Curran back to top form

PAUL Curran (Dinnington RC-Ideal Travel) underlined his recovery with an emphatic win in the Stan Robson Memorial road race over an 86-mile course at Stokesley, North Yorkshire, on Sunday.

The former double Commonwealth champion from Thornaby-on-Tees, who missed the first half of the season through illness, scored a popular local victory when he outsprinted Milk Race international and Lincoln GP winner John Charlesworth (Ace RT) after the pair had opened up a 30-second lead together.

Behind them, Curran's Dinnington team-mate Stephen Clarke took third place from Norman Dunn (Middridge CRT) as a group of seven riders split in the closing miles.

There was a brave early move when Pete Coggins (Selby CC) attacked after only eight miles and stretched out a six-minute solo lead on the second of six laps, with two chasing groups forming behind him.

Curran, meanwhile, had given a hint of his current form when he chased for 18 miles to get back on after puncturing on the first lap.

By lap three the gap was down to 50 seconds, and as 15 chasers came together Coggins was finally overhauled at the beginning of the fourth lap.

As the group split again under the pressure, there were just seven riders left at the head of the field when Curran put in a scorching attack just after the bell, with 12 miles remaining, and only Charlesworth could stay with him.

RESULTS

1. Paul Curran (Dinnington RC) 86m in 3-23-20
2. J. Charlesworth (Ace RT) st
3. S. Clarke (Dinnington RC) at 30sec
4. N. Dunn (Middridge CRT) st
5. S. Bowering (Calder Clarion) at 2-0
6. R. Harris (Clifton CC) at 2-30
7. J. Tanner (Dinnington RC) st
8. A. Cooper (Wakefield CC) at 5-35
9. R. Binks (Hudderatield Star Wh) st
10. V. Slinn (CC Luton) at 6-20.