JIM Duffy continued an encouraging start to a new season when he classified inside the top 10 at the Macclesfield Wheelers 25.

The Weaver Valley Cycling Club member stopped the clock in 56.07, an average speed of 26.73mph, to rank seventh in a high-class field of almost 100 entries.

It is also a personal best for the course, based on a circuit that travels along the A50 from Ollerton to Cranage.

Clubmate Alistair Stanway timed 59.49 to finish 23rd, while veteran Alan Shuttleworth reached the finish in 1:15.17.

Mark Turnbull (TORQ Performance) was the overall victor for a second successive year, topping the time-sheet with 53.28 (28.06mph) in testing conditions.