Three wins in three weekends

MAKING it three wins in three weekends, former Commonwealth champion Paul Curran added to the Optimum Performance RT tally with victory in the Neil White Memorial pursuit staged by Hartlepool CC over a 50-mile course at Trimdon, Co Durham, on Sunday.

Curran, who had to settle for second place to Chris Newton in this event last year, regained the top spot when he attacked his breakaway rivals Ian Hellawell (CC Abergavenny) and Mike Milen (Northern Velo) on the final climb, a mile from the finish.

Philip West (Middridge CRT), who had tried in vain to bridge the gap to the leaders, took the sprint for fourth place, just over a minute behind, from Steve Fullerton (Richmond and Darlington CC) and off-road expert Vince Potter (Dawes RT).

Curran, Hellawell, Milen, West, Shaun Tyson (Middridge CRT) and Martin Wallbank (North East RT) had formed the scratch group, which gave the limit men 13 minutes over the seven laps of the Trimdon circuit.

Fullerton and Potter had started three minutes in front of the scratch riders.

The backmarkers had bridged the gap to join the action midway through the race, covering the first seven-mile lap in 16-16 and averaging 17-10 thereafter. Within the space of a lap the entire field had come together. Then, on the fifth lap, the eventual first three made their move.

RESULTS

1. Paul Curran (Optimum Performance RT) 50m in 2-11-30
2. I. Hellawell (CC Abergavenny) at l4sec
3. M.. Milen (Northern Velo) at 28sec
4. P. West (Middridge CRT) at 1-02
5. S. Fullerton (Richmond & Oarlington CC)
6. V. Potter (Dawes RT)
7. S. Tyson (Middridge CRT)
8. S. Middleton (Hambleton RC)
9. R. Baty (VC Azzuri)
10. T. Greener (GS Metro) all st.