It was a tough weekend of competition for Oswestry's Kirk Vickers.

Part of a the Rhino Velo Race Team that took on the Tour of Ulster he suffered a lot on the first day which put him behind for the rest of the three-day competition.

Chris Pook, of Shrewsbury estate agents Cooper Green Pooks, who runs the Rhino Velo Race Team, with Ben Lawrence of Beaumont Lawrence Chartered Insurance Brokers, said it was a mixed weekend for the team.

“The first day was a bit of a disaster as a break of 26 riders got a gap on the field very early on and the hammer went down without a Rhino Velo rider in the front group," said Chris.

“This meant the team’s overall ambitions were scuppered on day one but day two and three saw a turnaround in fortunes as Liam Holohan showed his class by finishing second on the very hilly day two and followed up with eighth on day three.

“Ollie Hayward confirmed his emerging talent with a fine fourth place on day two and made the front split late on day three to finish 16th but on the same time as the winner.

“This left Ollie Hayward 19th and Liam Holohan 20th on the final standings, but rueing what might have been if the race hadn’t split immediately after the neutral section on day one.”

He continued: “The racing was flat out every day and with plenty of climbing.

"Kirk suffered a lot on day one but found his legs on day two and Three to finish in the peloton on the last two days, having lost a lot of time and come in with the Grupetto (last group) on day one.”