Just one year after taking up cycling on the recommendation of his GP, Addiscombe Cycling Club member Steve Charrington won his first road race on Saturday.

The local bus driver surprised the bunch at the end of the 26-mile event by launching an early sprint 500 metres from the finishing line to hold off the rapidly advancing chasers, which included fellow Addiscombe novice Richard Viney, who placed seventh.

The event, promoted by the Purley-based Surrey League, took place on a new traffic-free circuit on Ministry of Defence land at Chertsey and Charrington. It had stiff competition from riders from all over the South East.

Speaking after the event the 42 year old said "I only took up cycling as a means of losing weight and now I've ended up winning a race!"