East Lancs riders revel in one-two

SADDLE UP . . . East Lancs riders Ben Trippier (left), Oliver Huszar, Paul Ashworth and Matt Jackson

EAST Lancs Road Club pair Paul Ashworth and Matt Jackson produced an impressive ride in the 3/4 category race at Colne.

The event comprised 22 laps of the closed road circuit and the local riders showed up well throughout.

Jackson had a lone break in the last five laps but unlucky for him he was caught by the bunch with one lap to go and he had to settle for a finishing place in the pack.

However, both riders then entered the E/1/2/3 category race with Oliver Huszar and Ben Trippier, which comprised 35 laps of the circuit.

All four riders in the team figured prominently throughout, with Trippier having an early break which lasted three laps.

Then Jackson forged a solo break for a couple of laps, but the bunch weren't for letting any go until the last third of the race when Trippier escaped with three other strong riders to gain a 30-second advantage, which the bunch were never going to pull back.

BRIDGE

Jackson and Huszar worked a great team move to bridge the gap, which allowed Huszar to join the break - making it a five-man break with two East Lancs riders in it.

On the last lap and going into the final bend, Trippier went for a long sprint and no-one reacted. He created a useful gap with 200 metres to go, which he held to the finish to win the race.

Huszar's strong sprint ensured he secured second place to make it a one-two for East Lancs.

Meanwhile, the club's promising youth rider Jack Millar took part in a series of races around Ilkley town centre.

In a good quality field, Millar stuck with the bunch for as long as possible until the cornering, climbing and sprinting took its toll and he finished exhausted but satisfied with another great performance at this level.

The East Lancs 25-mile time-trial took place on the J2/1 course in Cheshire.

A capacity field of 130 riders rode the course, which broadly circles the Jodrell Bank telescope.

HEADWIND

The weather conditions didn't seem that bad at first, but the leg down the A50 from Knutsford produced a block headwind which many riders suffered against.

East Lancs' participants and times were -

Ben Trippier, fastest in 56 minutes 59 seconds; Paul Ashworth, 1:00:08; Dave Bentley, 1:14:02 with a 10 minutes late start; Dave Trippier, 1:06:10; Dave Ireland, 1:08:38; Mike Coulter, 1:12:08; Niamh Coulter riding her first 25 m TT, 1:25:07; Karen Bailey, 1:11:37; Roy Nield, 1:01:06; Jack Millar, 1:06:29 mins.

Matt Jackson rode his first 25m TT in an excellent time of 59:35.

The event was won by Mark Turnbull - riding for TORQ Performance - in 51 minutes.