WORCESTER St John's held their annual spring road race in appalling weather conditions that forced the organisers to chop a lap off the 75-mile race for safety reasons.

By the start, the rain was falling hard although that did not deter the riders from setting a fast pace on the lumpy Severn Stoke circuit.

A five-man group had broken clear of the 55-rider field by the third lap. That group included Adrian Bird, of Pershore's Echelon Cycles, and Ian Treadwell, of Beacon RC.

They were joined on the fifth lap by another seven riders, including eventual winner Jon Pain (GWR) and team-mate Ben Luckwell. The 12 riders stuck together until the final mile when the heavy weather took its toll on Treadwell who finished 12th.

Pain took a flyer as the finish approached but held off the remainder of the break to take a much-deserved win.

Luckwell led the rest home for second place with Bird managing fifth spot.

Finishers: Pain (GWR) two hours 40 minutes, Luckwell (GWR), Barry Charley (Parker International), Dean Robson (Somerset Road Club), Bird (Echelon Cycles), Jason Meyer (Newport CC), Nigel Williams (Python RT), Richard Cartland (Team Corley Cycles), Austin Jones, Alec Leslie (Ajchva Limoux), Ian Thomas (Newport CC), Treadwell (Beacon RC), Eddie Corbett (Wolverhampton Wheelers), Alan Griffiths (Severn RC), Steve Dring (Echelon Cycles), Nick Watson (Hardly Athletic), Philip Borrett (Bikinmotion CC), Glen Borrett (Bikinmotion CC), George Rose (Cardiff Jif), David Kirby (Kenilworth Wheelers).