Houvenaghel competes in Levens as Pullar takes Sam Houghton Challenge (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Houvenaghel competes in Levens as Pullar takes Sam Houghton Challenge

1:00pm Thursday 14th June 2012 in Sport By Scott Kirk, Reporter

OLYMPIC gold medallist Wendy Houvenaghel was in South Lakeland competing to break her own national record.

The Northern Irish team persuit gold medal victor is the national women’s 10-mile record holder with a time of 19 minutes 50 seconds, which equates to cycling at just over 30mph for 10 miles.

But she was unable to better that time thanks to a stiff, south-westerly breeze, which meant she finished third overall in a time of 20.48.

The Bike Chain Ricci rider will return to Levens on Saturday as she attempts to break the record again.

Victory in this weekend’s race, and with it the Cyril Dixon Memorial Trophy, went to Michael Elletson (Team Swift) who beat Cleveleys' strong man Mike Smith by one second in 20.36.

Kent Valley's Dave Baxter won the O50s award with a useful 21.16 in ninth and other leading local riders were Chris Anderson (Biketreks) 21.28, Chris Dixon (Kent Valley) 23.00, Glenn Howarth (KV) 23.52, Tim Bennett (KV) 23.55, and Tony Dixon (KV) 24.35. Sharon Padley (KV) was third fastest in the women's category with 25.32.

Kent Valley's latest midweek 10 at Milnthorpe was a triumph for Levens junior James Knox in 23.39 from Andrew Barlow on 23.40 and Noel Fox's 23.41.

Meanwhile the epic 46-kilometre off-road Sam Houghton MTB Challenge took place at Kentmere.

More than 400 riders took place in the event, which started at Wheelbase and covered the Longsleddale, Kentmere and Troutbeck Valleys,including the infamous Garburn Pass and returning via Troutbeck.

The fastest long course time of the day was Jack Pullar, Wheelbase/MGD, who completed the 46k course in a speedy 2hr 35mins, which was only 5 minutes short of the course record held by Rob Jebb.

The event raised a huge £16,000 for Cancer Research UK last year and organisers hope this year’s figure is even bigger.

In this year’s first Lakelands Lanequest cycle-orienteering event 134 people took part in the Lyth Valley, Sizergh and Brigsteer.

Mike Toyn was the only rider to successfully visit all 30 controls inside the two hour time limit.

David Heffernan, David Hollingham and Trevor Smith were joint-second on 290 points.

Anne Plant (274) was first in the women’s solo class, with Lisa Whetter (266) second. Last year’s series junior winner, Bryony Halcrow (260), was third, a promising start in the senior ranks.

The next event will be on Tuesday June 26 at the Cycle Café, Greystoke from 5.30pm.