Elite crown slips off Downing in Preston

Defending National Elite Circuit Series champion Dean Downing, the Rapha Condor-Sharp rider from Rotherham, lost his crown to Lancashire rival Ian Wilkinson when the final round of the series was staged in Preston yesterday.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Aug 2010, 11:35 BST
Updated 9th Aug 2010, 11:35 BST

Downing was second in the overall rankings going into the final round and knew it would have taken a strange turn of events for him to catch Wilkinson, the Endura Racing rider from Burnley.

Sixth spot on the day was not enough for Downing to overhaul Wilkinson's lead, with the Endura rider crossing the line just ahead of Downing in fifth.

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On the day it was Downing's two team-mates Kristian House and Dean Windsor, the winner of the York City Centre Races a few weeks ago, who dominated the race after breaking away.

It proved a mixed day for Yorkshire riders. Downing missed out on the overall title, and Huddersfield's Tom Murray (Sigma Sport CC) was eighth, while Doncaster's John Tanner (Sportscover) was ninth and Scott Thwaites, Wilkinson's Endura team-mate from Burley-in-Wharfedale, was 11th.

The events at Preston also included the British Women's Circuit Championship, and it was a bad day for Yorkshire riders in that event too, with Towcester junior rider Hannah Barnes (Motorpoint-Marshalls Pasta) securing victory from Team Corridori's Corrine Hall.

Related topics:PrestonRotherhamLancashire