GREAT Harwood’s Harry Haseley led his North Lancashire Road Club to the team award in the North Lancs and Lakes Group Veteran’s midweek 10 mile event at Garstang.

He clocked an excellent 24 minutes 57seconds, which gave him a 7 minutes 3 seconds improvement over the standard time for his 69 years.

Backed by Burnley’s Bob Matthews (23-06 actual and 5-46 against age) and Clayton-le-Moors’ Dave Clough (23-09 and 5-16), the trio came home as top team. Fastest actual time by an East Lancashire rider was from Blackburn’s Fraser Snape, with 21-57 for overall fifth place against the 21-22 of winner Paul Fleming, of Preston Wheelers.

On the same course on Saturday, Mark Holton of the Drag2Zero squad clocked a superb 30mph ride of 19-57 to win with just Simon Phillips (Pendle Forest) and Mark Bateman (NLRC) in the top dozen.

Holton is in action again on the same course on Saturday in the West Pennine Road Club event.

In the 30 miler on the following morning, Mellor Brook’s Julian Markham clocked a cracking 1h-09m-58s for fourth slot, with Rossendale’s man of the moment Martin Tonge taking eighth with 1-12-18.

Blackburn’s Sue Cheetham was second fastest lady with 1-24-54. Overall winner was Derek Parkinson of Cleveleys Road Club with 1-06-16.

In road racing, Clayton Velo’s Ben Dean claimed a much deserved third place after 55 miles on the Bashall course near Clitheroe, with Sam Boast of Cycle Sport Pendle fifth in an event won by Calum Nicholson of the Higher Walton-based Wallis Cycles team The first Rossendale Tuesday evening 10 mile on the Hapton course was won by their own Paul Warrener in 25-20 with second Roy Flanagan (26-08) third Carl Pawson (26-40) and fourth Jason Craven (27-00).

In the Pendle Forest Thursday evening 6.25 miler, Craig Holden of the club was fastest in 15-01, Hamish Graham second (15-49), Ian Duckworth third (16-07) and Martin Brass fourth (16-32).

It has been a sad week for our sport with the death of 26-year-old Belgian Wouter Weylandt after crashing on a decent during the third stage of the Tour of Italy. As a mark of respect, his Leopard Trek team was allowed to lead the rest of the field over the finish line the following day.