York brothers Wayne Thorpe (Brough Wheelers) and Nigel Thorpe (York Cycleworks) partnered each other to a fine third place in the Chesterfield Spire Road Club's open ten-mile two-up team time trial.

The annual event was shortened from the usual 25 miles to ten miles due to road works on the Markham Moor course.

Victory went to Preston-based Londoner Gethin Butler (Team Mens Health) and local rider Kevin Dawson (Pete Read Racing) in an ultra-fast 19min 07sec. Their winning time put them over one and a half minutes clear of their nearest challengers, the Lancashire pair of Stephen Feeney and Nathan Turnbull (Leigh Premier RC) who recorded 20.41. The brothers Thorpe were the only other duo inside 21 minutes, with an excellent 20.52.

Two other local pairs competing in the event also produced very creditable times. Clifton Moor's Steve Gore-Browne teamed up with his Velo Club York/Sanyo veteran clubmate Don Dale (Tadcaster) to record 22.12.

Much interest focused on Dringhouses rider Jon Surtees and former Yorkshire Junior 25-mile champion Richard High, both of whom previously rode in Knaresborough CC colours. Now reunited with former mentor Keith Thompson in Knaresborough Racing Team/Cromwell Polythene colours, the pair were testing the water after several years out of the sport with a view to a full comeback in the year 2000.

After clocking a very promising 22.57 the pair showed that they are back in business.

National cycling interest will be centred on Ripon on Sunday for the 'Ron Kitching Classic' 25.5 mile Invitation time trial.

This year's event has attracted probably its best ever field, with Stockton-on-Tees professional Chris Newton (Linda McCartney Foods), the British cycling Federation National TT champion and RTTC National 25-mile champion, seeded last to start in a 43-strong field.

Challenging him for their share of a £700 prize list are double British Best All-Rounder against the clock in 1994 and '95, Gethin Butler (Team Mens Health), making his debut in the North Yorkshire classic, last year's runner up and Tour of The Peak winner Mark Lovatt (Pro Vision Planet X) and his elite team-mate Wayne Randle.

Others to watch out for are Londoner Michael Hutchinson (Bio RT), Leicester's Dominic Sweeney, Scunthorpe's Julian Ramsbottom, Phil West (Adidas), Dan Smith (Cleveland Wheelers) and Steve Brown (East Bradford CC).

The veteran entry includes Carlisle fastman Peter Smith (Border City Wheelers), Thornton-le-Dale rider Mike Potter (Scarborough Paragon CC) and Newcastle's Dave McCready (CCS Racing).

Best of the locals include York's Paul Watson (VC York) winner of the recent TLI Yorkshire Water Nidderdale Classic two stage race, Nigel Thorpe (York Cycleworks), Mike Youngson (Knaresborough CC). Knaresborough RT, the promoting club, are represented by Ben Patton and John Fenwick.

Knaresborough RT also have leading road-man Andrew Saunders in the junior field, but favourite to win this section of the race must be Carlisle's Jamie Bell (Border City Wheelers), silver medalist in the recent TLI National Hill-Climb championship, and the BCF National Track championships at Manchester Velodrome. Another top junior entry is that of Kendal's David Everrett (Kent Valley RC) who has spent most of the 1999 season racing for a French-based club.

First rider sets off from Skelldale Close just off Boroughbridge Road, Ripon, at 11.01 am with the rest of the field following at one minute intervals, to cover a course based on Ripon-Kirby, Hill-Dishforth-Sharrow and the Ripon bypass.

Event headquarters is at Ripon Leisure Centre, Dallamires Lane, where bar and caf facilities are open all day, and it is here in the theatre that the awards ceremony will take place afterwards, with Ron Kitching presenting the awards.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.