A TOTAL of 29 top riders took part in the Aire Valley Cycles Road Race which included the fifth annual 'Nick Denby Memorial Trophy.'

The race was run over five laps of a 10km circuit starting and finishing at the Dog and Gun Inn, Oxenhope, this week.

The tough race on a warm sunny evening saw Danny Connolly of Foxes Cycles and Nick's brother, Matthew Denby, of Aire Valley forcing the early pace. Connolly took the first 'prime' prize at the end of the first lap and saw the eventual winner, Richard Dean of Doncaster Wheelers, struggling off the back of the main bunch following mechanical problems.

As the tough course began to take it's toll the field fluctuated and Ian Mountain of Wakefield CC took the second lap prize, just pipping Matthew Denby of Aire Valley RT.

By the time the race came round for the third and fourth laps Dean had taken a commanding lead and the racers behind were left to battle for the lower placings.

Several local riders fought hard to take the Nick Denby Trophy with eventual honours going to Martin Russell of Foxes Cycles who narrowly beat Simon Thompson in a sprint over the last few hundred yards.

Aire Valley Racing Team would like to thank the Dog and Gun for the use of their facilities and support and Bernie Burns of Aire Valley Cycles for his ongoing sponsorship of the event and to all the Aire Valley Team sponsors. Thanks were also given to local cycling supporters who turned out in force to help marshall the event.