AFTER the cancellation of the Harrogate Nova CC open 50-mile TT, York's Paul Watson (Knares-borough RT-Cougar-Continental) was anxious to demonstrate his superb end-of-season form, writes Keith Thompson.

He did so with an awesome display of climbing skills to claim the 2000 League International Hill-Climb Championship title.

The 22-year-old Heworth rider started as one of the favourites as he holds the hill record, a remarkable three minutes 40.6 seconds set on stage two of the Yorkshire Water Nidderdale Classic - an event which he won overall and a title he will defend this weekend.

The venue for the 2000 League International event was Middlesmoor Hill, in upper Nidderdale, and it was a real test of both man and machine.

Early pacesetter was Watson's team-mate Colin Ash, the former British Cycling Federation North East road race champion, as he came within three seconds of Watson's course record with an encouraging 3.43.03.

That ride was to be good enough to take the bronze medal and no one bettered his time until Blackpool's Andy Brennan (Cleve-leys Road Club) took on the course.

Brennan, the TLI National champion in 1998, reduced Ash's figures by a further seven seconds with his 3.36.01 ride.

Watson was the last rider to start and was ahead of Brennan at all the intermediate time checks.

The York rider crossed the finish line in a remarkable 3.09.01, taking no less than half a minute off his own course record.

Completing a good day for promoting club Knaresborough RT, Tockwith's Angus Trenholme took tenth place with a time of 4.45.09.

There was disappointment for Watson the following day when a 120-strong field turned up for the start of the Yorkshire Cycling Federation 25-mile TT.

Early morning fog forced the organisers to delay the start, near Ripon, for half an hour, and when there was no improvement the event was cancelled.

With Watson and Ash showing excellent form in hill-climbs, Knaresborough RT are looking for possible medals in the forthcoming RTTC National hill-climb championship in Somerset.

The duo will be backed in a strong team from the North Yorkshire club by all-rounder Ben Patton, runner-up in the 1999 Knaresborough Festival hill-climb and fifth this year.

Patton, a leading mountain biker showed his off-road talents in the 40th annual Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross race when he finished the world's longest (at 25 miles) and toughest cyclo-cross race in 29th place from a field of 261 starters, despite suffering a puncture in the closing stages.

Clifton CC's Mark Turrell, riding in only his second cyclo-cross race and in his first event this season, finished 73rd in the event held at Horton in Ribblesdale, which takes in the climbs of Ingleborough, Wheruside and Penyghent.

The Harrogate postman had a trouble-free ride finishing in a time of 3hrs 59mins 01secs.

He still conceded nearly an hour to winner Rob Jebb (Ron Hill RT), an international fell runner who recorded 2-59-35 for his first victory after finishing runner-up twice and third in previous events.

Second place went to Tim Gould (Racing All Terrain Squad) who finished 4mins 24secs down on Jebb with third going to Ian Wilkinson (Team Y2K), a further three minutes adrift.

Turrell should start as favourite in his club's hill climb championship this Sunday having won the event on his other two appearances.

It will be held on the climb between Bishop Wilton and Garrowby and at 2km will be twice the length of the Milking Hill climb at Yearsley used in recent years. Start time is 11am, and there will be a meal at the Golden Fleece at Bishop Wilton afterwards. Further details from Claire Gilmartin on 01757 249251.

Meanwhile, Watson starts as favourite to retain his title in tomorrow's Yorkshire Water Nidderdale Classic two-stage race based on Lofthouse in Upper Nidderdale.

Stage one is a four-mile TT along a private road that climbs steadily all the way to the finish at Scar House Reservoir. This is followed by the second stage, a 0.75-mile hill-climb on the one in four ascent of Middlesmoor, the scene of Watson's superb victory last weekend.

Stage one starts at 11am and further entries will be accepted on the line for this popular addition to the Yorkshire calendar, which is followed by the usual social and prize presentation at the How Stean Gorge caf.

Two of Yorkshire's leading riders of the late 1980s and early 1990s, ex-York rider Jon Surtees and former Yorkshire Junior 25-mile champion Richard High, continued their comeback with a fine third place in the Zeus CRT open two-up 25-mile TT in Northumberland.

The duo, riding in Knaresborough RT colours, showed flashes of their old brilliance that helped them win many two-man team time trials, clocked a fast 58mins 39secs, which was good enough to ensure third place over the course at Ponteland.

The pair plan to ride the Chesterfield Spire RC 25-mile event together next weekend, before a full comeback to the sport in the 2001 season.

Former Yorkshire junior 25-mile champion Sam Ward (Knaresborough RT), currently studying at Bristol University, won the Severn Road Club open hill-climb in Somerset.

Ward, a member of his club's elite squad, covered the 800-yard course on Hinton Hill in two minutes 4.01 seconds to beat Justin Hoy (Liphook Cycles RT) by two seconds.