5-Aug-82

Cleveland Division 4,000m Pursuit Championship

Curran retains pursuit crown

FRESH from his successes in the British track championships, Stockton Wheeler's world championship selection Paul Curran has retained his Cleveland divisional 4000-metre pursuit title for the fifth time.

And he did it with a championship record performance at the Cleveland County Stadium, Middlesbrough.

He won decisively, catching silver medallist Middridge CRT's Hilton McMurdo after five laps of the scheduled eight, but went on to record 5mins 3.2sec - his best-ever on the Cleveland track.

McMurdo had found his way into the final by beating club-mate Dave Lund in a hard fought semi-final, leaving Lund to displace Cleveland Wheeler Steve Paulding and collect the bronze medal.

The title race took place during the final meeting of the Cleveland Track League which Curran opened with a win in the devil-take-the-hindmost race ahead of Paulding and Whitby Wheeler Chris Greaves.

RESULTS

1. Paul Curran (Stockton Wh)
2. Hilton McMurdo (Middridge CRT)
3. Dave Lund (Middridge CRT)
4. Steve Paulding (Cleveland Wh)