Sunderland Town Centre Criterium |
NEW national professional criterium champion, Paul Curran, was beaten by two of the North-East's best amateurs in the Sunderland town centre criterium, when Hartlepool CC's Andy Chatterton rode away with Manchester Wheeler Norman Dunn to win.
The pair broke away halfway through the race around the town's Mowbray Park.
Dunn and Chatterton left behind a bunch including Curran, amateur road race champion Dave Cook and first-year pro Hilton McMurdo.
After three laps the pair had opened a 20-second gap which continued to grow slowly.
In the last lap Curran and Cook escaped the bunch but with five laps left Dunn and Chatterton had extended their lead to 38 seconds over the chasing pair, with the bunch a further 20-seconds back.
On the final lap Dunn tried an attack but was unable to shake off Chatterton. The pair came into the final uphill straight side by side where Chatterton won with a powerful sprint in the last 40 metres.
Curran, winner of the race last year, contented himself by picking up most of the bunch prime prizes and he sprinted past Cook on the line to claim third place.
Hilton McMurdo led the bunch over the line for fifth place a full minute behind the winner.
1. ANDY CHATTERTON (Hartlepool CC)
2, N. Dunn (Manchester Wh)
3, P. Curran (Percy Bilton)
4, D. Cook (Ferryhill Wh)
5, H. McMurdo (Airmarshall)
6, C. Young (Paragon RT).