Horton within a wheel of world star Hayles

Thursday 1st May 2008, 2:30PM BST.

ISLAND Games champion Tobyn Horton (pictured) is being praised for producing the best ever road-race performance by a Sarnian.

Horton, 21, placed eighth in one of Britain’s biggest races, finishing a wheel length behind British legend and three times world championship gold medallist Rob Hayles in a bunch sprint at the East Midlands Classic.

‘That has to be the best international road-race performance by a Guern ever,’ said Velo Club stalwart Allan Renyard. Ian Brown, who won Great Britain representation in his own successful amateur career, was no less admiring of Horton’s ride. ‘Absolutely superb . . . awesome,’ said Brown.