COMPLETING his preparation for the National elite road race championship, Chris Newton (Pinarello RT) stayed on home ground to score a predictable win in the Rocket Landscape road race staged jointly by Ferryhill Wheelers and VS Briganti on the Bishopton circuit in Co Durham.

Newton, who incurred the wrath of the organisers and sponsors when he failed to attend the trophy presentation because of a prior engagement, led in an eight-strong group ahead of Mark Wordsworth (Dinnington RC), Steven Ward (T Rex) and new Yorkshire Region champion Glyn Shirley (Fausto Coppi RT).

There had been an early breakaway group of 10 riders, and this front group grew to 20-strong before there was another split on the last lap of eight laps, when the eight leaders drew clear.

Steve Fullerton (Richmond and Darlington CC), who won the North East Region senior championship at the beginning of May, was left to take a sprint for ninth place, 20 seconds down.

1. Chris Newton (Pinarello RT) 83m in 3-06-00
2. M. Wordsworth (Dinnington RC)
3. S. Ward (T-Rex)
4. G. Shirley (Fausto Coppi)
5. A. Kay (York Cycleworks)
6. J. Grommet (Cottingham Coureurs)
7. D. Cook (Middridge CRT)
8. M. Armitage (Sowerby Brothers CRT) all st
9. S. Fullerton (Richmond & Darlington CC) at 25sec
10. M. Moss (Cottingham Coureurs) st.