KINGSWINFORD cyclist Jacob Tipper won the West Midlands Regional Road Race Championships last Sunday.

Tipper, riding for the Neon-Velo team, sprinted clear of a seven rider breakaway group which had formed after just eight miles into the race.

The contest was held on a hilly course near Bridgnorth over a distance of 72 miles.

The former Halesowen Cycling Club member burst away with George Bartlett in second, Elliott Jones in third and Hagley's Matt Clarke, of the Wheelbase team, also a former Halesowen rider, finishing in fourth position.

Tipper said he felt he was the strongest rider in the group but paid tribute to his former club-mate, Clarke, who he said had deserved to finish in second place after riding very strongly. Former four time world track champion, Hugh Porter, said he was delighted to hear of Tipper's win saying the win was fully deserved.

Other local riders who put in some fine rides included Wolverhampton's Jack Escritt, who finished top junior rider, with Stourbridge CC rider Anthony Neath second in the junior classification.

Halesowen riders Charles Walker and Sam Dighton finished in the main field some minutes down on the leaders, but Walker was pleased to have completed the course after he had been forced to drop out of the Halesowen Road Race the previous week after feeling unwell.

Prizes were presented by notable race organiser Les Archer of the Stourbridge Velo Cycling Club.