WEST Pennine rider Kev Shand won the Ernie Clements memorial two-day cycling contest in Welland.

Sixty-seven cyclists, including some from Worcestershire, lined up for three stages of the League of Veteran Racing Cyclists event.

It was held in memory of the former Cycles Clements of Ledbury shop owner who died in February 2006.

The age categories were split into A, B and C for 40 to 54 years and D, E, F and G for 55 to 75 years.

Shand took the yellow winner’s jersey ahead of Ivor Thomas (Solhull CC) by 25 seconds, while overnight leader and 2007 winner Steve Davies (Ferryhill Wheelers) had to settle for third, a further two seconds behind.

In the 1.36-mile opener on an uphill course, Malvern rider Nick Yarworth (VC St Raphael) was quickest in race one with a time of three minutes 47 seconds.

Race Two went to Davies in 3.57 and both picked up leaders’ jerseys donated by Joe Rowe, of Fabricolor.co.uk.

In the second stage, both contests tackled a flat but rain-soaked and wind-swept 5.5-mile course around Hanley Swan.

Six laps of the fast circuit saw the strong men come to the fore with local rider Marcus Walker (Bush Healthcare) stirring up the action after only four miles.

Walker was soon joined by Jon Stephenson (MI Racing), Tim Carter (North Bucks Road Club) and Paul Moss (Coventry Road Club).

They built up a healthy 3.40 lead over the bunch on the line with Walker winning the sprint from Stephenson and Carter.

Chasing for over three laps, Simon Alexander (Wyre Forest CRC) and Worcester rider Vince Page (MJS Racing) came in 1.29 behind the leaders, which was to be a quite a significant move as the following days stage unfolded.

Walker held the yellow jersey overnight with a slender four-second advantage over Carter going into day two.

Despite many unsuccessful efforts off the front of the bunch, race two saw a bunch sprint for the line.

Graham Moore (Bristol RC) won the gallop just ahead of Bromsgrove’s Rowe (Bush Healthcare) and Mike Webb (Royal Sutton) .

Davies retained the race lead with just a four-second margin over Rowe.

Stage three on day two started with storm clouds looming but, after early rain, the riders experienced dry but windy conditions.

Race one involved four laps of an undulating 16-mile circuit.

Right from lap one, Alexander, Geoff Saxon (Team kilotogo.com) and Peter Graham (Reading CC) were on the attack.

Prologue winner Yarworth and Carter gave chase but the leaders worked well together.

With a lap to go, the three had a gap of nearly four minutes on the bunch.

Despite a strong chase by Walker and other top contenders on the final 16-mile loop, the gap was still 2.40 on the line as Alexander literally rode his competitors off his wheel in the final kilometre.

Alexander was rewarded with the overall honours and yellow winner’s jersey followed by Walker at 1.17 and Stephenson at 1.21. In race two, determined lone breakaway rider Shand never seemed to be further than 30 to 40 seconds off the front in the final two 16-mile laps.

Shand won the stage by 19 seconds from last-lap chaser Thomas with the bunch a further 21 seconds behind.

Category winners: A — Alexander, B — Stephenson, C — Walker, D — Shand, E — Mike Allen, F — Mick Ives (MI Racing), G — Jack Watson (MI Racing).