THREE members of Bury Border Flooring Cycle Speedway club are in tremendous form on the eve of the big one.

Bank Holiday Monday sees Bury host the British Individual Cycle Speedway Championships for the first time in its history.

The Bury Times sponsored event starts at Goshen at 10.30am on Monday with the big race itself getting underway at 3pm. Big crowds are expected.

And three Bury riders - who have a collective involvement in cycle speedway of over four decades - are at the top of their game, tasting success in the Northern Alliance Individual Championships jeld at Astley and Tyldesley recently.

Paul Dyson, in his first season as a veteran, took the title for riders 40 years and above with an impeccable maximum 16 points from his four race wins.

John Whiting took third place in the same event whilst Neil Howarth, the Bury club captain, took runner up in the Open category.

All three will be featuring prominently in Monday's British Championships.

It would be difficult to find three riders with better credentials at the same club.

John started racing in the mid-60s and has four British Open Individual Final appearances; third place on his debut being his best achievement followed by final places in 70, 71 and 79.

Paul started in the mid 70s and tasted much success as a junior in his early years. Making the under 18 final in 78 and the following year took the runner up prize at Leicester.

Four under 21 finals and four open finals followed and in 88 Paul had the dubious honour of being the only finalist from the whole of the Northern half of the country.

The baby of the group and the only true Bury developed rider, Neil Howarth, started racing at the old Clarence Park track in 1990. He made the British under 18 final in 91 and the under 21 two years later but has yet to make his mark in the Senior Open category.

Perhaps the breakthrough for Neil started last winter when he made the final in the British Indoor Open Championships.

All three have represented England in international matches. The elder statesman, John, no less than five times, while Paul and Neil each have one cap.

While Paul and Neil will be all out to qualify for this year's final at Bury when the semi-finals are held tomorrow and Sunday at Astley and Tyldesley, Stockport and Tameside, the third member of the group - John - is already assured of a place in the final.

One of the top referees in the sport, one of only seven with international status, John Whiting has this year been appointed referee for the British Open final.