THE weather may have been miserable, but the cycle racing certainly wasn't, as 50 riders lined up for the St Helens Senior Road Race, which covered 16 laps (104kms) of the Clieves Hill circuit.

First break of the day went on the first lap with Elliot Baxter (Diamondback) closely followed by local riders David Hitchen (St Helens CRC) and Dave McGowan (Kirkby CC).

The break lasted three laps, with Baxter taking the first of the primes. The following lap saw a break of 10 riders going clear, including Hitchen, Baxter, Barrie Clarke (Diamondback), Andrew Yates (MK Cycles), Gareth Hewitt (J.E. James RT) and Jefferey Capper (Cycle Centre RT).

Lap seven saw Baxter away again taking the next prime, before on lap 10 Barrie Clarke managed to jump across the gap to leave the two mountain bike riders leading the race.

With one lap remaining Clarke went ahead on his own as Baxter's earlier efforts started to tell. By the finish Clarke had a smile on his face and a lead of 68 seconds on the break which had now caught and passed a tiring Baxter.

Result: 1. Barrie Clarke (Diamondback); 2. Andrew Yates (MKCycles); 3. Gareth Hewitt (J.E. James RT); 4. Ben Elliot ( VC St Raphael); 5. Jefferey Capper (Cycle Centre RT); 6. David Hitchen (St Helens CRC); 7. Robert Sharrock (Cycle Centre RT); 8. Tim Buckle ( BCF private member); 9. Andrew Martin (Corrado-Kingdale); 10. Elliot Baxter (Diamondback).

Prize list sponsored by, Ena Shaws Ltd., Thatto Cycles, D. Sparrow Heating & Plumbing, Exclusives by Wilf Baines and Designer Sign.