A DIFFICULT days racing at the Sherwood Track last Sunday eventually produced two victories for Bury Pedalsport on a very dry slippery track; where riding was difficult and racing almost impossible.

The first round of the British Team Championship found Bury too strong for the enthusiastic but young home side and an 113-65 scoreline was their just reward.

The whole eight-man team rode well with Ben Scranage and Paul Dyson both unbeaten by an opponent and skipper Neil Howarth dropped just one point to Sheffield's Ireland international Martin Gamble.

Bury scorers: Ben Scranage 18+2, Paul Dyson 18+2, Neil Howarth 17+2, Mark Rushby 16, Fred Rothwell 15+2, Tom Doyle 11+2, Steve Muff 10+1, John Whiting 8+1.

The real problems started with the preparations for the Northern Alliance match that followed.

With a restriction on team selection in that competition and the new recruits left at home, as there was to be no junior racing, plus the non-appearance of a selected rider, manager Pete Ward had only three Grade A and two Grade B riders for the six-man team and a defeat in prospect.

Young Chris Dyson was pressed into service and he did a sterling job on a borrowed bike; scoring five valuable points for five completed rides.

The significance of this is was clearly indicated when just five points separated the two teams with one heat to go.

A final heat 7-3 stretched the margin to nine points (78-69) and the job was done.

Paul Dyson scored a faultless 20 points maximum and Neil Howary was again unbeaten by an opponent for sixteen points plus four bonus points.

Steve Mann scored three good race wins in his 16 points but Ben Scranage suffered a couple of crashes out but still managed to record 13 points for the team. Tom Doyle scored eight and Chris Dyson five.

There's another big weekend ahead. A large contingent of Bury riders will contest three events in the Astley & Tyldesley festival on Saturday and on Sunday its the third round of the Northern Fours and Junior League at Hull.

The next match at Goshen is next Thursday evening at 7.30pm when Astley and Tyldesley visit.