ANDOVER racing cyclist Simon Couzens was on form when riding under the Hampshire Cycling Development Centre banner at the recent meeting at the Calshot Velodrome.

The 21-year-old, who works for local cycle shop 'Just Bikes', had six races in the competitive senior 'B' league and picked up another nine points to trail leader Richard Collier (VC Venta) by just three points in second place in the league championship.

In the 28-lap warm-up event Couzens, from Saxons Field, Andover, finished a creditable third behind main rivals Max Murry-Brooks (Reading) and winner Collier but in the opening points races he managed to out outdistance both Collier and Murry-Brooks to gain a superb victory much to the delight of his Southampton-based coach Geoff Greenfield.

However, Collier and Murry-Brooks along with Des Ludford (Portsmouth North End) all performed better than the Andover rider in the unknown distance race where he finished fourth for his worst placing of the meeting. The battle for supremacy continued in the Devil Take The Hindmost event. After the weaker riders were eliminated in the opening laps of the race the final pacings were fought out in a fierce Simon finishing sprint with Couzens taking top honours,with Murry-Brooks second and Collier third.

In the final race of the day, the league distance event, the stamina of the riders was tested to the full and Couzens finished a spirited second behind Collier with Ludford in third position.