McLaughlin took the first race of the Easter Weekend

James McLaughlin beat 40 riders over four laps of a damp and windy Reservoir Circuit to take the first Easter weekend race.

The competitors were split into four handicap groups depending on ability.

As each lap was completed the groups became broken up, with riders getting dropped on the two tough climbs back up to the start/finish line.

McLaughlin held off five other riders to take victory from Tobyn Horton who finished strongly in second.

After the groups had set off it was just two laps before the second group off caught the scratch group and the final group caught the third group.

As the fastest group moved through the field they began to catch slower riders and those who felt they were strong enough tagged onto the group.

Slowly the group grew in size until the penultimate lap when McLaughlin, Dan Arblaster and Horton made a decisive break for the finish.

Jon Osborn was the first rider to finish from third group off to claim 11th place overall, Gary Robert was the first rider to finish from the second group off in a very creditable seventh place overall, and Phil Setters was the first rider to finish from the scratch group to come 21st overall.

There was also a hilly time trial around one lap of the circuit for all riders who were under the age of 16.

Callum Hill-Smith won the race in a time of 17m 30sec, closely followed by Alex Falla who was just 10 seconds adrift once the handicap had been deducted.

Alistair Martin was third, with Alex Wilson in fourth place.