York's Paul Watson was the driving force behind Knaresborough Racing Team's emphatic victory in their own four-man team time trial promotion.

The Heworth 21-year-old set such a punishing pace over the ten mile course on the old Great North Road between Boroughbridge and Wetherby that Ripon international Richard Heath was unable to stay with his three team-mates.

With the team time taken as the third rider crosses the line, the remaining three Knaresborough riders had to keep together which they did in fine style, crossing the line together to clock a 21.02 winning ride.

As favourites they were the last to set off, and their time was more than a minute ahead of their nearest rivals.

Other local teams included the Knarsborough RT 'B' team consisting of Richard Sutcliffe, Tockwith's Angus Tremholme, Andrew Saunders and York veteran John Clarke, who clocked 23.37; an all-junior Knareborough RT squad of Richard Benson, Andrew Darbyshire, Jordan Aveyard and David Young (26.48); and the Knaresborough RT 'C' team of Tom Webber, Mac Adcock, York's Mike Rennison and Tockwith's Jim Lee (25.10).

This weekend Watson goes for a record once held by his father John, a former Olympian, when he rides the tough Circuit of the Dales over a 50 mile course based on Ingleton, North Yorkshire.

The current record holder Gethin Butler does not contest this latest edition of the race, opting instead to take part in the next round of the Premier Calendar road race series.

Watson is joined in the event by clubmate Steve Smales.

Knaresborough RT members Paul Bridgen, Sam Ward and Graeme Tate contested the Leeds St Christophers CC 64 mile road race at Kippax. Bridgen was the best placed, managing to finish in the top ten.

Evening racing resumes next week with two of Yorkshire's premier cycling competitions.

The opening round of the new open Sports City Online cycle racing league (formerly the USP Brands league) gets underway at 6.30pm on Tuesday, April 4 with a ten mile TT on the old Great North Road course between Marton and Walshford.

The first round of the Transco Handicap Road Race League takes place next Thursday. The first two rounds on April 6 and 13 will have a 6.30pm start time and the distance will be 18 miles over two laps of the Milby circuit.

Knaresborough RT have become the first north Yorkshire cycling club, and the only the second in Yorkshire, to be awarded the Prudential sponsored Impruve Award.

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