STEVE Burns, of Wyre Forest Cycle Racing Club, started his season in style, finishing eighth overall in the Veteran Time Trial Association (Birmingham and Midlands) 10-mile time trail on the Fosseway, Leamington Spa, on Saturday.

Burns returned to competition following a 10-month lay-off from racing, to record a time of 22 minutes 26 seconds. Richard Pedersen narrowly missed a personal best by 13 seconds, in his first solo time trial of the season, coming 16th overall in 23-37.

Bill Picton started his campaign with 27-15, followed by Mick Gray in 28-22 and David Prior in 30-40.

The overall winner was Richard Bradley, of Stourbridge CC, in 20-33.

A strong Wyre Forest team entered the League of Veteran Racing Cyclists' Enville road race, promoted by Stourbridge CC on Sunday.

On the undulating 50-mile course, Bewdley's Kris Doms get into a breakaway group on the first ascent to Six Ashes. John Callaghan joined the lead group from the bunch, and the Wyre Forest pair stayed away in the break to the end, with Callaghan coming fifth in the C category, and 12th overall, while Doms came sixth in the A category, for 14th overall.

Karl Davies, Dave Wood, Phil Tranter and Mike Hopkins finished in the bunch

Paul Prince showed impressive form in the Wrekinsport road race on Sunday, when 10 riders broke away from the bunch on the undulating 85k course, to gain a one-minute lead.

Prince took up the chase trying to bring the break back, but on the final climb he succumbed to cramp and had to roll to the finish.