Curran wins two stages

Commonwealth Games and national champion Paul Curran (Manchester Wheelers-Trumanns Steel) dominated the National Smokeless Fuels two-day by winning two of the three stages, while his Manchester Wheelers squad took the team prize.

The promoting club's Gary Firth (Ferryhill Wheelers) gave Curran cause for concern with a strong performance in stage three for third place overall, 20 seconds down.

Blackett was awarded a special prize at the finish for completing his 23rd ride in the Ferryhill two-day.

Organisers Mel Littlefair and Bob Douglas were delighted with the race, which thanks to new sponsors boasted a £500 prize list and drew big crowds for both road race finishes.

Stage 1

This 25th edition of the Ferryhill Wheelers two-day saw Curran winning the first stage after catching a five-man break, including his team mates Peter Longbottom, Norman Dunn and David Cook (Ferryhill Wheelers).

He attacked the break with 2 1/2 miles to go and crossed the finish line alone with Longbottom two seconds behind, and Norman Dunn third to make it a Manchester Wheelers clean sweep.

1. Paul Curran (Manchester Wh-Trumanns Steel) 70m in 2-48-0
2. P. Longbottorn Manchester Wh) at 2sec
3. N. Dunn (Manchester Wh) at 2sec
4. D. Cook (Ferryhill Wh) st.

Stage 2 TT

In Sunday's time trial Curran won again taking 18 seconds out of Firth, his closest challenger.

1. Paul Curran (Manchester Wh. Trumanns Steel) 4.3m in 9-19
2. G. Firth (Ferryhill Wh), 9-37
3. Longbottom, 9-38
4. Dunn, 9-52
5. Cook, 9-53
6. C. Greaves (Whitby Endeavour) 9-54.

Stage 3

Firth took revenge on stage 3 winning a four-man sprint after surviving in a breakaway group that at one point made him leader on the road.

Brian Johnson (Wembley RC) was first to break from the bunch in the early miles of the stage and was soon joined by Philip Lee (CC Bowland), Firth, and Martin Maltby (Chesterfield Coureurs).

The four worked hard and at one point were three minutes ahead of the bunch.

Curran, Longbottom, Dunn, Paul Blackett (Tyne Electric) and Tour of Lancashire winner Phil Bateman (VC Bradford) swung into action and brought the bunch's deficit down to 25 seconds at the finish, after a powerful chase.

Curran had done enough to take overall honours with Longbottom second and Firth third.

1. Gary Firth (Ferryhill Wh) 78m in 3-56-0
2. P. Lee (CC Bowland) st
3. B. Johnson (Wembley RC) at 2sec
4. M. Maltby Chesterfield Cours) at 11sec.

FINAL OVERALL

1. PAUL CURRAN (Manchester Wh.Trumanns Steel) 151m in 6-53-27
2. Longbottom at l2sec
3. Firth at 20sec
4. Dunn at 46sec
5. P. Bateman (VC Bradford) at 54sec
6. Cook at 1-5
7. Maltby at 1-20
8. P. Blackett (Tyne Electric) at 4-6
9. J. Ward (Chesterfield Cours) at 6-22
10. G. Wright (Tyne Velo) at 7-57.

GRAEME HUSTON