PROMISING young York student Sam Ward just missed out on victory in the Clifton CC Sheriff Hutton 101kilometres Road Race.

Top Veteran League rider Phil Axe (Universal Cycle Centre) out-sprinted Knaresborough RT rider Ward for the win in the final 200 metres after some gutsy riding by the pair of them.

The winner's time for the 101km was 2 hours 55 minutes 25 seconds.

The tough circuit around Thornton/Monument climb/Bulmer/Sheriff Hutton, was made an even more severe test by an exceptionally strong northwesterly wind howling across the course. The phrase 'nowhere to hide' was totally appropriate as there were only 25 finishers out of 60 hopeful starters.

Ward had been one of the main aggressors of the race, especially over the last three laps where he remorselessly forced the pace.

After also being a principal protagonist for much of the race, Jamie Sharp (VC York) was only found wanting over the final five miles, coming over the line 40 seconds down in third place.

VC York's Tom Shepherd achieved 14th place and Clifton's Phil Bowlesland and Rob Osman were placed 18th and 23rd respectively.

The Seacroft Wheelers 15-Mile Time Trial on the Tadcaster/South Milford course was won by Morley CC veteran Laurie Holmes in a time of 32min 55secs.

Strong winds hampered matters, but, despite this, Dave Belcher of Clifton CC recorded a personal best for the distance with a time of 40min 20sec to finish in 22nd spot.

Clifton CC veteran riders were highly successful in two VTTA Yorkshire Group events scoring team wins in both the 10-mile time trial and in the 25-mile time trial.

Both events were on courses based between Boroughbridge and Walshford.

In the 25-mile event Colin Simpson, aged 62, Jerry Noble, who is two years older, and 65-year-old Keith Richardson recorded 1hr 3min 46secs, 1-05-05 and 1-05-12 respectively to win the team award, which was based on age-related time allowances.

In the 10-mile event, with a northerly gale causing havoc, Colin Simpson, Keith Richardson and Mrs Mickie Hornby (67 years) were timed at 25-25, 26-34 and 29-59 respectively to secure the team award.

Other Clifton times were Bob Noble (53 years) 26min 33secs, George Young (50 years) 26min 45secs.

Updated: 11:28 Saturday, September 15, 2001