Poor weather and the lure of the Olympics on TV meant that just 13 riders took part in the Ashford 5 and the the short hilly events last week.

Richard Cordin, back from a six-week absence, didn’t seem to mind, however, as he brought Chris Green’s winning sequence to an abrupt end at Ashford.

Cordin recorded 10.58 and was the only rider on the night to go under 11 minutes, beating Green by just five seconds.

In third place, 59 seconds behind, was Leigh Fearn, who recorded a season’s best of 12.02.

The other finishers were James Stokes, Carl Dyke, John White and youngster Patrick Smart, with Carl and Patrick recording season bests of 12.31 and 15.03 respectively.

But Green was victorious once again in the penultimate short hilly time-trial just two days later, maintaining his 100 per cent record in this competition to narrowly win with a time of 20.03, with Leigh Fearn second at just 15 seconds with another season’s best of 20.18.

Derby Mercury’s Mark Shardlow was third in 20.35, just 17 seconds behind Fearn, which was also a season’s best.

The other finishers were Carl Dyke and first timer David Wragg, who both recorded personal bests, and Patrick Smart.

A week earlier Chris Green had posted the fastest Ashford 5 time of the season, with 10.56.

Steve Heading took second place with 11.13, Matt Ingram, Carl Dyke and James Stokes improved their personal best times, and 12-year-old Patrick Smart rode at his fastest average speed yet in a time trial.

The short hilly had seen Green clock up his best ever run of victories – 11 – and finish 43 seconds ahead of Shardlow.

New arrival Adam Kenway, who had not ridden a time trial for two years, was third in 20.53. Patrick Smart slashed over two minutes off his personal best time, having predicted he would do so before the event.

The youngster is currently in training for the GHS 10-mile time trial to be held at Hertford in September.

He qualified by winning the local heat and now looks forward to the final, a major event involving 150 young riders from heats held nationwide.

l IN the points competition, Chris Green leads Peter Colledge by a massive 237 points in the point’s competition with 936 points from 46 events, to Peter’s 699 points from 14 events fewer.

Richard Cordin is third with 519 points from 24 events.

Veteran John White is a close fourth with 512 points from 44 events.

The time trial season culminates in the Sheldon 5 and Freewheel events on Saturday, August 30.

The Sheldon TT starts at 2pm near Bakewell, with the Freewheel to follow.

For more information, go online at www.matlockcyclingclub.org.uk

Ashford 5, August 12

1. Chris Green 10.56, 2 Steve Heading 11.13, 3 Matt Ingram 11.27, 4 Gary Blackham 12.13, 5 James Stokes 12.20, 6 Carl Dyke 12.32, 7 John White 12.39, 8 Patrick Smart

Short Hilly, August 14

1.