Croal in fine form for Manc

BRUCE CROALL rounded off his preparations for next week's European Masters Cycling Championships in Manchester with a stylish performance in last night's round of the Meadowbank National Track League, writes COLIN RENTON.

The City of Edinburgh rider beat over another in-form rider, Dave Martin (Bicycleowrks.com), in the kilometre scratch and took three of intermediate sprints in the four kilometre points race. He then finished off with a blistering last lap that gave him victory in the 10km scratch.

Croall will head for Manchester in good heart looking to repeat the win in the kilometre time trial he recorded at the recent British Masters. He has discovered that his winning time on that occasion is the fastest ever recorded by a rider of his age but it will not be ratified as a world record as there were insufficient officials from the governing body, the UCI.

Martin also boosted his league points last night, winning the Devil Take The Hindmost and getting the better of Croall in their heat of the Derny paced event, as well as taking two sprints in the points race.

Charline Joiner (City of Edinburgh) was the top women's events scorer, while sixty-something rider Sandy Wallace posted two wins and Ben Muir (Edinburgh racers) was leading youth.