BURY CTC: SUNDAY'S club run started in bright and dry conditions, which was just as well as one member had a puncture on the way to the start in Bury.

From Egerton we could not see Winter Hill or the TV mast, which did not bode well weatherwise.

Another puncture delayed us at Belmont and then a fast descent brought us to Riley Green, where we turned onto quieter lanes to Whittle-le-Woods.

Bolton Clarion had already been seen on the road and when we arrived at the cafe in Croston we met members from Bury Clarion and the Lancashire Road Club. Croston, it seemed, had become the centre of the cycling universe!

While inside the rain began and showers were to continue on and off all afternoon. Quiet lanes were followed and tree trunks blown down in the previous weekends gales were still at the roadside.

More refreshments were taken at Rivington Chapel, where the brave decision was taken to carry on over the tops to Belmont.

Just to round the day off a slow puncture at Summerseat did not need repairing before getting home.

Runs for Sunday January 23: A Group to Gargrave, meet Bury 9am. B Group to Barrowford, meet Bury 9.30am.

BURY CLARION

FOR Bury Clarion riders it was a great opening night of the 2005 spring season at the Velodrome.

Bob Duckworth was our top points scorer in the league competition as a result of winning the 20 laps points and a third place in the 12 laps scratch.

In the points race after a first place in the second sprint and a second place in the third sprint, he was in a breakaway with three other riders.

In the critical final double points sprint he was beaten by "last lap" specialist Lawrie Rissbrook.

This, though was Lawries only points and Bob's accumulation of nine points meant he was the clear winner. Our other successes were a second place in the keiren for Adrian Smith, and a second and third place in the 12 lap scratch and 20 laps points for John Harris. The Yates twins also performed well.

Simon was first in the six lap Keiren and nine laps points hanidcap, second in the eight laps handicap and ten lap paced hanidcap. His success in the points meant a prize of racing glasses donated by none other than Bradley Wiggins.

Adam had an unfavourable start to the evening, finishing twelfth in the eight lap handicap. However, he got his act together and finished third in the ten lap paced handicap and fourth in both the six lap keiren and nine lap points handicap.

After the previous week's opening 2005 short ride, Bury Clarion stalwarts extended last Sundays ride to Croston, which was reached by the Belmont route.

Here, they were catching up with Bury Tandem club, but the turn off to Brinscall meant that the pleasure of riding with this club would have to wait for another day. Onward then through Chorley to the lunch time destination where the refreshment was disappointingly short of the amount to sustain hungry cyclists.

Croston though is only 25 miles from Bury so there were no hunger pangs on the way home.

The AGM will take place on Tuesday next week at Frank Jefferson's house. Meet 7.30 prompt.

TANDEM RIDING CLUB FOR THE VISUALLY

HANDICAPPED

THE "cycle" of club activity is currently at a low point, but with two volunteer front riders awaiting training and Doug Williams well into his training programme, the indications are that we will be enjoying an upward trend.

Doug was out last Sunday steering training specialist David Harrison. Last time he was out he had been steering but David had been using the rear gear change.

This time the gear shifter was mounted on the front and Doug dealt competently with the tricky business of changing gear and steering a tandem on the ride to Walton le Dale.

This lunch time venue was reached via Egerton, the splendid Longworth Lane past the reservoirs and then the Belmont route.

Alas, Carol Berry is no longer able to ride with us but we did have the pleasure of the company of Sharon Cox, who has become a regular attender on our clubruns.