WORCESTER'S Paul Dring (Stilton RT) won the Cotswold League road race at Staunton near Gloucester.

Dring and two companions gave the field the slip towards the end of the 40 mile race.

On the short steep climb to the finish line, Dring managed to fight off his two rivals to cross the line just ahead.

Dring and Stilton RT team-mates Gavin Poupart and brother, Steve Dring, were also in the thick of things at Mallory Park, Leicestershire.

The field stayed together resulting in a big sprint for the finish which was taken by Chris Garner (Zenith CC).

Paul, Gavin and Steve were towards the front of the sprint, taking fifth, sixth and seventh places.

St. John's Jon Newey rode in the Bristol Road Club's 30-mile handicap at Castle Coombe, Wiltshire.

Newey managed to hang on as the Elite group caught the lower categories. The attacks came thick and fast with the final nine man split, including Newey, going clear with 10 miles to go.

Newey's legs failed him in the final stages and he came ninth, behind local winner, Gerry Bowditch.

Worcester St. Johns Tuesday evening 30 mile time trial was won by John Callaghan in 1-13-22, with Dave Walker second in 1-15-13, just edging out third placed Chris McSweeney by one second.

Fastest lady was Sarah Emmerson with 1-23-39 followed by Maureen Burrows at 1-25-29.

Best of the rest: Steve Potter 1-21-20, Martin Staines 1-22-47 and Doug Dring 1-34-09.

In the absence of team captain Andy Lyons, who though cleared to race is not fit enough for Premier Trophy racing, Danny Axford and Gavin Poupart waved the Parrot Print flag in the 118-mile Five Valleys race at Port Talbot.

On a picturesque 90-mile circuit that crossed the Brecon Beacons and then finished with five small laps of a town-based circuit at Cwmavon, the field was decimated by the appaling weather especially in the hills.

Axford finished in 14th position after being in the leading group all day while Poupart ended in 23rd, well behind eventual winner John Tanner.

Afterwards Poupart said he could not see at the top of several climbs and he'd never been so scared especially when descending.

Tanner must now be favourite for the forthcoming National Championship at Rivington, the winner gaining automatic selection for the Commonwealth Games in August.

From a Stilton perspective, they will have three riders in Axford, Lyons, and Poupart.

The trio have earned selection for the Nationals on June 30 (limited to 100 riders).

Dave Stanbridge and Fred Daynes have been selected for a neutral service crew for the Commonwealth Games that follow on the same circuit on August 4.