Gascoyne has the edge to take victory at Wyre Forest event

There was considerable success across the age groups – none more so than the youth U16s category, with Matlock Cycling Club riders Will Gascoyne, Arthur Green and Gregg Booker taking all three podium spots.

Gascoyne just had the edge over Green to take a fine victory, with a winning margin of 13 seconds. Booker was 19 seconds further back in third place.

Booker’s younger sister – Ffyona was beaten by just ten seconds in the female juvenile category as she once again finished on the podium with a superb second spot.

In the veteran male category, Matt Ingram’s second ever mountain bike race ended with a fine mid-table finish, coming home in 27th place from 60 starters, whilst Matlock CC mates Rob Orr and Chris Green finished inside the top-20 with 18th and 14th places respectively.

Rob Orr’s youngest son – Reuben – finished on the podium in the boys U13s race, just four seconds off second place having been in contention all the way round.

In the masters male category, local Fossa Racing rider Lee Shunburne put in a superb performance to finish in second place overall behind Dan Wells of Cube Network Team.

In time trial news, Matlock Cycling Club’s Patrick Gould was totally dominant once again in the ten-mile trial on the A6.

Gould’s winning margin was the biggest this year, as he won by one minute and six seconds from Chris Green, with the ever-improving Mike Blair third on 23:35.

Marianne Heffron was once again the fastest female rider and extended her already commanding lead in the women’s points series.

The spectacle of the night was Richard Thoday riding the course on his Penny Farthing. Unsurprisingly, he was considerably slower than his normal times, but still wasn’t too far off the pace recording a time of 36 minutes and 5 seconds.

The threatening looking clouds and earlier rain put most people off contesting Matlock Cycling Club’s Thursday night hilly time-trial.

By the time the start came around, conditions were dry but only four riders took part, Chris Green winning in 19.53.

In other time-trial news, Matlock’s junior rider Patrick Smart made his debut in the National Junior Time-Trial event for the ten-mile distance.

Smart has been in excellent form of late, and did himself proud as he recorded an impressive time of 24 minutes and 15 seconds to finish 33rd from 52 starters.

Meanwhile, the final evening of circuit races for younger riders in Whitworth Park drew the biggest turnout of the series.

The U7s again provided the most exciting races, Robbie Milton winning the first by a wheel from Tom Woolf and repeating the feat in the second.

In the U9s Sam Gould won both races, and remained unbeaten throughout the series.  In both races Sam was pushed all the way by Tom Milton who took second, with Alex Gordon third. 

  Holly Hoy raced with her new bike to take first girl.

Harry Bird won both the U12 races, leading the second from start to finish,

Marianna Kuszynski came through to take first-placed girl.