Newton tames Norwegians

A TEAM of top Norwegian cyclists were unable to make up ground, on Chris Newton, Teesside Clarion's up and coming junior star, in Velo Club Stockton's 42-mile Handicap Road Race at Thornaby on Saturday.

The riders started in groups at short intervals, led by the juniors, and with the Norwegian seniors at the back.

By the halfway stage in the 23-lap event on the Thornaby Trading Estate two strong groups had formed with a determined group of juniors and veterans leading the Norwegian and local first category seniors by two minutes.

With six laps to go the seniors were in sight of the leading group, which began to disintegrate under the pressure.

Newton, along with Lee Burns, the Bradford Wheelers junior international, and top Northumberland junior Harry Hardisty (Ridley CC) jumped away to form the winning break.

Frantic

Newton, leaving nothing to chances made a final effort to take himself clear with a mile to-go and finished three seconds in front of Burns, with Hardisty holding ofd' the frantically chasing seniors to take third place.

Newton, last year's Cleveland Schoolboy Champion, said: "The last half mile really hurt but when I saw Lee coming up I just gave it everything."

Barrie Robinson (Sunderland Clarion) took the sprint for fourth place in front of Norwegians Sturla Lied and Remi Helland.

Jack Watson (Tyne. Velo) finished just behind the leaders to take the veterans' prize with Mariann Torkildsen (Nymark) finishing as first lady.

1. Chris Newton (Teesside Clarion/ICI) 1:39.48
2. Lee Burns (Bradford Wheelers) at 3 secs
3. Harry Hardisty (Ridley CC) 5 secs
4. Barry Robinson 11 secs
5. Sturla Lied (Nymark, Norway) same time
6. Remi Helland (Nymark, Norway) 13 secs.