THE action in this year's Corinium Cycling Club's annual ten-mile time trial series, which has always been one of the star attractions, is suddenly hotting up.

Each Thursday evening sees the joint efforts of Corinium CC and Swindon RC regularly attracting over 30 riders with Corinium having fielded 26 competitors to date in one or more races.

Each club has its own championship and Corinium's is known as the Ray Rymes series for the coveted memorial shield based on the best seven rides of the season.

Sadly, a number of combatants, including top competitors Andrew Strickland and Cliff Dutton, are out of the running at present due to illness or injury.

Nonetheless, the remainder battle on and many are wondering whether the evergreen Allan Norwood, who is a year off his pension, can retain his title after winning the series last year.

One of his main adversaries is Andrew Smith, who has already established himself in all manner of competition, including club Best All-rounder of 2002.

Another is Mike Dolman who, although relatively new to the sport, is the club's best find in recent times.

Others in the frame include Andrew Wilcox, an established racer now coming to the fore, and Alasdair McCleary, a new member who has immediately established himself in the top five along with John Ashurst.

And so after 11 races, Allan Norwood is clinging to a five-point lead (140) with seven wins from Mike Dolman (135) who has beaten Allan on two occasions.

Other top-ten placings are as follows: 3 Andrew Smith (132), 4 Andrew Wilcox (123), joint 5 John Ashurst and Alasdair McCleary (115), 7 Garath Vernon Roberts, 8 Melvin Packham, 9 Derek Mitchell, 10 Mark Foyn.

Of the club's women, only Pam Swanson is contesting the series and she is currently occupying 14 place and as well as leading the ladies' section.

Neither Jacki Cutts nor Liz McKenzi has not ridden so far and Bud Dutton is marshalling at every event as well as providing refreshments and serving on the club's committee.

Last weekend's fascinating trip, conceived by Sunday runs leader Norman Hayes, proved to be a day of art and culture.

He and his sole companion at the start, Pam Swanston, set off through the lanes and up the hills around the Daneway and Bisley.

Making the most of bright sunshine and clear air, they took in some of the more spectacular views around the area.

At Bisley Camp, the pair joined forces with Peter Holden's fast brigade and, now some half-a-dozen strong, the happy throng headed off to the Chan-cellors Tea Rooms at Painswick.

Afterwards, the party witnessed the panorama of the Malverns as they traversed the cycleways around Gloucester and past the cathedral.

The group paused for a while at Sandhurst, all mesmerised by the bizarre font and sundial outside the church, before continuing on to Wallsworth Hall - the home of Art in Nature - for lunch and a rendezvous with Andrew Tolman.

It would have been unthinkable to have left the hall without admiring the sculptures and the exhibition of Keith Shackelton's paintings.

And so it was a while after lunch that the riders made their way past Staverton Airport and up the formidable rocky climb over the Cotswold escarpment to Shurdington.

The final leg of their trip, through Cowley and Coles-bourne, was illuminated by flashes of lightning while ever darkening skies were heralded by peals of thunder as tired legs strained to get home before the threatened rain arrived.

After some 65 fascinating miles, it was a close call, but all arrived home safe and dry.

Details of all of Corinium Cycling Club's activities can be found on their web site at www.coriniumcc.co.uk