search
date/time
Lancashire Times
Weekend Edition
frontpagebusinessartscarslifestylefamilytravelsportsscitechnaturewhatson
No cookies. No tracking. No advertising.
Hamilton Equals Schumacher’s Title Record In Turkey
Lewis Hamilton claimed a seventh Formula 1 drivers title in Turkey today and equalled Michael Schumacher’s long-standing record, his all-conquering Mercedes team having won all bar two of this year’s Grands Prix and having sealed its seventh consecutive constructors title at the previous race in Italy. As the F1 circus set…
A seventh drivers title for Lewis Hamilton, with one for McLaren followed by six for the dominant Mercedes team
International Swimming: London Roars Into Third Place Finish
Megan Armitage
Sports Writer
This weekend saw the end of the International Swimming League 2020 season. With the four best teams going head to head in Budapest to claim the Championship title, it was the Cali Condors who were the ones to take home the trophy. Condor’s captain, Caeleb Dressel, leading his team to…
6:55 PM 23rd November 2020
Hamilton On Top Again As Mercedes Seals Another Constructors Title
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
A timely virtual safety car period very much helped Lewis Hamilton clinch another victory
Formula 1 made a coronavirus induced yet emotional return to Imola in northern Italy this weekend as it was where we lost the iconic Ayrton Senna as well as Roland Ratzenberger on that awful weekend back in spring 1994. Fortunately there were no such dark events at the famous circuit…
4:30 AM 1st November 2020
B. Braun Renew Support Of Paralympian Medalists
Sheffield-based B. Braun Medical Ltd has renewed their support of two world-class Paralympians set to make their mark at the Tokyo 2021 Paralympics. British athlete Karen Darke is a hand cyclist who won gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympics and took home two silver medals from the UCI Para-cycling Road World…
3:38 PM 12th November 2020
F1’s New 23 Race Calendar For 2021
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
A street race in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia is set to feature next year
The future sadly remains impossible for any of us to predict due to the widespread impact of the coronavirus pandemic around the world, but the owners of Formula 1 (Liberty Media) and the sport’s governing body (the FIA) have formulated a draft 23 race calendar for next season, featuring the…
7:15 AM 28th October 2020
Mercedes Dominant As Hamilton Sets New Win Record
Formula 1 hasn’t raced in Portugal since Estoril back in 1996, but today we had a first ever Grand Prix at the impressive Autódromo Internacional do Algarve located in Portimão and Lewis Hamilton set a new record of 92 F1 career victories whilst driving for his long dominant Mercedes team. The…
4:40 AM 25th October 2020
The F1 Driver Market As Haas Drops Both Drivers
There was a flurry of activity in the Formula 1 driver market earlier this year, triggered by Ferrari deciding to not renew Sebastian Vettel’s contract beyond the end of 2020, and this same market has now sprung into life again with the Haas team announcing that it will be dropping…
10:23 AM 23rd October 2020
Hamilton Equals Schumacher Win Record In Germany
Formula 1 has made a welcome return to the iconic Nürburgring venue in mid-Germany, which last held a Grand Prix back in 2013, and it was Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton who emerged with the victory spoils from what was entitled the Eifel Grand Prix. This was the British driver’s 91st victory…
5:59 AM 11th October 2020
RIP Zef Eisenberg 1973-2020
Zef Eisenberg, the 47 year old British founder of the sports nutritional brand Maximuscle and holder of many UK and world land speed records, was killed at Elvington Airfield near York on the afternoon of Thursday 1st October whilst attempting to set a new record in a specially adapted Porsche…
2:12 AM 3rd October 2020
Honda To Leave F1
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen happy to point out Honda’s part in his success
The Japanese automotive giant Honda has today announced that at the end of the 2021 season it will end its involvement in Formula 1 as a power unit supplier to the Red Bull and Scuderia AlphaTauri teams. It explained that after a detailed review it feels the need to focus…
12:50 PM 2nd October 2020
Schumacher And Ilott To Make Their F1 Practice Debuts At The Eifel Grand Prix
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Mick Schumacher (right) and Callum Ilott are thrilled to be making their F1 practice debuts next week
German racing driver Mick Schumacher (son of the legendary Michael) and his British rival in Formula 2 this season Callum Ilott will make their Formula 1 practice debuts a week on Friday at the Nürburgring in the opening free practice session for the Eifel Grand Prix. Both are aged 21 and…
1:10 AM 30th September 2020
Bottas On Top As Hamilton Closes On Race Ban
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Valtteri Bottas loves Sochi and was delighted to silence some of his critics
The Formula 1 circus returned this weekend to Sochi on the Black Sea coast for this year’s Russian Grand Prix and it was Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas who reigned supreme as practice start errors earned his team-mate Lewis Hamilton two five second penalties and two more points on his race licence,…
4:25 AM 27th September 2020
Domenicali To Replace Carey As F1 CEO
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Stefano Domenicali (right) in his Ferrari days with Red Bull’s Christian Horner
The former Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali is set to replace the current Formula 1 supremo Chase Carey before the start of next season. An official confirmation is yet to be made by F1’s owner Liberty Media, but all F1 teams were advised of the news yesterday. Domenicali, a highly likeable…
3:29 PM 23rd September 2020
United Autosports Fifth Overall And LMP2 Class Winner At Le Mans
The Yorkshire based United Autosports team finished an impressive fifth overall in this weekend’s Le Mans 24 Hour race in France, claiming victory in the closely contested LMP2 class. Its second car, running in the same class, reached the chequered flag in 17th place overall and 13th in class after…
5:07 AM 20th September 2020
United Autosports Returns To Le Mans
France’s Le Mans 24 Hour race ranks very much alongside Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix and the US’s Indianapolis 500 as one of the three most iconic events on the annual motorsport calendar and this coming weekend we have a northern team to support in the form of United Autosports,…
11:41 AM 15th September 2020
Mercedes Dominate Chaotic And Twice Redflagged Tuscan Grand Prix
Formula 1 may have tested at the beautifully located Mugello circuit in northern Italy in the past, but it has never raced there before and so history was made as Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton claimed the victory spoils after today’s inaugural Tuscan Grand Prix. His team-mate Valtteri Bottas was clearly the…
6:32 PM 13th September 2020
Perez To Leave Racing Point And Set To Be Replaced By Vettel
Racing Point Formula 1 driver Sergio Perez will leave the Silverstone based team at the end of this season after seven years with them, including five under its former Force India guise, and it is very much expected that the German four time world champion Sebastian Vettel will be confirmed…
7:00 AM 10th September 2020
Sport Pilots To Be Reduced In Capacity To 1,000 People Socially Distanced
The government is to reduce the number of people that can attend sporting events to pilot the safe return of spectators to 1,000 in light of the increase in the number of positive coronavirus cases. All pilots with larger audiences will be reviewed in light of…
2:54 AM 10th September 2020
Gasly Wins Dramatic Italian Grand Prix After Hamilton Penalty
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Pierre Gasly drove superbly to take his first F1 victory
Mercedes’ dominance of Formula 1 since 2014 has been even greater than ever this season, but at Monza’s famous temple of speed circuit this afternoon a dramatic Italian Grand Prix resulted in victory for French driver Pierre Gasly and his Italian AlphaTauri team. The first Grand Prix not to be…
6:42 AM 6th September 2020
Sir Frank Williams And Daughter Claire Depart As Prince William’s Brother-In-law Arrives
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Sir Frank and Sir Patrick back in the early days of their team
An official announcement was made today by the Williams Formula 1 team, advising that Sir Frank Williams and his daughter Claire will be leaving the team after this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix and following its recent acquisition by US investment company Dorilton Capital. Team principal Sir Frank had taken a…
6:12 AM 3rd September 2020
The Mercedes Duo Dominate At Spa
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Lewis Hamilton easily extended his championship lead in Belgium
With Mercedes having been victorious in all bar one of the six Grands Prix to date in this shortened season and with Lewis Hamilton having won four of them, the Formula 1 circus pitched camp at Belgium’s famous Spa Francorchamps circuit expecting more of the same and that is just…
5:23 AM 30th August 2020
Diabetes UK Looking For Cyclists From Lancashire To Take Part In Fundraising Challenge
Diabetes UK is looking for people from Lancashire to get on their bikes and take on the UK Wide Cycle Ride this September. This September take your fitness up a gear and complete the coast to coast virtual challenge. You have the full month to clock up the miles and can…
7:15 PM 19th August 2020
F1 Set To Return To Turkey To Complete 2020 Calendar
It is expected that Turkey will soon be slotted into this year’s highly amended Formula 1 calendar, making it a 17 race programme of events compared to the 22 originally scheduled before the pandemic arrived. Subject to a new deal being finalised, this latest addition will help to lessen the…
3:59 AM 19th August 2020
Hamilton Cruises To An Easy Victory In Spain
After Red Bull’s Max Verstappen had taken a surprise victory over the usually dominant Mercedes team at Silverstone last weekend, battle recommenced just days later at Spain’s Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and on this occasion it was an unchallenged Lewis Hamilton who lifted the winner’s trophy for Mercedes. Verstappen’s success in Northamptonshire…
4:57 PM 16th August 2020
Fylde Coast
It’s time to head to the Lancashire coast on this week's ride, and we’re even including a ferry trip - albeit just across the harbour at Fleetwood. Best of all, it’s a flat ride, so it’s suitable for anyone, and there’s ample opportunity for ice creams! The small historic town of…
2:00 AM 13th August 2020
Mighty Verstappen Wins Amidst Racing Point Copying Row
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Max Verstappen showed true class as he led the Mercedes duo home
The Formula 1 circus remained at Silverstone for a second race following the dramatic closing stages of last weekend’s British Grand Prix and, after an increasingly bitter inter-team war had broken out off track, it was Red Bull’s mighty Max Verstappen who ended Mercedes’ domination of victories so far this…
4:52 PM 9th August 2020
Racing Point Loses 15 Points And Fined 400,000 Euros
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Racing Point has been punished in relation to the design of the brake ducts on this year’s RP20 car
The Racing Point Formula 1 team has lost 15 points in the Constructors Championship and been fined 400,000 Euros after the rival Renault team’s multiple protests about the legality of their brake ducts were upheld by an FIA stewards’ hearing at Silverstone. On Friday morning the latter announced that the…
1:48 PM 7th August 2020
Riding The Eastern Dales
Robert Thorpe
Cycling Correspondent
Last week we took a trip to Hawes and rode the wild and rugged beauty of the western Dales. It only seems sensible then to give you an opportunity for a getaway weekend in this historic market town, by providing you with ample suggestions for further exploratory rides - this…
5:23 AM 3rd August 2020
Hamilton Limps To A Dramatic Silverstone Victory
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Lewis Hamilton relaxing at Silverstone before his dramatic victory
Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas looked to be cruising gently towards an easy 1-2 finish for Mercedes in the British Grand Prix until a late front left tyre delamination dropped Bottas to 11th and a similar problem for Hamilton left him limping to the line as the chasing Max Verstappen…
5:13 AM 2nd August 2020
The Final Leg!
Day 9 Longridge & Preston - and still dodging the rain! I hadn’t slept much overnight: the wind and rain battered the bedroom window and I was wide awake having my second cup of tea when my 4.30am alarm went off. Thankfully, the forecast promised that the overnight rain would…
11:34 AM 30th July 2020
Companionship And Chocolate: Keeping The Challenge On Course
Day 7: The best of plans sometimes have to be changed My cycling buddy Danny was joining me again today for a train journey to Llandudno to be followed by a lovely 100-mile ride back up the North Wales coast into Chester then home… Unfortunately I had failed to check…
8:00 AM 29th July 2020
The Flying Doctor
What does a Formula 1 Correspondent get up to during a free weekend between all the regular Grands Prix now the season has eventually got up and running in earnest? Of course, he takes his wife over to the beautiful Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire for a catch-up with a…
6:45 AM 27th July 2020
Three More Races Added To The 2020 F1 Calendar
It has been announced that three further races this autumn In Germany, Portugal and Italy have been added to this season’s much amended calendar. The Grand Prix of the Eifel will take place at the Nürburgring on 11 October, although it cannot be called the German Grand Prix as the rights…
9:37 AM 25th July 2020
Crossing The Border: Half-way There!
Steve Tonge
Cycling Correspondent
Clifton Windmill
We continue with Steve Tonge as he completes his ten-day, thousand mile cycling challenge Day 5: Cleveleys and Blackpool I was up nice and early for another ride north at 6am, this time using the A6 through Chorley then Walton-le-Dale before a short detour by Deepdale and once again using the…
11:54 AM 22nd July 2020
Cycling The North: Western Dales
Robert Thorpe
Cycling Correspondent
For this week’s cycling route, I’ve chosen the western Dales. Easily accessible from all parts of Lancashire, and from the north western reaches of Yorkshire, this 41-mile route starts in iconic Wensleydale. Base yourself in the market town of Hawes and you can stay the night in one of the…
10:25 AM 21st July 2020
A Dash To The Coast
Steve Tonge
Cycling Correspondent
Liverpool Skyline from Birkenhead
Day 3: Monday June 15 - Morecambe & Lancaster After the tough day yesterday, I gave myself a lie in! Today’s ride direction was chosen because of the weather forecast of heavy rain forecast… I set of just before 8am and headed north: destination – Morecambe. I chose to avoid the…
10:06 AM 21st July 2020
Another Dominant Win For Hamilton In Hungary
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Lewis Hamilton and his flying Mercedes again proved untouchable
Lewis Hamilton comfortably claimed an eighth Hungarian Grand Prix victory as the ever more dominant Mercedes team proved again that the rest of the grid is still unable to pose any realistic challenge to their ongoing superiority. After one thrilling race in Austria and a second one there which proved to…
5:18 AM 19th July 2020
Buying A Bike
When you’re a kid, the only concern about the bike that you want is the colour and how good and cool it looks! However, as you get older and hopefully wiser, being aware of a few key points will make your cycling more comfortable and help you to avoid unnecessary…
12:07 PM 15th July 2020
The Cycle Diaries: The Challenge Begins
The Cycle Diaries – cyclist Steve Tonge’s challenge to complete over 1000 miles in ten days across the county of Lancashire. Lancashire is a great county for cycling, as we are often told. Many of us have embraced new forms of exercise over the past few months in response to lockdown,…
2:02 AM 15th July 2020
Car Chase Heroes
What does a Formula 1 correspondent do on a spare day between Grand Prix reporting commitments? Well, he of course heads to a race circuit (Tockwith, near Wetherby), but for something noticeably different to following the exploits of Lewis Hamilton and co. Driving experience days are proving extremely popular as going…
8:21 PM 14th July 2020
Hamilton Cruises To Victory As Ferrari Implodes
History was made at Austria’s Red Bull Ring this weekend as for the first time ever Formula 1 held consecutive races at the same circuit and it was Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton who emerged on top after cruising to an unchallenged victory. In total contrast, the race was a disaster for…
4:33 AM 12th July 2020
RIP Jack Charlton OBE 1935-2020
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Jack Charlton was a true legend for club, country and beyond (photo: Leeds United)
Jack Charlton, who was a Leeds United, England and Republic of Ireland footballing legend as a player and manager, has sadly passed away aged 85 after a long-term illness. My own life has long been dominated by Formula 1 motor racing, but during my teenage years my sporting passion was…
1:37 AM 12th July 2020
Cycling The North: Settle To Wharfedale
Robert Thorpe
Cycling Correspondent
Countryside around Malham
Malham is one the great images of the Yorkshire Dales. Even Harry Potter has been here, albeit not cycling :) The roads in this corner of Yorkshire are steep and unrelenting from all directions, as are the trails and bridleways. Yes, whether on road bike or mountain bike, the riding…
8:39 AM 10th July 2020
Alonso Set To Make Dramatic F1 Return In 2021
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Fernando has missed F1 and is on his way back
Renault is set to announce that Fernando Alonso will make a dramatic return to Formula 1 next year, rejoining the French team for a third stint after winning two world titles with them back in 2005 and 2006. The Spaniard, who will be 39 later this month, left McLaren and Formula…
9:54 PM 7th July 2020
Bottas On Top In Austrian Thriller
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Valtteri Bottas remained calm under pressure to claim the victory spoils
Formula 1 made its long awaited return in Austria this weekend and, after being fastest in pre-season testing back in February, the Mercedes team continued its domination of the sport since 2014 as Valtteri Bottas won an absolute thriller of a race. Austria’s Red Bull Ring circuit is beautifully located just…
9:28 AM 5th July 2020
Road Cycling In Lancashire: Get Those Wheels Rolling With Help From Pedal North
Both Lancashire and Yorkshire provide some of the very best road cycling routes in the world. It also has to be said that these two ‘Rose Counties’ have supplied the Great Britain team with great cyclists. Last year saw the World Championships come to the area, albeit damp; but that’s weather…
3:49 AM 3rd July 2020
Inspirational Zanardi Severely Injured In Italian Cycle Race
Alex Zanardi, who lost both legs in a motor racing accident in 2001 but inspired millions around the world by fighting back to race cars again and become a multiple Paralympic handcycling champion, has been severely injured in Italy during a cycle race. After extensive brain and facial surgery he…
1:34 AM 20th June 2020
Champion Russell Dominates Again In Canadian Finale
Canada was the venue for this evening’s final Formula 1 Virtual Grand Prix before the sport returns for real in Austria on 5 July and it was George Russell who dominated, taking a fourth victory in a row. The Williams driver was already the unofficial champion before the start of the…
5:11 AM 15th June 2020
Racy Russell Makes It A Hat Trick
The seventh of eight Formula 1 Virtual Grands Prix before the real thing returns has taken place around the demanding streets of Baku City in Azerbaijan this evening and the 22 year old British driver George Russell deservedly made it a hat-trick of consecutive victories, reinforcing to Mercedes team principal…
8:17 AM 8th June 2020
Formula 1 Confirms This Season’s Opening Eight Races
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Austria’s beautifully located Red Bull Ring will kick off the new season
As expected, Formula 1 has today confirmed that, following the postponement of the 2020 season due to the global pandemic, the opening eight races of the heavily revised calendar will all take place in Europe during a ten week period starting on 5 July in Austria. Due to the ongoing fluidity…
4:11 PM 2nd June 2020
Government Gives Green Light To Resumption Of Competitive Sport Behind Closed Doors
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport publishes 'stage three' of its elite and professional sport guidance. Guidance permits return to domestic competition from 1 June 2020 First major sporting event expected to be 2000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse on 6 June …
9:11 PM 30th May 2020
more