Super siblings from the Mid-Devon Cycling Club / Colin Lewis Cycles' Team were the successes of the Totnes Town Centre Youth Races.
Joel and Will Kelly were the winners of the U14 and U12-year-old races respectively, while Pfeiffer Georgi won the U10s' race and her brother, Etienne, was runner up to Will Kelly in his age group.
All the riders across the four age categories started together, and this gave the judges some headaches in working out the placings. Regardless of this, all the youngsters rode aggressively, keenly contesting their class.
Many of them showed good skills as they leaned their machines over for the tight corners. Skill and daring was called for in equal measure, especially on the cobbled corner by The Plains, where the crowd had gathered hoping to see spills aplenty, but they were disappointed.
The oldest age group was dominated by riders from the host club, with Tom Dracup beating Jonathan Aske and Tom Tinnyunt. They rode away from the rest of their age group.
On the last lap, Aske broke away making a long dash for the chequered flag. His effort dropped Tinnyunt out of contention, but Dracup, who says he can't sprint, showed that he can to win.
Following on from the youths' race, 50 seniors lined up for the main race of the evening.
By lap two the whole field was strung out into a single file as the strongest riders sought to establish a race-winning break.
On lap four, the elastic broke and a group of 15 were at the head of affairs.
From then on there were numerous attacks, and prominent among the attackers were Jake Durant (Mid-Devon Cycling Club/Colin Lewis Cycles Team), Peter Georgi (Epic Viner RT), Anthony O'Boyle (Cwmcarn Paragon) and Gary Chambers (Cycleogic). Each time they thought they were moving into an unassailable lead, the others hauled them back.
With 15 minutes to go, Durant had a lap out to cure a mechanical problem and, while he was at the roadside, Blake Pond (South Fork Racing), went clear. Over the last three laps Pond's lead wavered from six to 12 seconds.
At the start of the final lap Pond looked well clear, but the riders had to make the steep climb to the Civic Square for the finish. This almost proved too much for Pond as a furious finish from Durant and Chambers closed down on him fast.
Pond crossed the line only lengths clear and mighty relieved that he did not have to go any further.
Results – U10s: 1 Pfeiffer Georgi, 2 Tom Morris (both MDCC), 3 Drad Dean (Paramount CC); U12s: 1 Will Kelly, 2 Etienne Georgi (both MDCC), 3 Hester Stemberidge (Cycle Sport South Hams); U14s: 1 Joel Kelly (MDCC), 2 Laura Clode (Guerciotti/JJ Coach) 3 Tom Green (MDCC); U16s: 1 Tom Dracup, 2 Jonathan Aske, 3 Tom Tinnyunt (all MDCC); Cat 2/3/4: 1 Blake Pond (South Fork Racing), 2 Jake Durant (MDCC), 3 Gary Chambers (Cycleogic).
l Robert Smail's winning streak continues unabated. The newly-crowned British Universities' national champion made his customary midweek trips to the Litherland and Preston circuit races and maintained his unbeaten record.
On the Liverpool circuit, he beat Andrew Tinsley of SIS Racing and Dean Hutchings of FP Mailing for first prize.
At Preston, Rutherford of SIS Racing and Chris Siepen of Will Wheels had to settle for the minor placing behind the Mid-Devon Cycling Club / Colin Lewis Cycles Team rider.