COLCHESTER Rovers were strongly represented in the latest round of the Eastern Cyclocross League.

The CC Ashwell-promoted event took riders to the picturesque grounds of Princess Helena College in Preston, Hertfordshire.

First off were the under-ten riders, racing over a shortened but still challenging circuit.

George Collins raced excellently to narrowly miss out on the podium in fourth, with club-mates James Morrison and William Smith fighting an excellent battle just behind.

Morrison pipped Smith by just two seconds, to take sixth place.

Continuing his first year in the under-12s, Bradley Taylor put in a strong ride for 14th place with William Morrison not far behind in 18th.

Lizzie Wellsted and Daisy Emerson put in fantastic performances to pick up seventh and ninth places amongst the under-12 girls.

In the Youth race, run over the full adult course with its technical challenges, there was a strong Rovers presence in the top ten of the under-16 boys.

Dan Hall, Jake Crossley and Oli Partner were fourth, fifth and seventh respectively, while Tom Carson finished a little way back on the tough course.

Amongst the under-14 girls, Zoe Swainston was a very good fifth while in the under-14 boys, Jack Letch also picked up fifth, with Jack Emerson ninth and Oliver Wellsted 11th.

In the Veteran Men 50+ and Women's race, Rovers stalwart Terry Smith had his best race of the season so far picking up an excellent tenth, with Peter Hall 26th.

The best Rovers result of the day came from Laura Mansel-Thomas, who benefited from a new bike to pick up a very strong-looking 2nd place amongst the Veteran Women.

The Veteran 40-49 men didn't scale quite the same heights but all put in hard-working displays.

John Letch was 45th and Jason Taylor, in his first race of the season, finished 62nd.

Rovers' James Emerson was unfortunately taken down in a nasty crash and suffered a little concussion.

In the Senior/Junior race, the ongoing father/son battle between Martin Smith and Oliver Davey-Smith continued.

Martin this time came out on top with his 44th place, trumping Oliver's 50th.

Rovers host the next round on the cyclocross calendar at Furze Hill in Mistley, on Sunday.

Spectators are encouraged to cheer on the high-speed and mud-flecked competitors, with racing starting at 10am and finishing at 3.30pm.