RECENT Worcester St John's Cycling Club activities have been tinged with sadness following the death of Bob Short aged 73 who had been battling against cancer for a year.

Bob had been a member of the St. Johns club since the 1950s and was a familiar face around Worcester, known to many as 'Bob the Bike'.

After riding competitively in his younger years, Bob styled himself as a professional race marshal and was a big help to those organising sporting events in the Worcester area.

It was typical that he not only worked tirelessly for his own club, but was a familiar sight in his yellow marshals jacket at Worcester Triath-lon Club events and other cycling clubs in the area.

Riders could always rely on Bob's support at events and if he was not acting as a race marshall or leading rides for the slower cyclists, he would travel to events armed with a video camera and his trademark shout of "dig 'em in!"

Worcester has lost one of its most colourful characters and cycling has lost one of its biggest fans.

Meanwhile, St. John's riders competed for the Heron Shield -- the annual 20-mile time trial in which riders are restricted to the gears that they can use, forcing them to pedal furiously in a low gear.

Veteran Pete Jansen came in with the fastest time of 54.13, closely followed by Dave Walker with 54.23 and Kevin Sargent in 54.51.

Top lady was Sarah Emmerson in a time of 59.31 with Ros Hope next in 61.15.

Worcester riders Paul and Steve Dring travelled to Leicestershire for the Nigel Measom two-day race with Paul finishing second overall.

After finishing the first day fifth, Paul managed to get into a four-man breakaway group. A crash in the final miles left Dring and the race leader sprawling on the floor. Dring was able to remount and finish 40 seconds back from two survivors.