Curran in fine festival form in Sunderland

PAUL CURRAN's current devastating form was displayed to good effect on his home territory when he took the Sunderland Cycling Festival Criterium from Bradford's Dudley Hayton.

It was Hayton who had stirred up the action early in the event when he continued a prime-winning effort on the second lap to open up a 100-metre gap on the chasing hunch.

Two laps later, with Hayton looking strong out in front, it was Curran accompanied by Harry Hardisty (Ridley CC) and Mike Smith (Tyne Velo) who looked to bridge the gap to his fellow ex-professional.

On catching the leader Curran looked to make an early bid for victory but Hayton, Hardisty and Smith were able to combine their efforts to contain the Manchester Wheeler.

The bunch was beginning to look resigned to defeat as Ridley's Simon Telford and Jeff Wright (Tyne Velo) attempted to move up to the leaders whose gap had grown to 25 seconds with six laps remaining.

The constant counter-attacking between Curran and Hayton at the front shed Smith whose combination with the two chasers allowed them to make some in-roads on the leading trio.

An effort from Hayton with four to go took him into a 100-metre lead but again it was to come to nothing.

Curran, who always appeared to have matters well in hand, took the finishing sprint with little difficulty while Hayton held off Hardisty for second place.

RESULTS

1. PAUL CURRAN (Manchester Wh-Trumanns Steel) 40 mins + 3 laps
2. D. Hayton (E Bradford CC)
3. H. Hardisty (Ridley CC) both st
4. M. Smith (Tyne Velo) at 15sec
5. J. Wright (Tyne Velo)
6. S. Telford (Ridley CC), both st.

Juniors.- CHRIS NEWTON (Northern Velo), 25 mins + 2 laps; 2, M. Russell (Bradford Wh); 3, N. Fox (Bronte Wh); 4, G. Mitchell (Cestria CC) at 20sec; 5, S. Welton (Bradford Wh) at 25sec; 6, G. Turnbull (GS Metro) at 35sec