Four Dales hilly falls to Newton

CHRIS Newton (Middridge CRT) won the Teesside Clarion Four Dales road race after team-mate Tony McKenna had been clear of the field for 40 miles.

The event was held over a 57-mile North Yorkshire course taking in Guisborough. Stokesley and Helmsley, McKenna going virtually from the gun and collecting the first two primes.

He was caught on the climb of Blakey Ridge, and the decisive split came when Ian Norris (Ridley CC) and Graeme Hatcher (Middridge CRT) got away together with eight miles remaining.

As they came out of Castleton, two miles later, Chris Newton got across and, when Newton attacked, only Norris could stay with him as Hatcher dropped back.

Newton took the verdict by two lengths from Norris as the riders battled at little more than walking pace into a headwind finish which saw the first ten riders spread over several hundred yards.

Nigel Martin (North Yorkshire Coureurs) took third place, 20 seconds behind the leading duo, with professional Hilton McMurdo next as Hatcher slipped back to sixth place, just ahead of McKenna, whose consolation was the King of the Mountains title.

1. Chris Newton (Middridge CRT) 57m In 2-35-15
2. I. Norris (Ridley CC) st
3. N. Martin (N Yorks Coureurs) at 20sec
4. H. McMurdo (unsponsored) at 25sec
5. A. Beach (Clifton CC) at 30sec
6. G. Hatcher (Middridge CRT) at 35sec
7. A. McKenna (Middridge CRT) at 1-00
8. D. Buchan (GS Metro)
9. G. Mount (Ashington RC) both st
10. W. Mitchinson (Ashington RC) at 1-30

KoM.- Tony McKenna.