KENT Valley Road Club's Andrew Powell continued his fine early season form with a winning veteran's ride in Sunday's Circuit of Bassenthwaite time trial.

Andrew finished eighth overall in the 33-mile Lakes and Lancs Sporting courses event, organised by VC Cumbria, with a time of 1hr 13mins 41secs.

It was not his fastest time on the course but was achieved into a stiff headwind on both stints along the A66 towards Keswick.

The winner was Scottish star Mark Atkinson (Team Velo Ecosse) who pipped Blackburn's Dave Ebbrell by just four seconds with 1-11-30.

Other local times in the event were: Mike Speight (Barrow Central Wheelers) 1-19-39; Richard Belk (KV) 1-24-53; Tim Bennett (KV) 1-24-55; Graham Harcourt (BCW) 1-25-55; and Fred Pickstone (KV) 1-35-51.

This weekend sees the first open 10 miles time trial of the season on the Levens course.

The Barrow Central Wheelers event, which includes trikes and tandems, starts at 2pm tomorrow (Saturday).

On Sunday a near full field of 120 riders face the Circuit of the Dales challenge.

The 50-mile route takes in Burton-in-Lonsdale, Devil's Bridge, Sedbergh and Hawes before returning to Ingleton via Ribblehead.

The first rider starts at 8.30am.