ANDREW WINDRUM of York Cycleworks was the winner when Malton Wheelers held their leg of the North Yorkshire Road Race League series.

In an eventful race, marred by a crash at the start of the final lap, Windrum edged Ben Harvey, of Rutland CC, in a bunched finish, with Maciej Wontorowski, of Wetherby Wheelers, a close third.

There had been horrendous rain in the late afternoon but the sun came out for the massed start road race comprising 49 riders from across the county and taking in 50 kilometres of lanes around Kirby Misperton just outside Malton.

No rider could get a break of more than seven seconds ahead of the bunch, with attacks soon brought back by the peloton.

As the bell rang for the final lap, the riders jumped around to gain their positions, and in the middle of the bunch there was a touch of wheels, with two riders somersaulting into the hedgerow and nettles. Neither of the unlucky duo – Luke Preston, of Airedale, and Matthew Wilson, of Rock Racing – suffered serious injury.

The smaller group worked hard right up to the line, giving the judges a nightmare for a bunch finish.

Meanwhile, Paul Hickman avenged earlier hilly time trial defeats to Steve Kneeshaw by winning Malton Wheelers’s 10-mile club time trial on the flat Malton to Pickering road.

Looming black clouds and a gusty wind did not put the 14 riders off, least of all Hickman, who clocked 23 minutes 08 seconds to win by 21 seconds.

Matthew Enticknap was third, but disappointed with his time of 24-55 – more than a minute slower than normal – which he put down to his saddle being in the wrong position.

Scarborough Paragons’ Mick Potter (25-22) and Barrie Cappleman (25-45) rolled in fourth and fifth, with Malton’s Colin Baldwin mixing it up with the aero men in sixth position with 26-03. Aero riders Cameron Turner and Sean McDermott finished in 26-07 and 26-13 respectively.

David Capes clocked a personal best of 27-04, while club newcomer Mark Bentley came in 11th on an eye-catching pink bike with a time of 27-22 – a fine effort for a first-timer.

This was also Sam Leng’s first 10-mile test and he finished before the 30-minute mark with 29-20.

As reported by the Gazette, 15 members of Malton Wheelers will take part in a 170-mile coast-to-coast ride in aid of Ryedale special families on Saturday, June 22.

The day after, there will be a Chairman’s Ride aimed at inexperienced cyclists and getting people interested in joining the club.

Anyone wanting to join in should meet at 9am at Malton railway station. It is free to join in. Under-16s will need to be accompanied.