latham, Sport City Velo, 3^rd (33pts). Under 14's: Jacob Ragan, 1^st (55pts); Chris Lawless, Eastlands Velo, 2nd (48pts); Charlie Tanfield, Cleveland Wheelers, 3^rd (29pts). Under 12's: Leighton Sharman, Eastlands Velo, 1^st (51pts); Joel Partington, Eastlands Velo, 2^nd (50pts); Robert Armstrong, Ribble Valley Juniors, 3rd (39pts). Under 10's: Matthew Braybrooke, Eastlands Velo, 1^st (51pts); Daniel Gibson, Liverpool Century RC, 2^nd (42pts); Andrew Hathaway, Bolton Hotwheels, 3^rd (35pts). Under 8's: Kieron Morris, Mid Shropdhire Whs, 1^st (60pts); Olivia Braybrooke, Eastlands Velo, 2^nd (42pts); Sam Kendall, unattached, 3^rd (36pts).

Southport Cycling Club's top time trial rider Dave Hilton had a rewarding weekend with rides in the Barrow Central Wheelers 10mile event on Saturday afternoon followed on Sunday with a ride in the Nelson Wheelers 'Circuit of the Dales' hilly 50mile event. In the Barrow event, held on the Levens course, Dave posted a time of 21mins 19secs to take 3^rd place overall. The Nelson Wheelers event fell victim to roadworks and the classic 50mile race had to be shortened to 48.5miles. Dave clocked a time of 2hrs 10mins 16secs for the revised distance and took 12^th place overall.

Other Southport Club riders times for the Barrow 10mile event were: Bill Sedgwick, 23mins 33secs; Pete Leonard, 24mins 16secs; Bill Lloyd, 26mins 58secs; John Keenan, 29mins 10secs.

Next Thursday (16^th April) sees the start of the club's evening 10mile time trial series held on the Tarleton course. Riders and race marshals should note that the start time for the first event is 18.45hrs.

Southport Visiter report 17th April 2009 by Paul Mayor

Ten Mile Record For Dave Hilton

Good Friday certainly turned out to be just that for Southport Cycling Club's in form time trial rider Dave Hilton. In the City RC (Hull) 10 mile event Dave put in a magnificent performance over the V718 course, based on the A63, not far from the Humber Bridge, where he posted a time of 20mins 15secs to claim a new club record. That translates into a blistering average speed of 29.630mph. Over recent weeks Dave has had a number of top ten finishes over both 10 and 25 miles, in some less than favourable weather conditions and it was clear that on a good course in the right weather conditions Dave on his current form could turn in a record beating ride. Last Friday morning he did just that.

Dave's ride shaved 17seconds off the old record which had stood for almost ten years. It was set by John Stopforth back in September 1999 and coincidentally John's record time was also clocked on the same V718 course. This new record will now sit alongside Dave's existing record of 1hr 48mins 03secs for 50miles set in August 2006. Could it be that the club's 25mile record which stands at 53mins 07secs may also fall this year, only time will tell.

Other time trial riders were in action in the North Lancashire Road Club 10mile event on Easter Saturday held on the L101 course at Garstang. Pete Leonard (V50) clocked a time of 24mins 14secs for a current season best with Bill Lloyd (V70) clocking 25mins 24secs.

Next Monday evening, 20^th April, there will be a celebration at the clubroom on Victoria Park to mark the 20^th anniversary of the opening of the current clubroom building. The clubroom was constructed largely by club members with a massive input from current club president Broo Rimmer and was officially opened by Col Ronnie Fearn on 14th April 1989.

Tuesday 21^st April at 16.00hrs sees Southport Cycling Club stage its first of a series of events for year seven and year eight pupils from Sefton Schools. The club has received funding from the 'Community Foundation for Sefton' to help with the staging of these events which form part of the club's initiative under the British Cycling's Go-Ride scheme to attract younger riders into cycling. The event format will include both skills based activities as well as elements of competition and will take place in Victoria Park over the next 8 weeks.

Southport Visiter report 24th April 2009 by Paul Mayor

Last Thursday 16^th April saw the start of Southport Cycling Club's evening ten mile time trial series which are held on the local Tarleton-Hutton-Bretherton course. A total of twenty four riders faced the time keeper, an increase of two over last year's opening round and including fourteen from Southport CC. The event also had a bit of an international flavour with one rider, John Eden visiting from Perth, Austrailia, competing. Conditions were far from perfect, a cool easterly breeze was accompanied by light rain at the start, but despite the less than ideal conditions twenty one riders beat the thirty minute, 20mph, barrier. Dave Hilton, who recently set a new club record of 20mins 15secss for ten miles, was fastest on the night with a time of 23mins 17secs followed by Rob Hurst who just got inside the 25mph barrier, posting a time of 23mins 59secs.

The full result for Thursday 16^th April:

D Hilton, Southport CC, 23mins 17secs; R Hurst, Southport CC, 23mins 59secs; I Hughes, Wigan Whs, 24mins 18secs; A Grice, Southport CC, 24mins 32secs; J Henderson, Southport CC, 24mins 38secs; R Kettle, Ashurst BC, 24mins 40secs; J Corfe, Ashurst BC, 24mins 52secs; D Abram, Southport CC, 25mins 13secs; P Leonard, Southport CC, 25mins 57secs; R.Marsh, Ashurst BC, 26mins 05secs; D Banks, Ribble, Valley CRC, 26mins 13secs; J Fewtrell, Southport CC, 26mins 49secs; J Eden, Audax Austrailia, 26mins 54secs; D Unsworth, Southport CC, 27mins 31secs; S Swift, Cleveleys RC 27mins 45secs; A Howarth, H Middleton CC, 27mins 49secs; B Lloyd, Southport CC, 27mins 59secs; Melanie McNulty, Lancashire RC, 28mins 01secs; S Kirk, Ashurst BC, 28mins 48secs; R Chesters, Southport CC, 29mins 02secs; A Judge, Southport CC, 29mins 23secs; A Stark, Southport CC, 31mins 49secs; J Vickery, Southport CC, 34mins 39secs; M Smith, Southport CC, 40mins 27secs.

Tuesday this week the Southport Club kicked-off its Go-Ride project, a series of weekly events of skills and competition for Sefton schoolchildren in years seven and eight, run on the Victoria Park circuit close to the clubroom, staged with the aim of trying to attract youngsters into the sport of cycling. Unfortunately for this first week youngsters signing on for event were outnumbered by the organising officials and helpers, hopefully after some further consultation with Sefton Schools sports liaison officers numbers can be increased.