OKEHAMPTON Cycle Club's Hatherleigh Road Race got underway on Sunday and the riders started on surprisingly dry roads.

They left Folly Gate and got straight on with the racing as Andy Parker (Mid-Devon CC) and Paul Martin (CS Dynamo) made a strong move on the first lap. Their lead on the rest of the field lingered between 40 seconds and 1 minute 30 seconds for roughly five laps, but the 25mph pace took its toll and they were wound in by the chasing group. By this time there had been several retirements and field had diminished somewhat.

With three laps to go the most competent riders were checking each other's moves. With one lap to go the summer rain started and the field got a soaking. The race then fell to the deciding climb.

Riding back up to Folly Gate, where the finish was situated, the race was won by Richard Cartland, (Red Kite Cycles). There was a convincing time margin back to second place with Keith Lilly (Alltrax) who rolled in ahead of Andy Parker (Mid-Devon CC), third.

The winner, Richard Cartland, who had made the trip from Birmingham, said afterwards that the course was excellent and the race had been well marshalled. This seemed to be the sentiments from most of the competitors, many of whom expressed thanks for Okehampton CC's willingness to hold the event at the end of the racing calendar.

Okehampton CC's Phil Sage held with the race for the first two laps and looked almost trouble-free. But in the third lap he had an accident and tumbled from his bike. Having lost time on the race Phil then retired. There was only little consolation to having stayed dry for his race!

Thanks were expressed to all the friends and volunteers from Okehampton CC for their help and support with special thanks to Bob Sharp and Rob Champion, the first aiders, without whom the race could not have been run.

For further information on events and rides held by Okehampton Cycle Club contact Andy Retter on 01837 82949 or take a look at the display board in the Arcade.

Results: 1 R Cartland, Red Kite Cycles, 103km in 2.36.03; 2 K Lilley, Alltrax; 3 A Parker, Mid-Devon CC; 4 E Worthington, Western Area private member; 5 A Slumen, Plymouth Corinthian CC; 6 P Martin, CS Dynamo; 7 I Phillips, CS Dynamo; 8 D. Bentley, Somerset RC; 9 J Burkett, Mid-Devon CC; 10 N Orpin, CS Dynamo.