Mark Wolstenholme (Swift Racing) and Louise Scupham (Liv AWOL) battled against tough conditions to take the men’s and women’s victories at the Otley CC 25.

A headwind on the uphill section of the V235 course made for tough going with Wolstenholme posting a winning time of 53 minutes and 34 seconds.

Starting near Marton-cum-Grafton riders competed over one-and-a-half laps of the A168 between Boroughbridge and Walshford.

The opening leg saw riders descend to Walshford before battling a tough headwind on the northerly uphill section past the start and on to Boroughbridge.

After turning a tailwind greeted riders back through the start down to Walshford before a tough last final leg to the finish back at Marton-cum-Grafton.

Despite rain hitting other parts of Yorkshire the roads near Boroughbridge remained dry for the duration of the event.

Wolstenholme, aged 43, won the Vive le Velo “Velocast” 10 in June and showed his form over the longer distance to win on this occasion.

Fellow veteran Keith Ainsworth (Sheffrec CC) finished second in the previous days Yorkshire Cycling Federation 10 also on the A168.

Ainsworth had to settle for second again clocking 55-34 while Benjamin Williams (Cliff Pratt Racing) finished third.

In the women’s event Scupham, from Scarborough, made it a weekend double after winning the Darlington CC 10 the previous day.

On this occasion Scupham set a winning time of one hour, three minutes and 18 seconds which was almost three minutes quicker than her nearest rival.

Beth Grogan (Selby CC) took second in 1-06-17 while early starter Robyn Waterhouse (Bramley Wheelers CC) completed the top-three positions clocking 1-12-35.

“It was a tough one with that headwind,” said Scupham, who won the Darlington CC 10 the previous day.

“It’s called the ‘Red Wall’ for a reason as the headwind was very difficult to deal with especially having raced the day before.

“The course descends down to the first roundabout but coming back up and past the start was a long drag into a headwind.

“I was just happy with the time and to take the win.”

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Results
1 Mark Wolstenholme (Swift Racing) 53.34
2 Keith Ainsworth (Sheffrec CC) 55.34
3 Benjamin Williams (Cliff Pratt Racing) 56.33

Women
1 Louise Scupham (Liv AWOL) 1:03.18
2 Beth Grogan (Selby CC) 1:06.17
3 Robyn Waterhouse (Bramley Wheelers CC) 1:12.35