Ross-on-Wye & District Cycling Club's Thursday evening battle of the '10 milers' returned to Walford on a fine, but cool, evening with a field of 21 keen competitors, including six members of the Royal Dean Forest Cycling Club.
Showing a return to his previous form Alan Cook took the honours with a ride of 22 minutes and 17 seconds whilst behind him the competition hotted up with Dave Harwood taking second place with a 23.53.
Paul Fallen led the rest of the field with 24.31, Will Bevan 24.37, Graham Carter 25.01, Paul Stephens 25.05, Sam Walker 25.17, Bob Hill 25.46 and Mark Lavington 26.22. James Wilson took exactly 29 minutes and he was chased home by Robin Fletcher 29.33, Tony Price 29.45, Catalan (Sharky) Patrichi, spot on 30 minutes, Mike Druce 31.51, and elder statesman Gerald Brain wound things up with a time of 34 minutes and 3 seconds. The best of the visitors, Alan Mathews, recorded 25 minutes and 21 seconds.
Next week is a return to the Ledbury Road with the '2 up' ten miler where the competitors ride in pairs and share the pain on the hard parts.