FORMER world hour record-holder Graeme Obree took another step on the comeback road on Sunday when he pipped in-form Barrow Central Wheeler Paul O'Mahoney in the Border City sporting courses 25 miles time trial.

The flying Scot was riding for Fullarton Wheelers and is reported in the cycling press to be considering a tilt at the purists' 'no tri-bar' hour record held by Chris Boardman.

O'Mahoney has stretched his lead in the Lakes and Lancs SPOCO series to nearly 140 points in just seven rides. Results from Carlisle: 1 Graeme Obree (Fullarton Wheelers) 55-04; 2 Paul O'Mahoney (Barrow Cent. Whls) 55-09; 3 Blair Buss (Pete Read Racing) 57-04; 10 Andrew Powell (Kent Valley RC) 1-01-15; 21 Chris Anderson (Lakes RC); 1-03-05; 31 Gary Spenceley (Lakes RC) 1-04-38; 69 Kevin Hodgson (Barrow Cent. Whls) 1-15-06; 79 Ann Nicholson (Kent Valley RC) 1-18-24; 84 George Jackson (T)

(Barrow Cent. Whls) 1-24-29.

n The National Cycling Time Trials/Rudy Project Series began at the weekend in Cambridgeshire and was won by Michael Hutchinson (MDT-Giant) in 51-02. Gethin Butler (Preston Whs) was 14th in 57-10, while Kent Valley's John Ingham clocked 58-19 and Bruce Attwood (Kent Valley RC) did 58-33. Mike Speight (Barrow Central Whs) rode 1-02-07; and Holme's Sharon Padley (Team Luciano) clocked 1-07-43.