O’MAHONEY JUSTIFIES FAVOURITE TAG

ALTHOUGH well outside Gethin Butler?s course record in a strong wind, pre-race favourite Paul O?Mahoney left the opposition for dead in today?s Circuit of Ingleborough time trial in North Yorkshire.

The Pro Bike Kit rider from Ulverston, Cumbria, who was runner-up to Butler last year, covered a 27-mile lap around Ingleborough ? one of the famous Three Peaks ? in 1hr 4min 59sec.

It gave him a massive winning margin in the Pendle Forest CC event of 3min 35sec over runner-up Carl Ruebotham, leader of the winning Team Swift-Allsports squad.

Just six seconds separated Ruebotham and his team-mate Blair Buss, who took third individual place to put Team Swift in an unbeatable position against team title holders Blackburn and District CTC.

With Danny Axford, the winner for the past two years, a non-starter, Richard Pettinger (Sri Chinmoy CT) moved up to the top spot in Oxonian CC?s time trial over a sporting 30.4-mile course at Oakley, Buckinghamshire, today.

Pettinger, formerly a member of the promoting club, and third in this event last year, covered the distance in 1-15-06 to beat all-rounder George Richardson (Team Kona UK) by 66 seconds.

Results.- Circuit of Ingleborough (27 miles): Paul O?Mahoney (Pro Bike Kit) 1-04-59; 2, Carl Ruebotham (Team Swift-Allsports) 1-08-34; 3, Blair Buss (Team Swift-Allsports) 1-08-40. Team: Team Swift-Allsports (Ruebotham, Buss, S Gerachi 1-15-09) 3-32-23.

Oxonian CC (Oakley, Bucks, 30.4 miles): Richard Pettinger (Sri Chinmoy CT) 1-15-06; 2, George Richardson (Team Kona UK) 1-16-12; 3, Tim Wallis (Arctic-Shorter Rochford RT) 1-16-17. Team: High Wycombe CC (Nick Calkin 1-21-26, Robert Fletcher 1-28-34, Chris Grieg 1-35-37) 4-22-09.