NEWLY-CROWNED world champion Chris Newton locks horns with the elite of British cycling in Sunday's invitation time trial around Windermere.

The Kent Valley Road Club promotion, backed by accident claims specialists bikeline.co.uk, has £2,000 of prizes on offer and pits the roadcraft of national stars Mark Lovatt and Neil Swidenbank against the time trialling talents of national best all-rounder champion Kevin Dawson and hilly course specialist Stuart Dangerfield - a winner on the Windermere course in the Booths Grand Prix event back in April.

Newton, who won the points race at the World Track Championshiops in Copen-hagen at the weekend, adds extra spice to the mix.

Local interest in the 50-strong field is provided by Compensation RT's British junior road race champion Stefan Wilson, from Kendal, and Kent Valley's own Chris Barron, Andrew Powell and Andrew Barlow.

The first riders leave the Promenade at Bowness at 9am and the rest follow at minute intervals until the seeded last five, who enjoy two-minute gaps at the start.

The course takes in Waterhead, Hawkshead and Newby Bridge, before finishing outside Braithwaite Fold, and the race HQ is the Wheelhouse Club on the Glebe.

Ulverston's Anne Plant continued her golden autumn on Sunday when she retained her title in the Scottish Women's Road Race championship.

The 45-mile event was decided by an eight-up sprint finish.

World veteran champion Anne was doubly delighted as her latest victory was achieved despite a nagging cold.

Her ambitions now switch off-road to the final event in the national Trailquest Series and the annual Polaris Challenge.

Sunday's Inter Club Hill Climb up Scout Scar, near Kendal, attracted a disappointingly small field but Kent Valley's Chris Barron produced a new hill record of 3mins 4.8secs, beating Paul Maxwell's 4-08 set for the Lakes Road Club in 1992.

A perfect morning and a new hill-climb bike saw Chris triumph by 17 secs from clubmate Bruce Attwood with Neil Oxley (KV) third on 3-53.7.

Dave Parker of the Lakes RC was fourth with 4-03.1 and Paul Harlowe (KV) fifth with 4-27.9.

Besides this weekend's invitation event, Chris has his sights set on a good ride in

the national hill climb championship later this month.