DOMINIC Schils of the Marks Tey-based Lotto Olympia Interbike team won the most hotly-contested race at the Ixworth Criteriums, even though it was his second event of the day and he had had barely five minutes in between races to get his breath back.

DOMINIC Schils of the Marks Tey-based Lotto Olympia Interbike team won the most hotly-contested race at the Ixworth Criteriums, even though it was his second event of the day and he had had barely five minutes in between races to get his breath back.

This race for third and fourth category riders had seen constant attacks from a group including Schils, Ben Nicholson (both Lotto/Interbike), Pat Harbord and Mark Westrup (VC Baracchi) and Robert Hunt (API/Metrow) until, with just minutes remaining Schils got a gap which his rivals could not close.

Beccles rider Nicholson, riding his first race of the season and on the strength of just lunch-hour training, seized second place.

Spectators basked in sunshine as they lined Ixworth High Street for the afternoon of cycle racing promoted by Bury St Edmunds club West Suffolk Wheelers on Bank Holiday Monday. Thirteen year-old Hugo Robinson of Ipswich Bicycle Club was another rider who rode two successive events, winning the Regional Championship for Under 14s, leading on his own almost from the start, and then immediately contesting the Under 16s race.

In this, Josh Edmondson (Glendene CC) eventually soloed to the win, but behind Robinson and Luke Newby (Diss & District) put up a strong chase. Towards the end they were joined by Chris Hughes (Cambridge CC) who won the sprint for second. The day started with a win for Phil Hargreaves of Velo Club Norwich who came first in the Masters race in the most convincing way possible - a lone break lasting almost the whole race. “I thought I would give it a go, and soon realized no-one was with me” said Hargreaves.

He made full use of the closed roads to take the fastest line around the tight-cornered circuit eventually gaining over a minute's lead. On the last lap Lee Rowe blasted up the finishing climb to inch ahead of Craig Stevens (Ciclos Uno) to take second place and make it a one-two victory for the Fitt Signs-sponsored club.

Ipswich's Emilie Fisher (www. Elmycycles.co.uk) took fourth place among the women.

A spirited ride from Tristan Price won the Under 10s race for Chelmer CC. Racing at the same time, the Under 12s event went to Jake Poole of VC Lincoln, but as he lives outside the region the championship went to Sean Dunlea of Ciclos Uno.

Jack Hardwicke of Plomesgate CC took the Under 12 bronze medal, just ahead of Edward Ballam, who lead his group out of the last corner and gave West Suffolk Wheelers men their highest placing of the day.

Chelmsford rider David Nichols (Glendene/Biketrax) was the strong man of the Junior race, leading team mate Nathan Edmondson in a race-long break and gaining a well-deserved victory.

The tricycle national championship went to Geoff Booker (Oxonian CC) with Roger Akers (TA East) in third and Mick Madgett (Diss & District) fourth.

In the final race of the day it was the black vests of the Rapha Condor Recycling team that dominated the chase for the £500 first prize in the race for Elite riders.

Graham Briggs, Simon Holt and Rhys Lloyd steamed round in a demonstration of teamwork that ended in a sprint won by Briggs. Phil Hetzel of Ipswich Bicycle Club led the local defence, working together with Matt Rowe of Rapha Condor, while Essex University student Joe Skipper, trying his hand in the tough environment of an elite race took seventh.