ON a hot summer evening, Argo Bowsher managed to beat the heat to become the top racing trader in Abergavenny last Friday.

And there was a 1-2 for local company M&D Cycles in the annual Welsh Open Criterium Traders Race with Miles Preece finishing just behind his colleague in an action-packed race.

Bowsher finished the race in just over 19 minutes and 37 seconds ahead of his colleague around a circuit which included Baker Street, Frogmore Street and Nevill Street.

Rory Straton, of FR Ball Insurance, was third in the race, with Luke Llewellyn, of Waitrose, in fourth. Edward Jones, of Gabb & Co was fifth, Andrew Green, from Green Park Power, in sixth, with John Williams, Neil Powell and Dan Attfield (all Waitrose) filling the places from seventh to ninth.

Natalie Gravell, from Park Dressage Horses, Jordan Everitt and Cath Watkins, both Waitrose, Jackie Miles (North Gwent Cardiac Rehabilitation charity), Suzanne Tringe and Jens Scheider (no team), and Paul Wardsworth, from FR Ball, made up the other finishers.

Jackie Miles also took first place in the Carnival Race with both winners receiving their trophies from legendary multi-world cycling champion Hugh Porter and 1960 Olympic Games swimming gold medalist Anita Lonsborough.