Buxton’s Matt posts new record course time

Buxton Cycling Club members took part in the inaugural J4/8 25-mile time trial course earlier this month.

The course uses a circuit based on Pennys Lane, King Street and Byley near Middlewich and avoids the difficult area near Chelford.

The Altrincham Ravens 25 race on this course, which was rescheduled after being postponed during the snow during March, was won by Simon Bridge (Manchester Wh) with a quick time of 52 minutes and 44 seconds.

Steve I’Anson was the only Buxton CC rider to complete the course, with a time of 59:43 ensuring an 11th-place finish.

Elsewhere, Tom Thornely (54:41) and Chris Lea (53:43) both did fast rides in the Derby Mercury 25 on the Etwall to Uttoxeter course near Derby.

That this was a fast day was underlined by Matt Bottrill’s exceptional time of 46:10, which was not only a course record but also the fourth fastest ever 25-mile time trial completed in Britain.

Elsewhere, in the Lune RCC/Dolphinholme Road Race, the 15th in the CDNW Road Race League, Lee Baldwin was fifth at 12 seconds and Luke Beswick was 16th in the main group.

This was the latest in a sequence of strong performances from Lee and Luke.

The club’s own event last week was the first of three ascents to the Pym Chair junction in Cheshire for the prestigious Three Hills Trophy.

The riders who took part climbed from the side of Errwood reservoir in the Goyt Valley up The Street (a rather inappropriately named narrow lane) to Pym Chair, the summit apparently named after a local highwayman.

This was contested by an impressive field totalling 17 riders, with good turnouts by Buxton CC and the High Peak Triathlon Club.

The winner of the race was Ben Gillespie (Saddleworth Clarion) with a time of 5 minutes, 36.1 seconds.

He was closely pursued by two Buxton CC riders: Chris Baines (5:43.0) and Sam Clark (5:46.1).

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