14-Apr-84

Crescent Criterium

Final win not enough for Paul

FORMER Stockton Wheeler, Paul Curran, who now rides for the strong Manchester Wheelers squad, won the final event of the Crescent Criterium series at Newton Aycliffe after he and Dean Norton (Paragon CT), slipped the field.

Norton, who finished the 21 mile race as runner-up, made sure of overall victory in the series during a breakaway which lasted almost the whole of the first half of the race, taking his points total to 44, four ahead of Curran.

The early attack had also included Kevin Byers (Paragon CT) and Hugh Cameron (Manchester Wheelers) with Byers snatching enough points to take him into third place overall, after increasing his tally from 11 to 36 during the event.

Winner of the first two events Peter Stevenson (Middridge), finished fourth overall with 30 points.

Six seconds behind Curran and Norton, as they passed the chequered flag, at the end of the third and final race of the series, Hilton McMurdo (Middridge) led home the bunch to claim third place, closely followed in the sprint by Steve Paulding (City of Edinburgh), Graham Marshall (Tyne Velo) and Byers.

RESULTS

1. Paul Curran (Manchester Wh)
2. Dean Norton (Paragon CT)
3. Hilton McMurdo (Middridge CRT) at 3secs
4. Steve Paulding (City of Edingurgh)
5. Graham Marshall (Tyne Velo)
6. Kebvin Byers (Paragon CT)