A race near Poole this Sunday could mark a turning point in the fortunes of racing clubs in the Southampton area.

Apart from the Sotonia CC, none has had more than a handful of racing members in recent seasons. But Poole Wheelers' 25-mile time trial will see Dorset clubs outnumbered Hampshire riders.

Andover Wheelers field four teams, Antelope RS Holdings RT two and the Crabwood and Sotonia clubs one apiece in a team race being staged in two sections.

Fifty-two entrants race in teams of two and another 33 line up as trios, the strongest being Simon Berogna, Aran Stanton and Steve Walkling (VC St Raphael Waite Contracts) fresh from a 51min 42sec runaway win in a similar event organised by A3 CRG.

While they start firm favourites to win again, the Poole Wheelers promotion will mark the racing debuts of Chris Daly and Dave Harding, near neighbours in Woolston who will be in separate teams representing Antelope RT. Daly links up with club secretary Glenn Longland and wife Sue to form one team, Harding joining forces with the more evenly-matched Matt Parton and Steve Wood.

A seventh Antelope entrant, Neville Stroud, also competes, as one half of a composite team in the race for teams of two, partnering St Raphael's Lesley-Anne Allen. Like the three-up which precedes it, the race has also attracted last Sunday's pairs winners, Paul Flight and Brian Greensmith (Primera Bournemouth). They have a harder task to win again. Opposition includes last year's winner, Andy Milward (VC Camelot), riding with a new partner - Chris Absolom (Yeovil CC).

Graham Harmer and Jonathan Legg are the Sotonia CC hopes, while Pat Lafford, John Sanchez-Bisson and Colin Smith carry Crabwood colours in the three-up.