On a bright blustery day Ryan Ballard dominated the AA Brown Engineering Ltd Road Race near Tur Langton, Leicestershire.

60 riders made their way out of the village and onto the course to face 13 laps of a rolling 4.6kilometer circuit. As the Union Jack was waved to signal the start of the race Ballard made a strong attack and the bunch seemed content to let him forge on thinking that there was plenty of time to reel the Team Endure – MI Racing Team rider back.

After 5 laps Ballard held a 50 second lead over the bunch as he took the first prime. On the triangular circuit the lone leader was always in sight of the bunch.

Phil Rayner, from the promoting club Welland Valley CC latched onto an attack made by Sean Dines (Virgin Active) and Stephen Edwards (Wolverhampton Wheelers) as the duo passed through Church Langton and down the fast descent.

The attempt by the trio was short lived as the bunch appeared to wake from their slumber and reel the trio in leaving Ballard to still hover in the distance.

At the mid way point Julian Rathbone (WVCC) made a brave bid to go across the 50 second gap, but once again the bunch nullified the attack.

With Ballard dangling off the front he continued to press on the pedals and appeared full of riding as he mastered the headwind climb through the finish.         

As Rathbone was reeled in Junior rider Tom Kruger (45RC) and Kevin Potter (Plan B Racing) counter attacked.

This pair soon opened up a 10 second lead on the bunch as they looked to catch the long time lone leader Ballard.

Rayner was very aggressive on the front of the peleton as he tried to break the shackles of the bunch.

Ballard took the second prime at the end of the tenth lap with Kruger and Potter still at 50 seconds. The bunch was being pulled along by Will Jenkins (Team Synergy) and Will Hilton (Virgin Active), 1 min 10 seconds behind the leader.

With two laps to go Welland Valley CC riders – Rayner, Mitch James and Tom Sexton moved to front in a vain attempt to bring back the escapees.

The speed of the bunch caused a minor split as riders were beginning to tire as the headwind climb was taking its toll.

As Ballard took the bell his lead had increased to over a minute on Kruger / Potter who had a 30 second gap on the bunch, they now appeared to know they were riding for the minor placings.

A good crowd at the finish line warmly applauded Ballard as he crossed the line with both arms aloft for a well deserved victory after spending just under 60km on his own.

The sprint for second was not contested as Kruger finished ahead of Potter.

As the crowd looked down the finishing straight the 30 rider bunch had spread across the road as no one wanted to take the initiative into the wind. With 400 meters to go the road ramped up and it was not until 200m to go that the sprint opened up.

Sean Dines led the bunch over the line ahead of Christiaan Smith (Team Zappi’s) and Rayner.      

Welland Valley riders Tom Sexton, Mitch James, Julian Rathbone, Han Van Nierop, Joe Norledge and Vic Barnett all finished in the bunch.

Phil Rayner won the AA Brown trophy for being the first Welland Valley CC member.

The event was extremely well supported by members and friends of Welland Valley Cycling Club. On behalf of the club and competitors, the organiser, Dean Barnett, would like to thank Leicestershire Police and the races sponsor AA Brown Engineering Ltd.