Curran Descends to Chiltern's Victory

A STUNNING downhill attack gave victory to Paul Curran (Manchester Wheelers) in the Equity and Law Grand Prix on Sunday, after 101 miles of non-stop racing through the Chiltern countryside.

World championship selection Matthew Stephens (Hemel Hempstead CC) proved that the form was coming just in time by pushing Curran all the way to the finish to take second, ahead of one of his GB team-mates in Stuttgart, on form Steve Farrell (Tunstall Wheelers).

The seventh edition of the race, promoted by the High Wycombe CC, brought together a field worthy of Star Trophy status to contest six laps of a 17-mile circuit containing two nasty climbs; Loxburgh Hill was the first, a short steep climb with a one-in-five gradient in places, followed by the one-in-five, mile-long ascent of Aston Rowant.

After a steady 10 miles the pace inevitably went up on the climbs, resulting in an early split which saw a 20-strong group going clear of the rest at the start of the second lap. Curran, who was making his usual cautious start, found himself behind and was soon to be seen heading a chasing group which bridged the gap and on the second climb of Loxburgh after 35-miles, 20 riders led what was left of the race.

All the top names were present in this front group including Curran, Stephens, Farrell, Peter Longbottom (Manchester Wheelers), Colin Roshier (Hounslow & District), Neil Martin (Dinnington RC), Tim Hall (Ace RT) and Simon Bray (Invicta RC).

Up the climb of Aston, Roy Chamberlain (Royal Sutton CC), who had set out from the start to lift the King of the Mountains prize, led a much depleted lead group of 13 over the top giving him an unassailable lead in the climbing competition.

Short-lived attacks by Roshier, then Ian Gilkes (Wembley RC) up Loxburgh for the fourth time were quickly neutralised by the others and after 85 miles the group was down to nine riders. Attacks by Hall and Stephens failed to split the group as Curran, Farrell and Longbottom brought them to heel.

On the final steady climb of Aston, Stephens, Curran and Farrell went clear and were soon joined by Bray and Martin. A furious chase ensued, as the five fugitives buried themselves along the A40. Just as the chasers were making an impression on the leaders, however, Curran attacked hard on the descent of Dashwoods hill and Stephens was the only rider able to respond.

Within two miles the gap was 25 seconds as Loxburgh Hill loomed in sight for the last time. 'We agreed to work together until Loxburgh, and then to see what happened', commented Stephens. That they did, but the Watford rider had no reply to Curran's final attack on the steep climb which took him well clear for the win and £300 first prize.

RESULTS

1. Paul Curran (Manchester Wh-Trumanns Steel) 101m in 4-3-4
2. M. Stephens (Hemel Hempstead CC) at 15sec
3. S. Farrell (Tun-stall Wh) at 37sec
4. P. Rogers (VC St Raphael) st
5. Gilkes (Wembley RC) at 43 sec
6. M. Mackay (CC Luton) at 52sec
7. P. Longbottom (Manchester Wh) at 55sec
8. S. Bray (Invicta RC) st
9. T. Hall (Ace RT) at 1-14
10. N. Martin (Dinnington RC) st.

King of the Mountains.- R. Chamberlain (Royal Sutton CC).

Most aggressive rider.- Stephens.