YORKSHIRE’S Mason Hollyman goes top of the British Cycling Junior Series after a battling performance in the Monmouthshire Junior Grand Prix.

Hollyman was second in the Series behind Leicestershire’s Alex Haines and was not in the running for first place until the last of the 13.6 mile circuits of Grosmont.

But, with Haines fading to a mid-race conclusion, the winner sprinted home up a tough climb to the finish line seconds ahead of Lee Valley’s Alexander Tarlton and Sam Culverwell.

Hollyman, from Emley, near Huddersfield, turned 18 on Monday and said, “It was a hard one today.

The first loop (main circuit of 29.3miles) was a reasonably fast course. I knew as long as the break did not get too far away from us (peloton), it was going to be won on the smaller loops.”

However, a couple of crashes on that outward circuit saw some riders limping to the pits area near the finish line with cuts, bruises and injuries. One who suffered was Cwmbran’s Zach Bridges, who was aiming to win his home Series race.

Hollyman managed to avoid the collisions and said, “There were a few of them and I was very close but managed to avoid them. On one, I saw someone clip somebody else’s wheel but didn’t see the other one.”

Cwmcarn Paragons’ rider Morgan Jones got to the finish line on a blisteringly hot day to finish in 42nd place, 14.42 minutes behind the winner.