1-May-77

Stockton Wheelers '25'

Greener repeats his trophy win

NORTH SHIELDS Polytechnic's Trevor Greener became the first rider to retain the Harry Mansell trophy in the five years since it started, writes Stan Hilton.

Greener came in second second place with a 58-57 performance, which made him fastest of the Tyne-Tees riders eligible for the trophy in the Stockton Wheelers' 25-mile promotion. Clifton's Tony Boswell, who was already 15 seconds ahead of the fast Tynesider at the halfway point on the A19 course between Crathorne and Thirsk, went on to win by 23 seconds.

Leading home the winning team, last year's British best all-rounder runner-up Vic Smith, of Hull Thursday, recorded 59-13 to finish third.

Adding the handicap award to Greener's Mansell trophy, Polytechnic's Gary Owens, in only his fourth competitive ride, reduced his actual time to 52-16 on handicap after the deduction of his 9 1/2-minute allowance.

Stockton Wheeler Paul Curran finished as the fastest junior in the event with a time of 1-1-37, while Cleveland Wheeler Andrew Allen claimed the schoolboy award for his 1-7-36 performance.

At the other end of the age scale, Arthur Hutchinson, beating his allowance for age by 9-14 with his 1-2-25 performance, took the veterans' award, and with Don Armstrong collected the veterans' team award for Teesside Clarion.

RESULTS

1. Tony Boswell (Clifton) 58-34
2. Trevor Greener (North Shields Poly) 58-57
3. Vic Smith (Hull Thursday) 59-13

Juniors: Paul Curran (Stockton Wh) 1-1-37
Schoolboys: Andrew Allen (Cleveland Wh) 1-7-36