IN-FORM junior Matt Hill produced another eye-catching ride among senior rivals at the First Chard Wheelers Spring Circuit race at Ilton, near Taunton.

Fresh from his victory in his own Mid-Devon CC/Colin Lewis' Springtime Pursuit Series, the Babbacombe teenager finished fifth after a race-long breakaway by a group of a dozen riders.

Hill is only allowed to ride on junior 'gearing' at the moment.

But he was in a first-lap attack by ten riders, who included teammate Andy Hitchens and was then joined by Andrew Parker.

The pace was so high that not only did the break stay away, but they dropped riders in the closing stages.

All three Mid-Devon men stayed in contention for the finish.

But in the sprint it was Exeter-based James Williams (Pendragon/Le Col) who won, with former Mid-Devon man Peter Georgi (Epic Cycles) second and Phil Borrett (Team Tor 2000) third.

Hitchens was fourth, and first Mid-Devon rider, Hill fifth and Parker eighth.

Parker said: "After making the attempt to break away, and then stay away, we didn't really have the legs left for the sprint."

There was a victory for the Mid-Devon club. Joel Kelly won the Under-14s category.

In a field of more than 50 riders, who contested the Under-14s and Under-16s event, Kelly managed to stay with his older rivals for most of the race.

Tom Greene (Mid-Devon) was eighth Under-16 rider.