Competition record falls to Optimum Performance

THE team competition record fell to Optimum Performance RT-Powerbar as Kevin Dawson led the way with a personal best 1-41-55 in Harrogate Nova CC's open 50-mile time trial on the Al in North Yorkshire on Sunday.

But Dawson needed a 1-39 to stand any chance of wrenching the BBAR title from Gethin Butler, and the Norwood Paragon rider has finished top of the table for a second successive year despite puncturing after 15 miles and failing to finish the Harrogate event, which he had started despite feeling below par after suffering from a cold during the week.

It was Dawson's third win in successive years in the Nova event, and a personal by 13 seconds. It was also an improvement of 1-19 on his season's previous best.

Paul Curran, fourth in 1-44-17 - an incredible performance for a novice at this distance - completed the winning Optimum squad, whose aggregate of 5-10-05 sliced 4-41 off the team record set in 1991 by the Manchester Wheelers trio of Chris Boardman, Pete Longbottom and Gary Dighton.

The Harrogate event started in ideal conditions, with virtually no wind, but heavy rain fell on the mid-event starters, and a strong wind then picked up.

A tailwind over the last 20 miles from Catterick to Baldersby helped produce a crop of fast times, but the later starters did not have the best of the conditions.

'If Dawson had been off number 60, I think he might well have got much closer to the time he needed,' said event organiser Vaughan Caswell.

The top 12 riders all beat 1-50, with Wayne Randle making it an Optimum one-two when he finished in 1-43-53 for second place ahead of Nik Gardiner (Multisport Team), who consolidated his third place in the BBAR behind Butler and Dawson when he improved just 11 seconds to 1-44-09.

Ann Plant (Swaledale CC-Arthur Caygill) scored a last-gasp victory in the women's BAR ahead of Liz Milne (Coalville Wheelers) when she improved five and a half minutes to 1-56-58 to take the women's prize in the Harrogate event.

She beat her nearest rival on the day, Sharon Lowther (VC York), by 2-33.

RESULTS

1. Kevin Dawson (Optimum Performance RT) 1 41 55
2. W. Randle (Optimum Performance RT) 1 43 53
3. N. Gardiner (Multisport Team) 1 44 09
4. P. Curran (Optimum Performance RT) 1 44 17
5. K. Murray (Army CU) 1 46 27
6. H. Iddon (CC Lancs) 1 48 18
7. G. Nowland (Team Rapide) 1 48 30
8. G. Moore (Penicuik RT) 1 48 50
9. D. Watts (Halifax RC) 1 49 01
10. M. Evans (Barrow Central Wh) 1 49 03

Team.- Optimum Performance RT (Kevin Dawson, Wayne Randle, Paul Curran) 5-10-05 (Competition Record).

Women.- Ann Plant (Smaledale CC) 1-56-58.

Veterans 40-49.- George Nomland.

Over-50.- -Shay Giles (Team Clean) 1-50-18