CYCLING: Phil Blacker was celebrating after winning his first open road race of the year for Wyre Forest Cycle Racing Club in style on Sunday.

Blacker rode a tough 70km course near Stratford well, including a 14 per cent climb of Edge Hill for each of the three laps.

The race split on each climb with the bunch catching the leaders after a hard chase over the top.

On the final one with about two miles to go, Blacker was among seven leaders who were again caught.

But the Wyre Forest man maintained his position at the front of the bunch in the run-in and won by two bike lengths after making his move on the last sharp hill.

Blacker said: "I'd practised the finish the previous two laps, going hard up the hill, in the right gear and that paid off in the end. I'm chuffed to bits."

He also took third in the KOM competition, while four club-mates went to South Wales for the WWCL open 25-mile time trial.

Despite the sunny weather, the wind was up on the way out with Rich Picton and his father Bill riding extremely well for personal best times.

R Picton sliced three minutes off his best from three weeks ago with one hour 34 seconds.

B Picton did even better with 1.5 minutes off a five-year best in one hour 3 minutes 34 seconds.

Rob Cole was second fastest on the day in 1-02-36 and club secretary Mick Gray completed another good ride in 1-08-15.

Up-and-coming teenager Liam Preece finished third in the Lichfield CC Jubilee two day and took most aggressive rider's prize.

Preece recorded two seconds, two thirds and a fourth in the five stages.