KARL Owen from Bolton-based Team Chronomaster won Horwich Cycling Club's Sheep House Lane Climb event with a great time of 7:46 – which was only five seconds short of the course record.

More than 40 competitors take part which was the best-ever turnout for the event.

Dave Powell was the highest finisher from the host club with a time of 8:21 to put him fourth overall.

Meanwhile, Horwich CC president Dave Headon did an impressive time of 9:36.

Craig Sefton, who represents Horwich Cycling Club, said: "The event has really gain momentum over the last few years.

"Members from cycling club all over the north west took part. Chorley CC use the series as part of their club time trial / hill climb competition.

"We had riders from Manchester Wheelers, Bury Clarion, VCUK, Chronomaster, Lancashire Road, Bolton Hotwheels, Mossley CC, Middleton CC.

"The Sheephouse climb is one of the areas longest and steepest climbs.

"It is massively contested by all local cyclists who regularly pitch themselves against one another on popular on-line media sites such as Strava.

"But the beauty of our hill climbs are they make for a level playing field during one night, on one hill and the same conditions for every rider. It’s as simple as that.

"There’s not much to think about in terms of tactics, you basically go as hard has you can until you cross the finish line.

"I suppose local riders have a slight advantage as they know each gradient and feature over the two miles.

There’s nowhere to hide and nowhere to recover.

"We had several competitors e-mail and tweet after the event asking if anyone had found a lung they had coughed up. To get a good time you have to go deep, block out the pain and ignore all the voices in your head screaming at you! Its torture but luckily it only lasts around 10 minutes.

Results: Karl Owen, (Chronomaster ) 7.46, Michael Ashurst (VCUK) 8.17, John Mackellar (Northern Collective) 8.17.6, David Powell (Horwich CC) 8.21, Rob Hope (Chorley CC) 8.23, Billy Stewart (Chronomaster) 8.27, Paul Roby (VCUK) 8.40, David Stammers (Bury Clarion )8.50, Tom Hanlon (H. Middleton CC) 8.59, Ben Huddart (Lancs CC ) 9.19, David Tabron (Horwich CC) 9.23, David Jackson (Chorley CC) 9.27, Chris Bodenham (Horwich CC) 9.30, Dave Headon (Horwich CC) 9.36, Ben Dobson (Lancs RC) 9.45, Aaron Denver (Chorley CC) 9.50, Lee Ashworth (Lancs RC) 9.54, Ian Fairhurst (Chorley CC) 9.57, Martyn McGrillen (Lancs RC) 10.01, Marc Osmond (Horwich CC) 10.03, Rob Seddon (Chorley CC) 10.19, Graham Langley (H Middleton CC) 10.27, Tyler Koch (Mossley CC) 10.28, Ben Horrobin (Bolton HW) 10.40, Sean Warren (Chorley CC) 10.44, Dan Robinson (Manchester W) 10.45, Tim Worthington (Horwich CC) 10.45.3, Dave Bateson (Horwich CC) 11.03, Danny Kershaw 11.09, Mark Sheffield (Chorley CC) 11.22, Luke Davies (Chorley CC) 11.23, Martin Horrobin (Bolton HW) 11.27, Steve Poxon (Chorley CC) 11.28, Adrian Fairhurst (Chorley CC) 11.33, Neil Pollington (H Middleton CC) 11.43, Martin Wilson (Manchester W) 11.51, Janine Connah (Chorley CC) 11.54, Holly Carter (Manchester W) 12.29, Adam (Westwell Lancs RC) 12.46, Nicola Fox (Manchester W) 13.45, Ella Wredenfors (Manchester W) 14.17, Caroline Walton (Chorley CC) 14.54.