CLEVELAND GRAND PRIX

Thornaby ace is denied by Doyle

PAUL Curran, from Thornaby, scored one win, but twice had to settle for second place behind professional rival Tony Doyle in yesterday's Cleveland Grand Prix open track cycling meeting at County Stadium, Middlesbrough.

Curran, a member of England's Commonwealth Games team, won the McLean Homes 8km scratch race, beating Steve Finnegan (VC Olympia Sport). Chris Boardman, riding for the England track team, was pushed back to third.

Curran, the reigning national champion at the discipline, was well beaten by Doyle in the Cleveland points race over 15km, but just scraped second place from New Zealand's Andy Whitford.

Doyle, the former world pursuit champion, held off a late chase by former winner Curran to take the Sillars Trophy 20km scratch race, the main distance event of the meeting.

RESULTS

Sillars Trophy - 20km Scratch

1. Tony Doyle (Ever Ready-Ammaco) 26min 27.18 sec
2. Paul Curran (Manchester whs)
3. Murray Steele (New Zealand)
4. John Herety (Percy Hilton-Condor)
5. Michael McRedmond (New Zealand)
6. Andrew Whitford (New Zealand).

Cleveland Points

1. Tony Doyle 23pts
2. Paul Curran 16
3. Andrew Whitford 15.

McLean Homes - 8km Scratch

1. Paul Curran
2. Stephen Finnigan (VC Olympia)
3. Chris Boardman (England).