Last updated 19:45, Thursday, 31 July 2008

VELO Club Cumbria held a superb open time trial at Cockermouth on Saturday with 60 riders entered from Lancashire, Scotland and the North East.

The weather was warm and sultry but with a south east wind tempering riders’ thoughts of fast times.

However, times were generally good with 30 riders going under the hour for the 25 miles.

West Cumbria riders excelled on what is their home course with three in the top seven.

Mark Holton, Probikekit.com, a Lancashire-based rider, achieved a personal best to win the event in a fantastic time of 51 minutes 36 seconds. That gave him an average speed of 29.26mph.

Brian Payton, VC Cumbria, Eaglesfield, who is on his best form this season, was only 10 seconds off his fastest to finish second in 53.55, an average speed of 28.01mph.

Third was Border City’s Carlo Berton with 54.11.

First O40 was Rob Hargreaves, Team Swift, Brigham, who came fourth in 54.31 - 27.64mph - his quickest on this course this year.

Ian Manson, from Johnstone Wheelers in Scotland, was fifth in 54.50.

In sixth and first O50 was Peter Greenwood, Clayton Velo, in 54.55 and improving VC Cumbria rider, David Robinson, had a personal best in 55.55 for seventh.

Top junior Richard Houghton, KMB/VCC, of Haile, had to pull out due to a cold and Ken Hargreaves, Team Swift, also withdrew because of an injury.