LAKES and Lancs Sporting Courses champion Gethin Butler underlined his position as leading time triallist in the area with a course record in Saturday's Shap summit hill climb and then a super-fast 25 miles time trial beside Bassenthwaite Lake on Sunday morning.

The Preston Wheeler was in a class of his own in Saturday's SPOCO event, promoted by the Kent Valley Road Club. He covered the nine miles and 1,400ft ascent in a new record of 25min 08sec and confessed afterwards that, but for a puncture interrupting his warm-up, he felt he could have gone faster still.

Butler's nearest challenger was Blackburn and District CTC's Carl Helliwell who reached the top in 26-10 ahead of evergreen Peter Greenwood, Clayton Velo, who clocked 26-19. The quality of Butler's ride was further emphasised by the likes of Blackburn's Dave Ebrell and Lancashire Road Club's Craig Battersby also finishing more than a minute behind him.

The local contingent was headed by Lancaster CC's Duncan Orme in 27-51 and other returns were: Gary Spencely (Lakes RC) 28-39; Andrew Barlow (KV V40) 29-44; Terence Tideswell (KV) 31-12; Anne Plant (Arthur Caygill RT V40) 31-23 and fastest woman; Simon Harlow (KV) 32-00; Paul Harlowe (KV V50) 32-25; Ken Roberts (LCC V50) 32-36; Kevin Hodgson (BCW) 32-56; Jim Andrews (LCC) 32-56; Lynn Hamel (KV) 33-29 and third woman; Bruce Barnes (KV) 34-00; Ann Nicholson (KV V50) 38-15.

Cleveleys CC's 10 mile time trial on the Levens course on Saturday evening was won by Keith Murry in 20-11. Kent Valley's John Ingham rode 21-36 and his clubmate Steve Crook did a lifetime best of 22-10. John Leech (KV) showed signs of a return to form with 22-59 with Martyn Bell on 23-19; Terry Bell 23-20; Tony Dixon 23-23; Sharon Padley 23-32; and Ian Padley 23-40.

Butler was in sparkling form in Sunday's VC Cumbria 25, covering the Bassenthwaite course in 51-55 in far from a 'float' morning. He reckoned it was his fastest ride for four years and certainly blew the rest of the field away although Kent Valley's Billy Rodgers also went away smiling after a new lifetime best of 54-38.

Other local times were: Ben Lawson (KV) 57-34; Chris Anderson (Lakes RC) 57-59; Mike Speight (BCW) 59-21; Tony Dixon (KV) 1-02-14; John Leech (KV) 1-03-07; Richard Belk (KV) 1-03-17; Lynsey Cooper (Lakes RC)

1-06-20 and fastest woman; Fred Pickstone (KV) 1-10-59; and Frank Kilburn 1-13-09.

The latest Kent Valley midweek 10 at Milnthorpe was won by Adrian Yate in 22-42 from Douglas Davies on 23-17.

Other leading times were: Andrew Barlow 24-50; Matt Woods 24-51; Nigel Hooker 25-25; Mark Walsh 25-33; Tony Dixon 25-42; Richard Belk 25-58; Terence Tideswell 26-20; Simon Overing 26-24; Steve Hodgson 26-29; and Paul Clavey 27-36. Ann Nicholson was fastest woman with 29-35.