WORCESTER St John's Time Trial series entered its hilly phase on Tuesday with a tough 14.5 mile event based around Suckley.

Adrian Bird (Arctic 2000) was easily the fastest clocking 34 minutes, 23 seconds.

Saint's Mike Potter was second with 37.58 and took the D&G Hughes Trophy.

Dave Walker was nearly a minute back with 38.57. Top woman was Sarah Emmerson with 42.50, beating Ruth Heatley by 20 seconds.

Other Times: Kevin May 40.01, Pete Jansen 40.35, Anthony Wilson 40.42, Simon Barringer 40.47, Neil Ashton 41.11, Les Bailey 42.22, Dave Preece 43.46, Chris Gibbons 44.02, Steve Potter 44.19, Keith Weyman 44.42, Tony Nolan 44.48, Helen Wootton 45.35, Will Basford 46.30, Gail Flanaghan 47.12, Ros Hope 47.55, Gordon Chamberlain 50.02.

Worcester's Steve Dring (Parrot Print/TAL) hit form at the weekend, finishing a close second in the 53-mile JIF Sprinters' Special race in South Wales.

The short, flat race was designed to produce fast racing with plenty of opportunity for the sprinters to shine and it did just that.

From the start riders persistently attacked but all moves were neutralised by an active and alert bunch. However, the expected 60-man bunch sprint for the win failed to materialise.

Halfway through the final lap, two riders got away from the bunch as the race passed towards Corntown and were allowed to gain 25 seconds.

Cardiff's Craig Cooke attempted to cross to the leaders and, after five miles of chasing, caught them. The three leaders worked to stay away while Dring and top sprinter Gerry Bowditch left the bunch and joined them.

In the final few miles, the five riders' gap fell rapidly as the leaders began to prepare for the sprint finish and the bunch chased hard. At the line, as expected, Gerry Bowditch won the sprint from Dring and Craig Cooke as the leading five riders crossed the line only a few yards in front of the chasing bunch.