WITH longer evenings with us there have been two 6pm start ‘Open’ events in the past week on the fast ‘Levens’ course near Kendal.

This is where cyclist of the moment Bradley Wiggins reset the British 10-mile record at 17 minutes 58 seconds in 2006.

The first of the events had to endure heavy rain but Burnley’s Mick Ellerton not only took third overall with a 30mph plus ride of 19 minutes 48 seconds but it also gave him top place based on age of 51 when in using the new veteran‘s ‘Standards Tables’ in use for the first time this season.

The new tables are less generous to older riders, which resulted in 76-year-old Frank Kerry of Egerton finishing fourth in this category despite his 23-10 being exceptional for his age.

East Lancashire riders in the top dozen on fastest were sixth Ian Cox 20-10, seventh Jason Bateman 20-12, 11th Simon Phillips 20-41 and 12th Chris Smedley 20-54.

Cox was supported by Dave Hargreaves (actual 22-06) and Mark Godchild (actual 21-28) to take the Team award on Standard for the North Lancashire Road Club.

In the second event Bateman took fourth overall with 20-41 with few of out local riders in contention.

In the Thursday evening Cycling Development North West circuit races on the excellent bespoke cycling circuit at Preston Arena Worsthorne pro Simon Wilson of the Metaltek-Scott team was winner of the Elite/first/second category event with Clayton Velo’s Dennis Lang taking second in the third/fourth category race.

The Rossendale Road Club mid-week event was the annual Clitheroe to Settle time trial.

Mick Wood of the Clitheroe Bike Club came out top on one his regular training routes with the fastest time of 48 minutes 47 seconds with less than a minute covering the top four.

Paul Taylor of the North Lancashire Road Club was second only nine seconds down with Derek Schofield third in 49-17 and Roy Flanagan fourth with 49-45.

Clayton Velo’s Peter Greenwood of Burnley continued his excellent season with a second place on age standard in the Veteran’s National 30 mile Championship in Cheshire.

His superb ride of 1 hour 7 minutes 8 seconds at the age of 60 gave him silver medal position with Kerry clocking an actual of 1-17-58 for sixth in the age category.

* The ever popular Colne Grand Prix takes place next Wednesday, July 18, in the town centre from 7pm onwards.

The event is a qualifying one for the British Cycling Elite Men’s Circuit Series.