SUNDAY morning was like the dawning of a new era as the long awaited sunshine made it's appearance.

Climbing out of Bolton over Bradshaw, the clean fresh air was like a tonic washing away the dark dismal days of the past couple of weeks.

We seemed to make Towneley Hall in double quick time for tea and toast and then were off again, heading for Widdop Moor, climbing out of Burnley through Harle Syke and Thursden.

The narrow ribbon of a road takes us across the moor with the Lancashire/Yorkshire border coming as Widdop Moor reservoir comes into view.

Just after the reservoir, we crossed over to the single track lane at New Laithe Moor which normally leads into Hardcastle Crags, but not today. We gazed in horror at the new sign 'No Cycling', the Clarion have been coming to this place since the 1890s.

If cyclists are squeezed out of the countryside as well as off the roads, what does the future hold?

A good lunch at Hebden Bridge put the spirits back on course. The pace down the valley to Todmorden was quite steady and then it was hard work tackling Bacup Hill to it's summit at Sharney Ford.

The speedy drop down to Bacup was almost heart stopping and the adrenaline rush was enough to carry us down the Rossendale Valley to Rawtenstall. As we reached Edenfield, it was like we are almost home with the last long downhill into Bolton not far away.

Four of the clubs stalwarts travelled across to Blyth in Yorkshire on Saturday to ride the Rutland CC 25 mile event for riders not faster than one hour one minute.

Rob Entwistle producing an excellent ride for second place overall with one hour, one minute, 28 seconds.

Next came Ken Bath in one hour four minutes, 15 seconds taking 10th overall.

Bob Hodgins came close to his best with one hour, five minutes, 36 seconds. Less than a minute behind Bob came Jim Ince in one hour, six minutes, 30 seconds.

A little nearer home, Christine Lockhart claimed second fastest lady in the Warrington RC 25 event at Chelford on Sunday afternoon with a new personal best time of one hour, 8 minutes, 8 seconds, beating her old mark by more than a minute. The Clarion Ride on Sunday is the medium distance with the destination is Scorton.

Meet at the town hall square for 9am start. Ring secretary for details on 491595.