WEAVER Valley Cycling Club’s season has started with a bang, with a first-ever win for Jeff Wood at the Tameside Race League series, in the category four race.

The 20-lap circuit was contested by 18 riders, and the pace was fast from the second lap, when two riders broke away from the bunch, and Wood fought to work with them to form a leading group.

As the pace dropped again on the next lap, Wood launched his own attack, and then sustained a 17-lap solo effort to win the race with a gap of 30 seconds on the next rider, Phil Wilkins from Withington Wheelers CC.

Wood had less luck the following day in the British Cycling Litherland Circuit League, when he found himself out of position going into the hairpin bend before the finish, and was then held up behind a crash, but he nevertheless managed to scrape a top ten position. The winner was Robbie Lawton from Liverpool Braveheart CC.

In the meantime, the club’s time triallers have been going through their paces in the club’s Wednesday evening Guardian Cup 10 mile time trial series, now in its third week.

These time trials are open to all, with new riders welcome, and details are on the club’s website.

This is an inclusive event, and the emphasis is on improving individual personal best times.

Separate competitions are run for road bikes and more specialist time trial bikes.

The fastest rides by club members so far have been by Sam Taylor in 21.48, and in the women’s competition Deborah Morgan in 27.31, with second claim member Emily Martin (now riding for Team Bottrill) recording 23.01.