Conditions were practically perfect for racing at Carlisle Cycle Circuit last night and the sunshine brought out a good number of adult riders for this week’s competition.
The first race was for Category 4 riders – British Cycling’s entry level licence category – and attracted riders from Scotland and the North East as well as local riders.
There was a good mix of youth and experience in the race too, with riders aged 20 to 60 competing.
Ultimately it proved to be a night for the visitors, and for experience with Glasgow cyclists Gary Audsley and Patrick Hudson taking first and second and veteran Reifen Racing rider Brian Johnson rounding out the podium in his first race of this type for 12 years.
The second race of the evening was for category 2, 3 and 4 riders, giving some of the area’s fastest riders their first outing of the season on the Harraby Circuit.
As usual there was a strong group of riders from local team Wolf Cycles and it was them who animated the race early on.
Ultimately a three-man break was formed consisting of Wolf’s Ed Hindmarsh, Jonathan Wilson riding for Velo Club Cumbria and Moonglu’s Jack Rees who had travelled from the North East to race.
It looked like the three of them had the podium places in the bag until, with around five laps to go, Adam Russell made a solo attack from the bunch, managing to bridge the gap and riding the fastest lap of the night in the process.
Muckle CC’s Ryan Parkinson made a similarly heroic attempt to join the leaders but had left it a little late so the final sprint was contested by the group of four.
Rees accelerated away from Wilson to take the win and Russell just managed to edge out Hindmarsh for third, his second podium in as many weeks.
An honourable mention must go to Patrick Hudson who after his podium position in the first race also rode in the second, and was the only rider to complete both.
Carlisle Association are hoping for good weather again next Thursday when there is racing for children under 12 years of age and Category 3 and 4 adults.
With most of the regular youth riders away racing in the Isle of Man next week this is a great opportunity for new youngsters to have a try and first-time racers are welcome.
