SUNDAY'S Booths Grand Prix time trial around Windermere kicks off the local cycling season and also marks the beginning of the Rudy Project-backed national circuit time trial season and the national standard line-up should certainly make for sizzling event.

End-to-end hero Gethin Butler of Preston Wheelers is the scratchman in star-studded field. For immediately preceding his 10am departure from the Rayrigg Road start area, are multi-national champions Kevin Dawson and Michael Hutchinson, Dominic Sweeney, Scottish flier Mark Atkinson and Julian Ramsbottom. These top six start at two-minute intervals out of deference for their talent, but the rest of the 132 riders in the veteran, disabled, junior, ladies and espoirs (under 23s) categories leave at minute intervals on the 25-mile route via Waterhead, Hawkshead and Devil's Gallop down to Newby Bridge and the last leg back to the finish outside the Braithwaite Fold car park. The first rider starts at 7.45am.

The promoting Kent Valley Road Club has a strong contingent of veterans riders headed by Andrew Powell, John Ingham and John Leach, while the top woman rider is Cumbria's own national best all-rounder Karen Steele who may be challenged on the day by Melanie Sears. Top junior is Matt Brammier, who won the same category last year.

Supporters and spectators are asked to park away from the route and not to obstruct access. There will be a presentation of awards afterwards at the Wheelhouse Club on the Glebe.

Kent Valley's first midweek club 10 of the season had to be cut to nine miles in order to avoid roadworks south of the Milnthorpe traffic lights. Fastest on a dry but chilly evening was Colin Hill in 21minutes 54 seconds ahead of Ben Lawson on 21-57. Other leading times were: Andrew Powell 22-41; Adrian Yate and Bruce Attwood both 23-02; John Ingham 23-04; John Leach 23-45; Nigel Hooker 24-17; Doug Davies 24-29; Carl Weiss 24-54; and Neil Oxley and Andrew Slattery both 25-06. Fastest woman was Heather Addison on 27-06.

April 11, 2003 10:00