he cruised to a comprehensive victory in the Cumberbatch National Road Race Championships.

Hedges covered the gruelling 76-mile course at Southside in three hours, 19 minutes and 21 seconds to add the title to his Sinclair Packwood Memorial Road Race victory on May 24.

Hedges, who also won the 1999 national time trial title, had returned home from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore last week to make his bid for more silverware.

Defending champion Geri Mewett was absent from the field and the strongest challenge to Hedges came from Steve Sterritt, who crossed the line second, nearly two-and-a-half minutes behind the winner.

Englishman Steve Millington, the most in-form rider in domestic competition this year, placed third in 3:26:02, just five seconds clear of Jeff Payne.

Kent Richardson placed fifth and Earl Godfrey sixth in the Category Two field of 13. Five failed to finish in the hot and humid conditions.

An impressive ride by Julia Hawley, who completed 76 miles in 3:33:12, earned her the Category Three title.

The male veteran category produced a thrilling finish, with Vic Ball edging out Paul Shrub by just two seconds to win the 52.25-mile event in 2:18:43.

Third-placed Vance Stevens was six seconds adrift of Shrub.

In the novice class, Dave Ferguson completed the 52.25 miles in 2:10:00 to win, while in the male 15-16 category, over the same distance, Chris Conway's 2:22:06 gave him a 10-minute margin of victory over Brian Steinhoff.

The female class produced the tightest finish of the day, with Jeana Godfrey pipping Wenda Godfrey by just one second to win in 1:40:31.

Other champions were Melissa DeSilva (female 15-16), Matthew Herring (male 13-14), Desmond Trott (male 11-12), Ally Bolton (female 11-12), Ricky Sousa (male under-10) and Laura Ruse (female under-10).