After a disappointing start to the road racing season with only a 12^th place to show for his efforts, West Suffolk Wheelers Richard Farrow finally found some form to take third place in the ECCA Regional ‘B’ Road Race on 6^th May.

The seventy strong field lined up to race over 80km’s of a four lap event on the rolling roads around the Roding villages in Essex.  With numerous failed attacks throughout the race the bunch was together approaching the finishing hill for the final lap.  It was here that Farrow launched his effort to escape from bunch dragging with him Stuart Wright of the API team and Stephen Saunders of Maldon and District CC.

The three began to work together and quickly gained twenty seconds on the bunch.  It was at this time that Antony Stapleton of Chelmer CC sped away from the chasing pack with another API rider, Martin Meades in tow.  The two quickly bridged across to the Farrow group and all five began to work and opened up over a minute on the peloton, which was being slowed and controlled by Meades and Wright’s team mates.

With less than 10 kilometres to go, Stapleton powered on the front of the group on a long upward drag heading towards the finish and both Saunders and Wright lost contact.  The three remaining leaders then continued to work until the finish line.  Meades easily won the sprint to take the win, with Stapleton over powering Farrow to take second.  Wright and Carter stayed away to finish forth and fifth respectively, with the bunch trailing in over one and a half minutes later.