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MARCIN Bialoblocki won the inaugural McKinlays Road Race in a pulsating event from start to finish on a new circuit at Horton on Sunday.

The idea to bring some of the best riders in the country to compete on local roads paid off handsomely, and Horton village and the spectators were rewarded with a superb attacking race.

The Langport-based Pole won on his adopted home roads from team-mate Ben Luckwell and South-West junior champion Guy Wilkins after a group of 12 riders had come together in the closing miles.

Bialoblocki led all the way in an exciting and very fast slightly downhill sprint to the line, followed over the line by a celebrating Luckwell and the excellent Wilkins who had to sprint on lower junior gears.

Midlander Dave Clarke took fourth and Wales' Matt Rowe fifth with Exeter's James Williams rounding out the top six.

The race was organised by the 1st Chard Wheelers club and chairman, Brandon Ellis, said: "The fact that a dozen riders contested the finish belies the nature of the tough 11.5-mile course that included the notorious Staple Hill, which will be used in the Tour of Britain stage starting in Chard.

"This was followed by a sapping drag to the Eagle Tavern on top of the Blackdowns ridge before a high speed descent down the A303 back into Horton. Under the influence of the course and an active and attacking field, groups constantly formed and split as the race developed."

The race was enlivened by an almost race long break by Marc Perry who won the first hill prime on the climb of Staple Hill, then on the next lap took off alone to take all the remaining primes to secure the King of the Blackdowns award with a whitewash.

Perry, from Bognor Regis, worked hard for his advantage - his lead never exceeding three minutes, as behind the major contenders gave chase; then were marked out by his team-mates.

Prominent amongst the chasers were top climbers Dave Clarke and Bath's James Dobbin, and the young Welsh pair of Matt Rowe and Rhys Lloyd.

The action behind Perry saw the chasing groups constantly change and reform under the relentless pressure of a tremendous race, and underlined the quality of his lone break of nearly fifty miles.

At the bell Perry's advantage was just under two minutes, but with the chasers realising it was now or never the last climb of Staple Hill was one too many and at the top the gap was down to only ten seconds.

But Perry had done an excellent job for his Sportsbeans team, by making the other leaders chase.

Chard Wheeler's own Rex Facey and Paul Barratt both finished the ultra tough race, in which half the field packed in early.

One of the biggest cheers of the day came for Horton's own Toby Gilmore, as he crossed the line just behind the last major group. Toby who has been racing for less than a year finished a race in which several elite level racers climbed off due to its toughness. What an event to choose as his baptism into proper' road racing.

Cllr Jill Shortland, leader of Somerset County Council, presented the prizes to the first three riders and the King of the Blackdowns competition.

8:47am Tuesday 20th May 2008

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