VC York's Jamie Sharpe took a fine win at the 67-mile Thornton Trophy RR, promoted by Wansbeck CC at Longhurst near Morpeth.

By half distance a break of ten had gone away which included Sharpe, Chris Belsham (ex Cycleworks), Lloyd Jones (York Cycleworks), Paul Musgrave and Matthew Lunn (both Clifton CC) and Paul Caswell (Harrogate Nova) although Lunn fell victim to cramp and was dropped.

Sharpe turned the heat up on the final climb and Caswell and Musgrave were dropped from the break, now 60 seconds clear of the bunch.

On the line, it was Sharpe from Steven Kenny (V C Azzurri) with Belsham third. Lloyd Jones took fifth with Clifton CC's Musgrave eighth at 30 seconds down.

VC York's Paul Fairburn won the bunch sprint to take ninth place.

In the RTTC National 12 Hour Championship Time-Trial, Clifton CC's riders performed with distinction.

Mark Wolstenholme achieved a fine seventh place in recording 266.19 miles, while Wetherby mother of three Helen Scull obliterated the Clifton women's club record with an outstanding ride of 207.24 miles. The record had stood at 190.8 miles since 1945.

Wolstenholme's ride will certainly be a positive ingredient in his accumulated results so far in his efforts in the British Best All-Rounder National competition, where he was a high-end finisher last season.

Overall winner was Doncaster's Kevin Dawson with 295.42 miles, leading a Pete Read Racing Team which also took second and third places.

Clifton CC's veteran George Young scored a fine personal best in his comeback year to record 2hrs-08m-33s in the Cleveland Wheelers 50-mile Time-Trial on the Kirklevington/Dishforth course.

Flaxton's Wayne Thorpe timed 1hr-54m-20s.

The event was won by Keith Murray (Steve Goff Frames RT) in 1hr-46m-39s.

In the 14th Thursday league event on the 10-mile Sherburn/Tadcaster course, Clifton's Rob Osman took fifth place with a time of 23m-48s.

Bob Jackson's Sean McCarthy yet again took the win in 22m-45s, an impressive time for this undulating course.

On what was a damp but fast evening, most of the Clifton CC competitors recorded personal bests for this course.

The most notable were Ian Toyn (25m-42s), Dave Belcher (26m-46s), Les Osguthorpe (28m-11s) and Claire Gilmartin (29m-13s). On a comeback after her nasty crash of a month back, Cath Tatlock timed 31m-27s.

Updated: 12:09 Thursday, August 09, 2001