Former junior international cyclist, Barry Elcome, from Kingswood in Surrey, burst back to prominence in Essex on Sunday when he scored a particularly impressive victory in the Glendene Cycling Club's premier annual promotion, the "Hell of the Ends."

Sponsored for the seventh time by Great Saling's White Hart public house, the tough 88 mile race had attracted the best field of cyclists seen in the county since the Grand Prix of Essex classic in March.

Promoter Colin Mannakee of Braintree said that he was delighted with the high quality response to his club's efforts to bring top class racing to rural Essex, such was the popularity of this year's event that over 90 entries were received for the 60 places on offer!

Sunday's cold winds made an already testing course even more difficult for the 57 riders who set off from Great Saling on seven 12.5 mile circuits that took them through the picturesque villages of Great Bardfield and Stebbing each lap.

There was little time for the competitors to admire the scenery, however, since a high average speed of 26.25 miles per hour was maintained throughout the proceedings.

Winner Elcome, 24, who had been out of the sport for several years, revelled in the testing conditions though and was always in the thick of the action.

An early break of six riders, including Glendene's own Ben Davey (from Harlow), gained a maximum advantage of 1.25 minutes before Elcome led a furious chase that saw the field all back together again after 50 miles.

With just 15 miles remaining, three riders escaped, Romford's Martin Meades, Kent's Andrew Meilak and High Wycombe's Tom Rowan.

Alert to this late threat to his supremacy, Elcome countered, accompanied by Matt Wells, 19, (Manningtree) and Glen O'Brien (Luton), and within a mile all six came together to form the winning break.

Across Andrewsfield Airfield for the last time Elcome proved too strong for the others in a hotly contested sprint for the line with Essex star Meades.

Three quarters of a minute later Simon Whiten of Balham just pipped Glendene's Dean Wakelin (Theydon Bois) in a second sprint as the main bunch of 44 riders came home after their vain final chase.

The overall result was (1) Barry Elcome (Festival RC) 88 miles in 3h 20m 36s; (2) Martin Meades (API Resprays), same time; (3) Andrew Meilak (VC Deal), same time; (4) Tom Rowan (Twickenham CC), same time; Glenn O'Brien (CC Luton), same time; (6) Matt Wells (Anglia Sport), same time; (7) Simon Whiten (Twickenham CC) at 42 seconds; (8) Dan Wakelin (Glendene CC), same time; (9) Jon Johnston (Festival CC) same time and (10) Richard Powell (Interbike RT), same time.

Speeding home: Barry Elcome displays the style that eventually earned him victory at the 'Hell of the Ends' 80 mile cycle race on Sunday.

Picture by GARETH MORGAN.

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