NATIONAL Amateur Road Race Championship

Curran's Bronze

THORNABY'S Paul Curran staged. a storming finish to claim third place and the bronze medal in the British amateur road race cyling championships at Harrogate on Saturday.

Curran, who rides for Manchester Wheelers, bridged a 73sec gap in the final 13 miles of the 113-mile race to overhaul Darryl Webster (Leicester) and Dave Mann (Bradford).

Victory went to Paul Watson (Alpha RC) from Milton Keynes. Watson, winner of the Richmond-Halifax stage of the Milk Race, outsprinted Curran's Manchester team-mate, Jeff Williams, by five seconds, the pair finishing more than two minutes ahead of Curran over a hard and windswept dales course.

Curran, however, retained his lead in the season-long Star Trophy.

RESULTS

1. Paul Watson (Alpha RC)
2. Jeff Williams (Manchester Wh)
3. Paul Curran (Manchester Wh)