16-Sep-84
16-Sep-84
| Cleveland Grand Prix |
PHIL THOMAS (Falcon) won Sunday's County of Cleveland Grand Prix, the 20 kilometre scratch race for the Sillars Trophy, so denying local hero Paul Curran (Manchester Wheelers) his hat-trick of wins.
Thomas and his fellow professionals were booed by the crowd for what was seen to be a combine against the amateurs, and Curran in particular. But memories are short as the GB squad did much the same thing a couple of years ago to the other amateurs in the race.
"I don't mind," grinned Thomas, clutching the trophy and his winnings.
"When there are 16 pros against you, what can you do?" asked Curran. "If they can ride my races why can't I ride their Kellogg's series?"
The boos started after Curran had gone for one of the £30 primes only to be joined by Falcon's Bill Nickson. Nickson sat on and when he was offered the chance to share the pace making, he simply went up the track with Curran, waited for him to come down, then sat on again. Eventually, four more joined in the break - Tony
Doyle (RMC-Security Grille), Gary Sadler (GS Strada), Thomas and Alastair Adams (City of Edinburgh RC).
Nickson was soon shed from the break and the five settled down to work. Thomas attacked but was caught, then Doyle set off on the prime trail, winning one, losing the next to Curran and winning four in a row.
His earnings safely in the bank, Doyle swung up with Sadler and Adams leaving Thomas and Curran in the lead. Thomas attacked, Curran got to him, but then Thomas sat on Curran and came past to take the verdict. The crowd booed, but Thomas simply waved to them.
"Thomas was riding badly, but Nickson was even worse," said Curran.
"What are professionals for?" asked Mark Barry (VC Nottingham). "Did they entertain?"
It could not be denied that it was a fast race, the 13 miles being covered in 26-7.
The Grand Prix was the climax to a weekend of racing in the Teesside area, although Saturday's open track meeting had to be fitted into the Sunday programme because the track was declared too wet to race on after Madison champion, Hugh Cameron, had been sent on a lap of inspection.
Sid Barras (Falcon) recalled memories of his first attempts at track racing when 14 on the same track, when he won the unknown distance race from John Manning (Askern CC) and Steve Fleetwood (Ever Read-Marlboro). He also recalled his last track win three years ago when he won a Madison at Wolverhampton with Nigel Dean. His victims then were Ian Hallam and Tony Doyle. "This could be the start of a new career," he said.
1. PHIL THOMAS (Falcon)
2. P. Curran (Manchester Wh)
3. A. Doyle (RMC-Security Grille)
Report -DENNIS DONOVAN