GAVIN Poupart, ninth in the Midlands Regional Championships at the weekend in Staffordshire, recovered sufficiently from the 95 mile race to win the Worcester St John's mid-week time-trial over ten miles at Peopleton.

Poor road surfaces and road-works slowed the riders, and Poupart was the only rider in the field to top 25 mph with his winning ride of 23 minutes 15 seconds.

Second was V C Sevale's fast junior, Jonathan Steadman, in 24.17, and third Simon Ward, 25.45.

The remaining top places went to Paul Thorpe, 25.59, Richard Witherall, 26.05, Mike Potter, 26.14, John Callaghan, 26.15, Pete Jansen, 26.34, Dave Walker, 27.16, and Alan Bennett, 27.32.

Sarah Emerson was fastest lady in 27.43, with Ros Hope taking second place in 30.28. Paul Thorpe, recently returned to racing after a two-year break, was fastest veteran.

John Callaghan, second veteran, was three minutes faster in the VTTA championship at the weekend with 23.13.

Steve Dring, Stilton RT, had a fine ride in the Central Division Regional Championship at Aylesbury.

Steve missed the winning three-manbreak, but rode away from the pursuing group of five riders on the finishing hill to take fourth place.

He made amends in the latest Mallory Park circuit race, winning the sprint from a six-man break to consolidate his lead in the series.

Meanwhile, in France, Jonathan Dayus, riding for Nantes 44 Cyclisme in the Tour de La Charente-Limosin, was consistently well placed over the four stages to take third place overall.

Dayus finished with the same time as the winner, Franck Faugeroux, of U C Chateauroux, after 460 kilometres of racing in 12.22.17, but Faugeroux's win on the first stage gave him the verdict overall.

Dayus' best placing was fifth on the final stage, in a small group fourteen seconds ahead of the field, and just one second short of a win in the final classification.