WORCESTER St John's Cycling Club host their annual elite category Summer Road Race on Sunday on the Severn Stoke circuit.

The event is again backed with a generous prize list from Worcester Cycle Center and covers seven laps of the 12-mile circuit beginning at 9.30am.

Of the 45 riders already entered, 12 are in cycling's elite category with most of the remainder in the first category, guaranteeing a hard race from the start for the Worcester Evening News Trophy.

Organiser Dave Jennings is expecting a full contingent of 60 on the day.

Last year's second-placed rider Ben Luckwell of Bristol returns in an attempt to go one better, but will face stiff opposition from local elite riders including Worcester's in-form Adrian Bird (Arctic 2000) and Steve Dring (Parrot Print), winner of last week's Stourbridge race held over similar terrain and distance.

Other notables include Gloucester's Lee Davis, and Leicester's Matt Bottrill.

In the Tuesday evening ten-mile time trial held at Kinnersley, Gavin Poupart was again the runway winner clocking 22.30 on the warmest night of the year so far.

The heat got the better of John Callaghan who finished 2.12 behind Poupart.

Saint's Peter Jansen came in third with 25.54 to take the Kinnersley Cup awarded in memory of club rider Alastair Hooper whose parents live on the circuit.

Sarah Emmerson was again the top woman with 28.08, well ahead of Gail Flannagan with 29.48.

Other times: Simon Barringer 26.09, Dave Campbell 26.34, Kevin May 26,34,Jon Starkey 26.45, Dave Preece 27.22, Jim Sharrock 27.24, Les Bailey 28.39, Rick Allen 29.29, Ros Hope 30.46, Alex Preston 30.48 Helen Wootton 32.30, Gordon Chamberlain 33.10.