In-form Curran leaves them all gasping

North East riders were left gasping in the wake of in-form Paul Curran (Manchester WheelersTrumanns) who cruised to victory in the Northumberland Wansbeck road race.

In the final nine miles of the rain-soaked 75-mile course near Ashington, Curran pulled over a minute out of his closest challengers.

The constant downpour throughout the hard-fought three-hour race over an 18-lap tough, twisting course allied with the tortuous climb of Bothal Hill proved too much for many.

Only 19 of the 44 starters finished the race with organiser Pam Reid left with more prizes than finishers in the Ashington RC promotion,

The race stayed together until lap 13 when a small group containing Curran, Ferryhill Wheelers David Cook and Bill Hart, Brian Johnson (Wembley RC) and Mike McVittie (Barnesbury CC) broke clear.

They immediately opened a good gap within one lap and despite a hard chase by the remnants of the bunch stayed clear by at least two minutes for the rest of the race.

Only McVittie was lost from the leading group before Curran attacked with two laps to go. He was first up Bothal Hill, followed by the fragmented leading group led by flat-out Johnson and Cook.

The pattern of the race changed little over the last lap and Curran pulled ahead of the chasers with apparent ease.

At the finish drenched spectators saw Curran cruise to an easy win with Johnson beating Cook for second place over a minute down.

The bunch trailed in almost five minutes later.

RESULTS

1. PAUL CURRAN (Manchester Wh-Trumanns Steel) 75m in 2-53-13
2. B. Johnson (Wembley RC) at 1-13
3. D. Cook (Ferryhill Wh) at 1-16
4. B. Hart (Ferryhill Wh) at 2-25
5. I. Dye (Tyne Vagabonds) at 5-0
6. C. Greaves (Whitby Endeavour)
7. T. Brown (Ferryhill Wh)
8. M. Cottrell (Tyne Electric)
9. K. Sabiston (Gostorth RC)
10. P. Blackett (Tyne Electric) all st.

GRAEME HUSTON