With the six week hill-climb season which traditionally follows the road racing season now at an end the winter discipline of cyclo-cross has taken over as the main focal point of cycle sport.

Colin Hawxby (Acomb) who races in the colours of Bradford Olympic RT, has in recent years been virtually the only North Yorkshire representative in the major cyclo-cross events, but several other riders are beginning to take up this discipline with a good degree of success.

Knaresborough RT elite squad member Ben Patton was a respectable 29th overall in this year's Three Peaks 25 mile long race based on Ingleton.

Patton, an elite category mountain bike racer, twice suffered punctures to his bike but battled on to beat many top names in the the field of more than 300 riders.

Patton's 17-year-old junior team-mate Jordan Aveyard has been demonstrating his aptitude for this off-road branch of the sport, with some excellent results.

The best of these was in the Teesdale CRC open cyclo-cross race over an eight mile course in the grounds of Laurence Jackson School at Guisborough, Cleveland.

Aveyard out-rode the opposition to cross the finish line alone in a time of 1hr 28sec, beating his nearest rival by almost two minutes.

Former British veteran national champion Cliff Featherstone (Derwent Valley CC) was third place a further one minute adrift.

Aveyard, who, like several other Knaresborough RT members, rides cyclo-cross under the name Dirt Devil, followed this win with third place in the MTS Cycle Sports open event over a 12 mile course at the purpose-built cycling complex at Hetton Lyons near Sunderland.

The winner was Stuart Wearmouth (Team Cycleweb) a leading cyclo-cross rider. He completed the course in 1hr 30sec to win by almost three minutes from Keith Murray (Teesdale CRC), the former world military hour record holder who now lives the north east.

Cyclists from throughout the north of England will converge on North Yorkshire on Sunday for the inaugural Scotton 100k Challenge tourist trial.

Organiser Dave I'Anson, of York, has had an excellent response from riders wishing to take part in this new event on the close season fun calendar.

Starting from Scotton village hall, near Knaresborough the entrants have to complete a mainly flat pre-designated route of mostly lanes, and private roads whose owners have given permission for use on the day only

There is no set time for completing the route, the intention being to make it possible for families to qualify.

All who finish will receive hot drinks, soup and other refreshments and a commemorative mug. Further details are available from the organiser on York (01904) 792377.