Primal Europe’s James Williams took the honours in Mid Devon CC/Colin Lewis Cycles’ Paignton Regatta Crit run on Friday evening on Paignton’s Promenade. The race, run in warm dry conditions attracted a high quality regional field with Primal Europe and Mid Devon fielding the strongest teams.

The action was fast from the start with riders lapping the first 0.4 mile circuit in under 50 seconds. Early animators included Primal’s elite riders Adam Bright and Martin Smith, Mid Devon’s Jake Durant, Pete Vincent and Andy Perkins and Giant RT/Halo Films’ Peter Georgi. After a flurry of attacks the race settled into a groove with Durant jumping clear with Bright to take the first prime.

As the race came back together Vincent punctured and Perkins launched a solo attack which quickly saw him build a 15 second lead over the next four laps. Smith - sensing the danger - bridged the gap to Perkins and together they started to stretch their lead. Meanwhile Vincent, now having rejoined the bunch, covered a move by James Williams and together they rode very strongly to bridge the gap to the leading duo. The quartet then worked well together, rapidly building their lead with Williams taking the final prime.

Immediately after the prime, Vincent put in an attack which Williams covered as Perkins sat back with Smith. Perkins then jumped across to the leading pair, with Vincent easing to ensure he made the junction. At this point – with four laps remaining - the leading trio caught and passed the bunch. Perkins took up the pace though the last lap leading Williams and Vincent who went neck-and-neck down the finishing straight with Williams just getting the verdict from Vincent, Perkins taking third and Smith coming in 20 seconds later for fourth place. With the race run at an average speed of 27.5mph the sizeable crowd was treated to very exciting night of racing.

Result:

1 James Williams Primal Europe /RUTT
2 Peter Vincent Mid Devon CC / Colin Lewis Cycles
3 Andrew Perkins Mid Devon CC / Colin Lewis Cycles
4 Martin Smith Primal Europe /RUTT
5 Adam Bright Primal Europe/ RUTT
6 Pete Haworth Primal Europe/ RUTT
7 Nick Noble VC Bristol
8 Brennan Townshend Raleigh/ GAC
9 Andrew Hitchens Mid Devon CC
10 Mark Dolan Mid Devon CC

YOUTH A+B
The final round of the south west youth series saw a thrilling competition with the combined efforts of the Mid Devon CC riders taking on the rest of the field in a tactical battle. By half distance the field had split with Tom Baylis, Joel Kelly, Will Kelly and Rob Hogg (Chard Wheelers) forging a gap over the chasing bunch.

A touch of wheels in the finishing straight saw Hogg and Joel Kelly crash which enabled Tom Baylis and Will Kelly to get ahead.

On the line Baylis took the finishing sprint by half a wheel in a close finish, with Jacob Board (CS Dynamo) taking the sprint for third. Ryan Baylis (Chard Wheelers) continues his progression through the youth ranks and claimed first place in a hotly contested Youth B event.

Jasmine Gray (Mid Devon CC) and Emily Attfield (Certini) had a race long duel in the girls event with Emily claiming the top spot on the podium.

Result - Youth A

1 Tom Baylis Mid Devon CC
2Will Kelly Mid Devon CC
3 Jacob Board CS Dynamo

Result - Youth B

1 Ryan White Chard Whls
2 Ettiene Georgi Giant/ Halo
3 Charlie Meredith Taw Velo

Result - Girls

1 Emily Attfield Certini
2 Jasmine Gray Mid Devon CC

YOUTH C+D+E
Post Olympic interest could be gauged by the number of participants in the youth racing with a record entry in the seafront event. With excellent displays of bike handling and tenacity all round, Pfeiffer Georgi, Lewis Ross and Mugnus Larsen proved worthy winners.

Result - Youth C

1 Pfeiffer Georgi Giant/ Halo
2 Harry Birchill Mid Devon CC
3 Harry Meredith Taw Velo

Result - Youth D

1 Lewis Ross Taw Velo
2 Nic Vian
3 Noah Dodd Mid Devon CC

Result - Youth E

1 Magnus Larsen Chard Whls
2 Oliver Ross Taw Velo
3 Henry Sanderson

British Cycling would like to thank the organising team, officials and everyone else who helped promote this event. Our sport could not exist without the hundreds of people, many of them unpaid volunteers, who put in many hours of hard work running events, activities and clubs.