WORCESTER St John’s rider Adrian Bird was narrowly beaten in a sprint finish in the city club’s Gerry Hughes Memorial Road Race.

On the final lap a three-man break-away made up of Bird, Michael Thelwell and Chris Mason battled it out to the finish line on Castlemorton Common.

Team Qoroz star Thelwell held off Bird’s flying finish to claim the title, while Mason was around 20 yards further back in third spot.

The Saints entered six riders for the 104-kilometre race, which was contested over four laps of the Welland circuit, but Mat Sheppard was forced to withdraw due to other commitments.

Bird, Adam Hart, John Baird, Rob Nicholls and Mark Corbett stayed close together for the first lap, before Corbett suffered a puncture.

Nicholls then crashed into the hedge trying to avoid a collision. Baird and Hart managed to complete the race, but couldn’t secure a placing.

The event, which was sponsored by Worcester Cycles, was well organised by Clinton Haywood and his team and Thelwell was presented with his prize by Dorothy Hughes, widdow of Gerry.