STOURBRIDGE Velo rider Neil Hayward put in a tremendous performance to capture a top 20 position in the Division Road Race Championship in Stoke-on-Trent.

Finishing in 13th place was a superb effort for the relative newcomer to the pedal sport, who only started racing in September of last year.

His showing was all the more staggering when you consider he was taking on elite and professional riders.

Team mate Dave Birch warmed up for a serious tilt at the national 100-mile Championship in South Wales on July 20 with a successful defence of the Shirley RC 50-mile race against the clock.

Despite going into the race having worked four 12-hour shifts in a row and finishing at 11pm the night before the race, which started at 7am, Birch scorched round the Alcester course at 27mph to fend off the strong Wyre Forest duo of David Barnes and Bill Moore.

It was a welcome return to form for the racer who saw hopes of a good result in a 25-mile time trial in Manchester thwarted by a late start. He was then forced to pull out of the classic Anfield 100 mile time trial in Shropshire, two thirds into the race after suffering mechanical problems.

Richard Miles braved windy conditions to capture 10th place in the VTTA 23-mile hilly time trial in Staffordshire.

Velo riders captured top 20 placings in the Circuit of Siaghton road race in Chester.

Dry but windy conditions faced Bryan Healy and Neil Hayward and it was Hayward who attacked after little more than a mile into the race, joined shortly afterwards by his team mate.

Never able to make more than 50 yards on the attentive bunch and faced with a tough headwind, the Velo riders were joined by a third rider and thought they would be abe to stay away but were joined by the main group.

There were attempts by the two Stourbridge riders to break away again but the bunch seemed resigned to a mass sprint finish. Finding themselves hemmed in, the two Velo riders managed to find gaps as Hayward took 10th spot and Healy 19th.

Velo's three wheel expert Wayne Baker continued his build-up to the World Trike Championships in Belgium later this month, taking third place in the Belgian Open Trike Championships at Asse near Brussels. Defending champ Baker failed by just 10 seconds to retain the title.

Baker followed this up with a three-year best in the Sotonia CC 10 mile race against the clock at Andover for the world championship on June 15.