The In Gear team comfortably retained their Sussex Cyclists' Association 25-mile team championship title at Cowfold.

This was mainly due to an impressive ride by Alan Curtis, whose time of 57min.45sec was the fastest individual effort over a tough course.

The event was based on the aggregate times of the four fastest riders in each team.

In Gear's other three riders were Dave Pollard (1hr.1min.2sec) Shane Faulkner (1hr.2min.

46sec) and Carl Whitaker (1hr.3min.18sec) for a combined time of 4hrs.4min.51sec.

Worthing Excelsior, who have won the title 15 times since the event began in 1921, finished runners-up in 4hr.16min.31sec.

Their team was Robin Fairhurst (1hr.3min.16sec), Karl Robertson (1hr.3min.

30sec), Peter Thorp-Hincks (1hr.4min.7sec) and Stephen Trott (1hr.5min.38sec).

Portsmouth North End CC, who joined the expanded association last year, finished third in 4hr.18min.37sec.

Their team was Steve Walkling (58m.6sec). Dave Dent (1hr.0m.15sec). Tony Hart (1hr.5m.25sec), and Lesley Anne Allen (1hr.14m.51s)

After weeks of inactivity due to the foot-and-mouth crisis, Sussex mountain bikers were back in action at the Gorrick meeting at Bagshot. Horsham official Gordon Smith said: "There were hundreds of riders and it was great to be racing again. Everyone was raring to go."

Smith (Southwater Cycles) placed sixth in the veterans' race, followed by Stuart Aspinall, of Horsham Riders, who placed 14th ahead of team-mates Paul Gosling (19th) and Graham Charlton (25th). Dave Clark of Brighton Mitre finished 30th. Paul Byford (AD Cycles) finished tenth in the Masters event, Mathew Ayers also finished 10th in the Youth event, while clubmate Oliver Ayers took the same position in the Novices race.

Mike Thuer won the grand veterans' race.

The fun race, despite its title, was a hotly contested event. Jim Barrow (Southwater Cycles) placed fourth, while Paul Kish and Steve Turner, of Horsham Riders,were 27th and 28th.

There is circuit racing at Hove Park tomorrow (6.45pm) and track racing at Brighton's Preston Park every Wednesday (7pm).

Report by Brian Hutton
sports@argus-btn.co.uk