
The Paramount CRT Stan Cycle’s Spring Road Race was held on Sunday in Leighton.
Paramount CRT is a road racing club, set up 25-years-ago and made up of season racers and cyclists making their first step into racing.
The race, a 68-mile course, was won by Daniel Watts from the Royal Air Force Cycling Club.
George Rowlands, 19, a promising young cyclist from the Mid Shropshire Wheelers, came second while Michael Harrison from Audlem Cycling Club placed in third position.
Ben Lawrence, managing director of Paramount CRT sponsors insurance broker Beaumont Lawrence and the race organiser, said the annual event went very well.
He said: “It was a regional A race, which means there was a high-quality field, with many second category racers.
“There were good conditions with a bit of wind. It was a great event for the club and well attended. We had Motorbike Out-riders for the first time to shepherd the race, which worked well.”
Mr Lawrence said it was an interesting race to watch and he was particularly impressed by the skill of racer James Ireson, 17, of the Wolverhampton Wheelers.
“He is an under 18s junior rider but he came sixth in the race, which is a fantastic result. He is one to watch in the future,” he said.
Paramount CRT is organizing three races this year. The Shrewsbury Grand Prix will take place on May 25, with top-class racers from across the UK, while the summer race will take place at Leighton on July 13.
“As a club, we take pride in organising events as well as racing. We want to put back into racing and make sure there are good, competitive races for riders to take part in,” Mr Lawrence said.
Meanwhile, Paramount Club members have recently celebrated success in a number of races.
Following on from fifth place in the Two Counties Road Race, Lee Handley, who works at Stan’s Cycles in Shrewsbury, came 14th in the Noel Jones Memorial Road Race in Brecon.
He said: “The weather was great and it was a brilliant circuit with a hill finish. I managed 14th, which I’m really pleased with.”
Club member John Owen also placed fifth in the UK Gravity Enduro Series in Ae Forest, Scotland.
“While John is a mountain biker, he trains with us to keep up his fitness,” said Mr Lawrence.
“He has done extremely well as this was an elite race and he beat a lot of big names.”