THERE was a photo finish as Colchester Rovers hosted their annual Abberton Road Race as part of the Eastern Road Race League.

The 49-mile (6.75-lap) road race around the scenic Abberton Reservoir went down to the wire when former VC Revolution racer Adam Colvin was pipped on the line by Strada Sport’s Jack Hardwick.

Rovers also featured in the points, with Bob Longstaff finishing seventh and Jamie Hazelton just behind in eight.

The field of 60 boasted an impressive selection of Colchester-based racers.

Cameron Hurst, Bob Longstaff, Jamil Shehadeh, Matthew Bond, Nick Flexman, Stuart Weatherley and Jamie Hazelton made up the Rovers team.

Andrew Holmes, Andy Hurst, Pete Shaw and Tom Starmer raced for VC Revolution while Ian Perry and Leighton Oxley-Crisp represented Velo Schils-Interbike.

Orwell Velo’s James Sherwood and Adam Colvin of The Army CRT completed the line-up of Colchester-based racers.

Hurst wasted no time attacking right from the off, earning a hard-earned 15-second gap to the bunch.

But the wind coming across the reservoir towards the church at Layer de la Haye thwarted the attack allowing the race to come back together.

When the tireless Hurst attacked again into the strong cross wind over the reservoir he was joined by Weatherley and a lone Cambridge CC rider.

While the trio worked together to create a 20-second gap to the peloton, the remaining Rovers did their upmost to slow the chasing bunch.

After a full lap and a half, the break sat up and re-joined the peloton to recover, ready to animate the race once more.

Lap after lap, groups would attack at the front of the race trying to force a split in the peloton on to chased down by the ever-present Holmes.

With three laps remaining, Rovers' Bond along with Perry and another rider worked to try and make the decisive break.

However, VC Revolution duo Starmer and Holmes pulled them back after almost a lap.

Four riders - Hardwick, Colvin, Jack Stevens (East London Velo) and Robin Hawes (Chelmer CC) - quickly established a 20-second gap with a lap and a half remaining.

Turning onto the link road travelling over the reservoir, it was clear that the gap was reducing.

But although the valiant chase lead by Rovers and VC Revolution riders proved not enough, there was nevertheless a sprint for fifth.

Colvin unleashed his sprint with 100 metres to go but Hardwick pipped him on the line by half a wheel’s length, to claim victory.

Longstaff secured seventh position in the bunch sprint, gaining enough points to secure his second category licence.

Hazelton sprinted to an eighth-place finish to add to his impressive points haul in his first year of racing.