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Cycling - Tankard winner blows in....
10:53am Saturday 3rd May 2008
YORKSHIREMAN Richard Hepworth (Wakefield CC) won Sunday's 77-mile NW League road race, incorporating Kent Valley Road Club's Westmorland Tankard, on the Old Hutton circuit.
Hepworth finished alone in 3hrs 14mins 14secs, a good three and a half minutes ahead of the remnants of a chasing group headed by Maxgear RT's Richard Handley. Chris Burrows (Kuoni Biemme) was third and previous course winner Jimmy Froggatt (Wills Wheels) was fourth, just in front of Lancashire Road Club's Craig Battersby.
With his best ride yet in elite road racing company, Burton youngster Calum Nicholson (ProBikeKit) gave an outstanding performance in sixth place, at 5-13 and over a minute ahead of Lune RCC's Ashley Finn (eighth).
The supporting 3/4/Ws over 57 miles of the same circuit resulted in another lone victory, this time for David Cawley (KeswickBikes.com) in 2hrs 27mins 47secs who finished 1-43 clear of his nearest rival. Ian Palmer (Wheelbase) was 11th at 2-24 and the first woman was Altura's Julie Mann in 18th position.
On the time trialling front, the first championship of the new season was the NLTTA junior and juveniles 10, run as part of the Wigan Wheelers event at Garstang on Saturday. Kent Valley's Jonathon Knox was runner-up overall to 17-year-old Richard Handley (Maxgear RT), who took the junior title with 21-41 to 15-year-old Jonathon's 23-22. But Jonathon won the youth title with his 14-year-old clubmate, Beau Smith, second in 23-57.
In the open 10, John Morgan (Preston Wheelers) was fastest with 20-38 and the quickest local was Kent Valley's John Ingham in 22-21. Other local times were: John Leach (KV-V60) 24-33; Tim Bennett (KV-V40) 24-51; Neil Stirling (KV-V60) 27-09; Ann Nicholson (KV-LV50) 28-21.
Morgan was in a class of his own in the following day's Wigan Wheelers 30, part of the Lakes and Lancs SPOCO series, winning in 1-06-58. Kent Valley's Andrew Barlow (V40) was 12th in 1-13-05 and young Jonathon Knox (KV) showed few signs of tiredness from his championship 10 ride to finish 18th overall in 1-14-39. Other local rides were: Chris Anderson (ProBikeKit V40) 1-16-11; John Leach (KV-V60) 1-16-45; Mike Speight (Barrow Central Wheelers V60) 1-17-03; Barry Fittes (BCW V70) 1-18-24; Tim Bennett (KV-V40) 1-20-16; and Lynsey Anderson (thegreenroomgroup.com) 1-22-19.
John Ingham won Kent Valley's latest midweek club 10, on the speedy Levens course, in 21-44 from Andrew Barlow on 22-07 and David Baxter's 22-17. Young Beau Smith rode 22-54 and other leading KV and local times were: Tony Dixon 23-15; Steve Hodgson 23-33; Graham Harcourt (BCW) 23-37); John Leach 23-40; Ian Harcourt (BCW) 23-45; Lynn Hamel 24-01; Tim Bennett 24-01; Richard Belk 24-39; Sharon Padley 24-49; Ian Lilley 24-58; Henry Adams 25-31; Tim Raine 26-02; Andy Bunn 26-04; and Neil Stirling 26-12.
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Prehistoric walk
The interesting brochure you can obtain from the car park at Foulshaw Moss says that more than several thousand years ago the Witherslack Mosses were part of an extensive wetland in what is now the Lyth Valley and on the flat ground west of the Kent Estuary. The Mosses - Meathop, Foulshaw and Nicols - are raised peat bogs brought about by sphagnum moss that draws up, acidifies, and holds water like a giant sponge, creating waterlogged conditions as it grows. Sphagnum grows from the tip, leaving the lower part to die. Waterlogging halts decay of these dead bits that build up and up over thousands of years, to form deep domed mounds of peat that are raised many feet above the surrounding ground. The Witherslack Mosses have dried out partly as a result of forestry and the invasion of scrub. Over time, drainage and peat cutting led to the loss of more wetland and now only significant fragments remain. Specialised peatbog flora and fauna have been unable to thrive because of the area being too shaded and too dry. Recently conifers have been removed and also masses of rhododendrons have been cleared. Hundreds of peat and plastic dams have been installed to bring about the ‘sponge’ effect of the peat. At Foulshaw, the remains of a 15ft to 16ft wide prehistoric trackway has been uncovered. This is believed to have been constructed in the mid-Bronze Age to allow people to cross the once huge wetland. Trunks of ash and birch were laid side by side and supported on logs. Foulshaw Moss is open to the public. Nichols Moss, a really squelchy one, is only suitable for a hundred yards or so before you encounter pathless very wet moss. It is a delight to stand and look ahead but as there is no walkway do not continue. Pause just on its edge from where you might spot red deer. Meathop is a lovely walk but only for those with a permit from Cumbria Wildlife Trust or if you are a member. The parking is difficult. After the first short grassy track, follow a wider track, left, that winds round right by a pasture and into fine conifer woodland. Beyond this a wide walkway takes you out some distance into the moss, from where you will spot all sorts of interesting lowly plants. To visit Foulshaw Moss, on the A590, it is best to approach the entrance from the direction of Kendal. If coming from the opposite direction continue on past the entrance and make use of the Levens underpass to make a U-turn and approach from the north. This avoids trying to make a right turn across a narrow section of the busy A-road. The entrance is not signposted until you have turned off the road. The entrance turn, a cart track, lies just before a large layby on a narrow section of the A-road. Just beyond the turn, stands a huge sign saying ‘Dual carriageway a mile ahead’. To approach the entrance, drive the dual carriageway at Levens until it ends. Continue a short distance along the two-way road and begin to signal your left turn. Watch out for the large sign ahead. If you reach the layby you have gone too far.
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- Councillors claim thousands in expenses
- Herbicide ban called for
- Kendal hospital ‘victory’ applauded
- Restoration work is underway
- Bay walks guide condemns route change idea
- Elected park authority members debated
- Ospreys deliver a surprise
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