Cycling - Record-holder takes Coniston test (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Cycling - Record-holder takes Coniston test

10:04am Thursday 21st April 2011 in Sport

JOHN O'Groats to Land End record-holder Andy Wilkinson (Port Sunlight Whs) won Saturday's Coniston Grand Prix hilly time trial - part of the Lakes and Lancs SPOCO series.

The Merseyside strongman, whose record ride was done on a streamlined recumbent bike, showed his talents on a more conventional machine by covering the undulating 20-mile loop from Torver via Broughton and the infamous Grizebeck climb in a lively 47mins 28secs. He beat his nearest rival, Team Wallis's James Gullen, by almost two minutes with Calum Nicholson (Team Wallis), of Burton in Kendal, third in 50-34.

Fastest rider for host club Barrow Central Wheelers was John Paul O'Callaghan, who finish 9th in 52-08. Other local times were: Chris Anderson (Lakes RC) 55-48; Glenn Rhodes (Barrow CW) 56-35; Eamonn Quinn (LRC) 57-14 and Tim Bennett (Kent Valley RC) 1-01-39.

David Baxter made light of a cool, drizzly evening to win the second Kent Valley Road Club midweek 10 of the season at Milnthorpe. He clocked 22mins 36secs ahead of junior triathlete Beau Smith on 23-51. Then John Ingham and Steve Hodgson both clocked 23-52.

Other leading times were: Tom Gibson 24-42; Lynn Hamel 25-12 and Chris Stilling 25-33. Junior lady Eve Dixon and her dad Garry rode a two-up in 26-36.

Kendal-based Matt Flynn has been selected to ride in the North West’s four-man team in the Isle of Man Youth Tour next October.

Matt and his sister Caitlin had a good day in the CDNW racing at Blackpool. Caitlin finished third girl overall in both races and leads the championship after two rounds.

Although disappointed to be runner-up in the first race, Matt amends over the longer trip to win a superb sprint finish.