SOME of the country's leading riders were out in force at the Jock Wadley Memorial Road Race on the Abberton Reservoir Circuit near Colchester.

A total of 73 riders competed in the 38th edition of the 84-mile road race, sponsored by Kent Blaxill Builders Merchants supported by Cahill Design Consultants.

Competitors lined up for the start from the Paxman Academy and the racing began when they reached Layer de la Haye, for 12 laps of the circuit.

The weather was overcast, with a strong wind from the south making for a tough race.

During the second lap, six riders had broken away from the peloton and a chasing group was forming as they reached the church at the top of Layer hill.

The wind with intermittent cold rain showers was having effect and as the laps passed the race splintered; much more so than in recent editions of the race.

A crash in the peloton on the reservoir road brought many riders down, fortunately with only one rider suffering numerous cuts and bruises.

Yanto Barker (Le Col team) joined the leaders with his team-mate Alexander Richardson but by the tenth lap they had distanced the others and the two quickly built up a lead of half a minute.

They continued to ride smoothly sharing the pace for the final two laps.

The chase group could make no impression on them and they extended their lead to more than a minute by the finish.

Instead of the usual bunch finish behind the leaders those who were still in the race came home in small clusters, looking cold and tired.

A total of 38 riders of the original field completed the course.

Jock Wadley Road Race 2022 results (number, name): 1 Yanto Barker 25; 2 Alexandra Richardson 30; 3 Tom Portsmouth 1; 4 Ole Bang-Andreasen 24; 5 Samuel Asker 38; 6 Jordon Peacock 50; 7 Matthew Lord 81; 8 James Jenkins 42; 9 Jack Freeman 27; 10 Matthew Clements 23; 11 Charles Ager 53; 12 Clay Davies 48; 13 Chris McNamara 34; 14 Michael Weavers 87; 15 Sean Dawson 18; 16 Daniel Rees 84; 17 Dominic Schils 79; 18 Zeb Kyffin 36; 19 Frazier Carr 47; 20 Oliver Maxwell 51; 21 Joe Staunton 80; 22 Elliot Ward 21; 23 Matthew Houlberg 28; 24 Mark Richards 8; 25 Tim Allen 65; 26 Callum Riley 89; 27 Leighton Oxley-Crisp 77; 28 Harley Matthews 6; 29 Matthew Carter 76; 30 Preslav Dimitrov 19; 31 Joseph Smith 69; 32 James Somerfield 72; 33 Ian Vagg 88; 34 Thomas Quaid 12; 35 Oliver Hurdle 58; 36 Andrew Kerr 21; 37 Robin Llewelyn 71; 38 Tom Yiangou 85.