An old newspaper article on cycling has been brought to life by one of the heroes on the day.
The report dates from 1962 and refers to the Cumbrian Road Race promoted by the Carlisle Road Club.
Starting at Dalston the 48-and-a-half mile course was said to be gruelling and went by Cumdivock, Rosley, Sebergham, Sour Nook and Raughton Head. It was covered three times by the 32 riders who took part.
The average speed for the first lap was about 20mph and there was quite a lot of punctures and mechanical issues.
There were no spectacular moves in the first lap and after Ivan Morris had taken the prime prize for being first to the top of the hill at Sebergham, the field re-grouped for the run to Hawkesdale and the second lap.
Riders were being left behind for various reasons and by the time the halfway point was reached there was one bunch of 15 perspiring riders each struggling for a vantage point from which to make a breakaway.
Gerard McCarten of Workington, a member of the Derwent Valley Wheelers’ team, and fancied to win the race, caught this bunch after a 10-mile chase.
His team then reformed and led the way down into Sebergham with their Derek Harrison first over the prime point at the top of the next hill.
The field closed-up into a 13-strong group and stayed together to Hawkesdale, and along the quiet and narrow roads, to re-join the main road at Rosley on the third lap.
Various riders then made attempts to break away, but were absorbed by the bunch within yards.
Morris, another of the favourites, fell back with a puncture a mile short of Goose Green.
The Derwent Valley Wheelers dominated the rest of the race,
Harrison and McCarten decided to go on alone, the first objective being the third lap prime at Sebergham, which Harrison took with a 50 yards lead.
He shot away with riders in groups of two and three doing the chasing. The speed of the riders between Sour Nook and the finish was between 30 and 35mph.
Harrison was caught by four riders at Birkshill and by then it was obvious that these five would not be overtaken.
The pace was furious with riders switching about on the road trying to gain an advantage.
D. Riddell of Carlisle dropped back near Rose Castle when the pace was too much for him after the effort he had made in the time-trial earlier in the day.
This left Harrison and McCarten battling with Carlisle rider Ian Devine of the Border City club and only a mile to go.
Downhill from Hawkesdale through Bridge End they swept on at almost 40mph and rode a tremendous sprint to the finish where they were divided by inches.
McCarten was first, with Devine second and Harrison third.
Nineteen riders followed, some in small groups, some alone, to make a total of 22 finishers.
The Derwent Valley Wheelers – through McCarten, Harrison and Morris – won the team race and the only other full team to complete the course was that of the Carlisle Road Club comprising B. Jackson, G. Matthews and A. Graham.
So that was the report which appeared 60 years ago.
But what about anyone who could remember taking part?
We contacted race winner Gerard McCarten, who certainly had vivid memories of that particular race.
Gerard is 83 now but had no difficulty in drawing on his recollections from the day.
He told Cumbria Crack: “I am not sure about the exact date but several things I remember clearly.
“I lost contact with the leading riders when I unshipped my chain at the bottom of Sebergham but regained contact after a lone chase for ten miles.
“Team mate Ivan Morris punctured during the last lap which left myself and Derek Harrison, also of Derwent Valley Whelers, battling with the rest of the field.
“Harrison attacked on the last climb which split the field and we dropped Riddle of Border City Wheelers.
“Derek then continued his attack down towards the finish at Dalston which myself and Ian Devine on his wheel.
“I was in third place and in a two against one situation was determined not to let the Border City rider win.
“Once Devine had started his sprint and passed Derek I went round the two of them to snatch a narrow win.
“Earlier that day Border City Wheelers had organised a 25-mile time trial which was won in 58 minutes 22 seconds by Mike Cowley of Derwent Valley Wheelers, so we had a double on the day.
“Ian Riddle of Border City finished 10th in the time trial before competing in the road race.
“Also riding the time trial was cycling legend Ray Booty who was the first in the world to ride a 100-mile time trial in under four hours.
“Both Mike and Ray came along to watch the road race which was actually featured on the Monday by Border television.”
There was no photograph in the original story but Gerard has provided one of the one, two, three.
Left to right are: Ian Devine (Border City Wheelers), Gerard McCarten (Derwent Valley Wheelers) and Derek Harrison (Derwent Valley Wheelers).
