PETER Dibben produced a storming ride for the Swindon-based GWR Team in the first major road race of the year.

Competing against the country's top Elite riders in the Perfs Pedal, Dibben, 16, placed an excellent seventh at the end of the 43-mile race on the rolling countryside around the Hampshire/Sussex border.

He was joined by 68 other riders at the start, including teammates Alexander King and Sam Redding in a race which has had an illustrious list of winners throughout its 43 year history.

Throughout the first half of the race, with a constant high pace, there were many attempts to force a breakaway, but it was not until the race had entered the fourth of six laps that a lead group of six managed to establish itself.

Redding, who admitted prior to the start that he was just using the race as a marker', was among them.

The group quickly built a 30 second lead, but with many other riders in the vigilant peloton not willing to miss out, they organised a chase and as the leaders began the climb to commence their final lap, they started to fragment.

However one rider, James Stewart (KFS), jumped clear and was able to solo to victory over the final seven miles.

He finished 30 seconds clear of the second rider, the peloton a further 30 seconds behind, finished in a mass bunch sprint for third place, Dibben grabbing an excellent seventh.

King, who had ridden prominently throughout, but got baulked in the tight sprint to the line finished in equal 15th place with Redding, from 55 finishers.

In what was their first team effort against senior riders, the three juniors excelled themselves, and it augurs well for the coming season where one of their targets will be the National Junior Series.

Team manager Dan Smith said: "The guys exceeded all my expectations in this race, in what was a top quality field."

Meanwhile, on Saturday, at the fifth round of the Upavon Winter Series, Llewellyn Kinch, faced 40 rivals in the 50 kilometre third category race.

Being content to let an early breakaway form, Kinch joined a chase group with 20 kilometres to go. With his group splitting under the pressure of the chase, they were steadily closing in on the leaders, but into the final 3 kilometre lap, he took a tumble, and while he gathered his composure, was passed by two more riders.

Despite breaking his handlebars, he remounted, caught and passed the two riders and continued to the line to finish a very creditable seventh.