Former national champion Nick Craig proved he is still a force in cyclo-cross when he won the Midlands Regional Championship in Derbyshire on Sunday.

Craig, the Scott UK rider from Hayfield, crossed the line comfortably ahead of runner-up Carl Sturgeon (Lutterworth Cycles) – but his victory was far from easy.

National Trophy contender Dave Collins (Science in Sport) had led the event at the Thornbridge Education Centre at Great Longstone, near Bakewell, for much of the race but he broke his rear mech shortly after passing the pits, and had to run virtually a full lap back to the pits to get his replacement bike.

By the time he was back in action he had dropped down to tenth, and pulled out shortly after with Craig having attacked to make sure of victory.

Sturgeon held off the challenge of Jim Bryan (Zepnat RT) by 32 seconds to secure silver, while Bryan took third and led his Zepnat colleagues Lee Andrews and James Furniss to the team prize, with Andrews and Furniss fifth and seventh respectively.

Ben Roach wins Welsh Championship

Ben Roach (Wyre Forest CRC) won the Welsh Championship after battling to hold off rival Lee Williams for much of the 11-lap event at Parc Cwm Darren, Deri.

Roach crossed the line in just 19 seconds over an hour, while Abergavenny RC rider Williams was just 32 seconds behind. Third spot went to Cwmcarn Paragon RC’s Anthony O’Boyle.

With Andrew Parry ninth and Graham Edwards tenth, Williams also took home a team medal to complement his silver.

Stuart Bowers defends title in Swindon

Hargroves Cycles ace Stuart Bowers successfully defended his title in the South of England Regional Championships at Swindon, Wiltshire, crossing the line more than three minutes ahead of his nearest rival after a textbook performance.

Bowers beat under-23 team-mate Matt McDonald to the line, and while Bowers had a relatively easy ride, McDonald had to battle to hold off the attentions of eventual third-placed rival Adrian Lansley (Pedal On) who was just eight seconds further back.

Darren Barclay gains revenge in Kent

Second last year, Darren Barclay (Arctic Premier RT) gained revenge over the 2007 winner when he took victory in the South East Region Championships at Wilmington, Kent, on Sunday.

Barclay was runner-up to Jamie Newall (VC Meudon) last year, but their positions were reversed this time with Barclay crossing the line 27 seconds ahead of Newall, while his team-mate at Arctic Matt Holmes took third, another 1:11 off the pace.

Stuart Reid takes victory at Rossendale

In Saturday’s North West League event at Rossendale, Stuart Reid (Wheelbase) took victory by more than a minute from professional road man Graham Briggs (Rapha Condor-Recycling).

Despite having spent the morning marking out the course on a snowy EdgesidePark, Reid still had the energy to ride off the front from the start.

Even when a piece of wire broken two spokes and he had to run to the pits for half a lap, he still didn’t lose out on the lead and crossed the line 1:16 ahead of Briggs, while FP Mailing CT rider Rob Pugh took third, another minute off the pace.

North of England Championships postponed due to thick ice

The North of England Championships were postponed after thick ice made the entire car park unusable at the venue, HettonLyonsCountryPark near Sunderland.

Organisers want to re-run the event on January 3 at the same location.

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