FOUR Lancashire Road Club racers travelled into Wales this weekend for a 10-mile time trail but were unfortunate to find that the race was stopped by the local police after a spate of accidents to competitors.

A bright and sunny Saturday afternoon degenerated into a wet and windy evening that turned one of the fastest courses in the country into a veritable skating rink.

Steve Marsh was the first of the LRC contingent, starting at number ten and turned in an excellent time of 20:57 closely followed by Dene Fisher (21:26) and Lee McCarty (22:18) but by the time Pete Graham was due to start, the police had insisted that the event was stopped.

It is unknown at this stage if the times posted by the earlier starters will stand or if the whole event will be null and void but if the results are allowed to stand then Steve will be the overall winner and supported by Dene and Lee, LRC will win the team award.

The un-seasonal weather continued on Sunday but this didn't stop Lee McCarty from putting in one of the best rides of the season in a 25-mile event closer to home at Tarleton. Lee's 59:39 gave him an eight-second win over Dene Fisher (59:47) and was good enough for 12th place overall. Also competing were Mike Bland (1:05:39), Mike Coope (1:06:57) and Stan Simister (1:09:31)

Club runs

LRC club runs will continue as usual throughout the racing season with clubrunners meeting outside the Royal Oak pub on Tonge Moor Road at 08:30 on Sunday mornings and at Bolton Town Hall at 19:00 on Wednesday evenings. The Wednesday runs are particularly suitable for new or novice riders and will cover 15 20 miles with a refreshment stop at about half way. Anyone wishing to join either run should turn up on the day with a roadbike (and spare inner tube - just in case !) you will be made very welcome.

If you would like to contact the Lancashire Road Club for further details about Time-Trials, Road Racing, clubruns and other activities (including track riding), you are welcome to e-mail us on dene@lancsrc.freeserve.co.uk or to contact us by telephone on 01204 653280.