THE final event of the 2003 Sporting Courses (SPOCO) Series is not due to be held until a week on Saturday, July 5, but the overall winner is almost certain to be known after the SPOCO event to be held this Sunday.

The interest will be in the performance of Preston's almost unbeatable star rider Gethin Butler, who will be contesting the shortest event in the series list of 26 on an eight-mile climb in the Bowland Hills.

As the placings stand, Bolton based Craig Battersby is top of the table but will be toppled if Butler wins on Sunday as the Preston rider will then have scored maximum points by winning all of his eight qualifying rides.

Blackburn and District CTC rider Ian Stott is holding second place overall but stands to slip to third, dependent on Butlers ride.

In the age related categories Peter Greenwood, of Burnley and the Clayton Velo, has already secured top spot in the Veteran 50+ group as well as holding third slot at this moment and Blackburn's Billy Rodgers, of the Rossendale Road Club, is one of four Veteran 40+ competitors spread by only four points, although presently he is in the lead position in this group.

Rodgers again showed his class on Sunday by finishing overall second in the West Pennine 25 mile time trial at Garstang with an excellent 56min 07sec ride, which was just 10 seconds better than the third placed ride of Fraser Snape of Simonstone. Top rider on the day was regular winner Rick Clough of Manchester with 55min 43sec.

Other East Lancs riders beating the magic hour barrier were: Julian Markham of Blackburn (58m 30s) and Peter Haigh of the Nelson Wheelers (59m 21s).