For the first time in Carlisle Cycling Association’s history, race organisers were faced with the dilemma of whether it was too hot too race this week.
However, the decision was made to go ahead and though the heat was initially quite oppressive, the breeze improved conditions somewhat and some good racing took place.
The first race for Veterans aged 40 and above was dominated almost from the whistle by two local riders, over-40s competitor Dan Kendall and 50-plus rider Michael Pluckrose.
The duo lapped the rest of the field and came out of the final bend together with Kendall getting the better of Pluckrose to take the win.
The podium was completed by the first over-60 rider, Bryan Pool of Border City Wheelers.
The second race of the night was open to adult riders holding British Cycling Elite, 1st, 2nd or 3rd category licences and a high quality field took to the circuit.
Dearham’s Jude Davison, recently returned from a training camp in Spain was unfazed by the temperature and animated the race early on with a solo attack, but the bunch came back together after a while.
The race continued to be punctuated with accelerations which, in combination with the heat, wore down some of the riders with several withdrawing from the race.
Davison made a second big attack with a few laps to go and built up a large lead, taking a comfortable victory.
This was a popular victory as it was the Team Tactic rider’s first win of the season having suffered serious injuries earlier in the year.
Another local rider Alex Foster, of Wolf Cycle, came home in second place with visitor Danny Hedley of the Royal Air Force Cycling Association in third.
Fastest lap of the night was Hedley in a very creditable 1 minute 15.6 seconds.
