DEFENDING North-East champion Gary Wearmouth of MTS Cycle Sport kicked off his cyclo-cross campaign in style by winning round two of the North-East Cyclo Cross League at Branksome in Darlington last Sunday.

The event, promoted by VC 167, attracted sponsorship from Houses to Homes of Sedgefield, Halfords in Darlington and Westbrook Cycles, enabling a healthy prize fund of £230 to be offered. Good weather helped ensure a strong turnout for the main race of the day.

A field of 39 lined up to face nine laps of a challenging course consisting of grassland climbs, fast technical sections, hurdles and even river crossings.

Local rider Andy Oliver (Halfords) led the field away and a lead group was established including Wearmouth, Alan Nixon (Cleveland Wheelers), Neil Withington (My Way Trust) and Darren Tiffen (Cestria CC), with Malcolm Lewis (VC Azzurri) yo-yoing off the back. Oliver led for three laps before a puncture saw him drop to fifth.

The decisive move came late on, with Tiffen and Lewis dropped. Wearmouth attacked to ride in solo for his first win of the season despite a fall late in the race.

Oliver received a spare wheel and gave a spirited chase, getting up to fourth place, but couldn't do enough to prevent Nixon and Withington taking second and third. Tiffen finished a very impressive fifth to take the junior prize.

The first veteran home was David Clark (Richmond School CC) in eighth, while Joanne Keenan took the honours in the women's race. Riding in the senior field, Luke Willis (Bishop Auckland CC) completed the full race distance and took the under-16s prize. Joseph Curran (Hetton Hawks) won the under-14s.

In the under-12s race, the Raw family, representing Stockton Wheelers, took the top three places in a healthy field of eight riders. Zoe Raw led from the off to be followed home by sisters Megan and Kirsty.

The next event is on October 3 at Broomley Grange in Northumberland. More information on the league can be found at www.neccl.org