Cyclists back on board in Beard Cup showpiece

Only a week after the Tour of Britain passed through the area, cycle racing returned to local roads as Saddleworth Clarion hosted the Beard Cup Team Hill Climb in DIggle on Sunday.

A field of nearly 50 riders, representing 12 clubs, tested themselves on the tough Pennine incline up Huddersfield Road in Diggle.

The route, a dead mile, saw the riders fight traditional pot holes, stifling heat, a headwind and gradients of up to 11% and a total ascent of 138m.

It was in these tough early conditions that nine-year-old Friezland School pupil and Clarion member, Seth Mitchell, was the first rider off.

He set a time to beat of 11m 40s.

He was followed at minute intervals by a series of Saddleworth Clarion riders who all raised the bar.

Rochdale-based East Lancs Road Club and Manchester Wheelers both set early team times - consisting of either the two fastest male riders and fastest female of two fastest females and fastest male from each club.

Saddleworth Clarions' Martha Tibbot set an unbeatable time of 5.55, securing the Woman's prize, but it was Litchfield City’s junior rider George Bromley who surprised the field, taking gold, in a fantastic 4.54.

George will be going forward to represent Litchfield in the up and coming National Hill Climb.

As the final riders set off the Beard Cup hung in the balance, but the Saddleworth riders could not better the times set by the East Lancs team, who returned to Rochdale with the Beard Cup and a £300 prize fund provided by Mancheter’s Rapha CC shop and Saddleworth-based Grasscroft properties.

Saddleworth Clarion did not return empty handed as Paul Manchester took the ‘tourist prize’ for the fastest rider on a fully equipped touring bike - meaning he carried lights, mudguards and saddlebags on his bike in a time of 7.18.

Results:

Fastest Male: Sam Witter Congleton CC 4:57.7

Fastest Female: Martha Tibbot Saddleworth Clarion 5:55.1

Fastest Male Youth (U18): George Bromley Lichfield City 4:54.6

Fastest Female Youth (U18): Ciara Postlethwaite ESV Manchester 7:43.5

Fastest Male Tourist: Paul Manchester Saddleworth Clarion 7:18.2

Fastest Female Tourist: Claire Dyer Peak Audax 11:09

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