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8-Sep-84

Most Outstanding Amateur Award

Three gold medals and a bronze

THORNABY'S Olympic cycling star, Paul Curran (Manchester Wheelers), came away from the British Track Championships with three gold, one bronze and the award for the most outstanding amateur during the week-long battle for titles at Leicester.

Three local riders, Curran, Kevin Byers and Steve Paulding - none of whom unfortunately ride for local clubs, took championship medals, but Currans performances dominated the results.

For the third successive year he teamed up with former Middlesbrough man Hugh Cameron to take the 80 kilometre Madison title.

It was the fourth gold in the event for both Manchester Wheelers riders, each having previously taken the title with another partner.

With an average speed during the 240 lap race of almost 30mph, Curran and Cameron collected the sprint points methodically to assure them of the gold, while Darlingtons Kevin Byers (Paragon RT) and his partner Denis Lightfoot missed second place by just two sprint points, carrying off the bronze medal.

The 50 kilometre points final brought Curran another gold as he regained the title he lost last year, with Byers taking the silver medal.

As a member of the Manchester Wheelers club team pursuit squad, Curran completed his hat-trick of golds while the only medal of a less precious metal he took during the week, a bronze, came in the 4,000 metres individual pursuit.

STAN HILTON