OKEHAMPTON Cycle Club member Andrew Retter claimed a second place at the Sigma Sport Surrey League three-day cycling event held over the Easter weekend.

Andy travelled to Surrey to take on some of the Home Counties cycling talent where a field of 79 road racers met to compete in cloudy but dry weather conditions.

Stage one of the race was an undulating 77-mile course consisting of ten circuit laps of the Liphook countryside. The eventual winner had a lead of one minute over the field and taking a chance Andy made a bold move with three miles to go to the finish by joining another rider in a breakaway to catch the leader. With a big effort on the final hill Andy edged out his rival to take a well deserved second place with a time of 3hrs 3 minutes and 6 seconds.

The Goodwood motor racing circuit was the venue for stage two which consisted of 30 laps, amounting to 72 miles.

The flat course lent itself to fast racing and with the winner of stage one dropping out through injury Andy was the rider to beat.

After an inspired first day Andy needed to protect his position and made the running in the main group of riders finishing in 2 hours, 51 minutes and 35 seconds, putting him in sixth position of the points competition.

Stage three was held on the roads south east of Guildford. The 80 miles were flat except for the final two-mile hill that led to the finish. With the day?s race being uneventful Andy made a good effort to finish in 37th position taking 3 hours and 30 minutes.

After three days of racing Andy was placed 10th in the overall points competition and was pleased with his performance.