TOP Darlington rider Keith Murray (Science in Sport.com) continued his preparation for the National Three-up Team Time Trial Championship next weekend with a convincing victory in Hartlepool CC's 25-mile event at Borrowby, North Yorkshire, on Saturday.

After roadworks appeared on the A19 at the last minute the course was moved from the Knayton to Dishforth course to the Jetterhouses to Thirsk stretch further north.

Murray, 30, clocked 51-30 to set an event record time despite strong winds and intermittent rain battering the riders, and won the event by 1min 5sec from Tyneside's Harry Walker (Pete Read Racing). Pre-race favourite Steve Fullerton (Richmond and Darlington CC) choose not to ride.

''I was pleased to win a 25-mile event by more than a minute - it's not often that happens,'' said Murray, who was more than two minutes ahead of third-placed Chris Isaats of Berwick Wheelers.

Murray rides Warrington Road Club's four-up 25-mile team time trial on Thursday evening with team-mates Stuart Dangerfield, Neil Rothwell and Peter Saddler in preparation for next Saturday's national 50-mile event.

The Championship takes place at Loxwood, West Sussex, and will include the formidable Planet-X trio of John Tanner, Kevin Dawson and Mark Lovatt, who have five Premier Calendar and eight British Best All-Rounder titles between them.

But Murray remained upbeat about the chances of the Science in Sport.com team, with Dangerfield, the national 10 and 25-mile champion, in superb form.

''I think we can do well in the event,'' said Murray. ''But it does depend on how well the Planet-X boys are going. None of them are doing too well at the moment, so if we can do a good controlled ride we may push them all the way.''

The Science in Sport.com A-team are due to start at 8.42am, the penultimate team to hit the road and 12 minutes after the Planet X team, while the SiS B-team of James Davies, Matthew Hodges and Peter Saddler are due off at 7.51am.

Elsewhere, 53-year-old Mike Harris (Northumbria Police CC) won the Northumberland and Durham CA 25-mile event at Blyth, Northumberland, on Sunday.

Withington-based Harris, a PT instructor with the force, was almost three minutes faster than his nearest rival, Craig Fenwick of Zeus CRT.

Alan Lang (Hades 69) was third, almost five minutes off the pace set by Harris on a course modified from last year.

The sport's governing body, Cycling Time Trials Ltd, has stipulated that risk assessments be carried out on all courses in the country, and the 25-mile Blyth course was ruled out because it would take too many marshalls to make the course safe for competitors.

This year, riders covered two laps of the 10-mile course with an extended run to the finish and had to contend with a rising westerly wind, although the rain held off for the duration of the event.