Carlisle Cycling Association’s evening race season continued last night with competition for adults in all British Cycling licence categories.
Entries were rather low in the first race for Category 4 riders, but it is hard to imagine that even with a bigger field anyone would have caught Kendal Cycling Club’s John Woodhouse.
He got off to a flying start and never looked back, lapping the rest of the field twice on his way to victory.
The podium was completed by Neil Weston who had travelled from Glasgow, and Stockton Wheelers’ rider Matthew Birtles.
Woodhouse’s win was all the more impressive due to the fact that this was his first ever race of this type, boding well for future races.
There was a stronger turn out for the second race open to riders of the Elite,1st, 2nd and 3rd categories.
It was an attacking race throughout with multiple riders including Border City Wheelers’ veteran rider Bryan Pool making accelerations, but no-one was able to make a sustained breakaway.
The whole field came into the final bend together and the ensuing sprint was fiercely contested, ending with an all-Scottish podium.
Ben and Oliver Gibson took first and third spot with Sam Barbour splitting the brothers on the second step.
First Cumbrian home was Jude Davison, an impressive showing from the young Dearham rider who was riding in his first race after being seriously injured at the beginning of the year.
There was also a strong ride from fifth placed Ryan Johnson riding for Wolf Cycles.
It was a fast race overall with several riders going under 1 minute 13 seconds in their fastest lap but it was Sam Barbour who took the honours for fastest lap of the night by the narrowest of margins.
Next week the Association has a break for half term and racing resumes on Thursday June 4.
