DESPITE falling off in trying to pass a lapped rider, Alfie Moses maintained his perfect record in the National Trophy cyclo-cross series.

The win in the junior race at Durham University means that the 16-year-old from Keighley is halfway to a clean sweep after previous victories at Shrewsbury and Southampton, with rounds at Milton Keynes (November 30), Peel Park, Bradford (December 14) and Derby (January 5) to come.

Moses (Paul Milnes Cycles-Bradford Olympic RC) was familiar with the Durham course as it had staged a round last year and he was confident on the compact mud, despite it being slippery.

Sitting in behind the wheel of David Barnes (Team Corley Cycles), the Airedale Springs engineering apprentice passed the leader on the stairs on the first lap, but Tom Seaman (Nutcracker Racing) would prove to be his toughest rival.

Things changed dramatically during the fourth lap when Moses was lapping back-markers.

He explained: "On a tricky off-camber section, I was coming up to a female veteran and shouted to her to move over but she didn't hear me and I went into a barrier and off the course. I lost my rhythm and ended up being 20 seconds behind Tom."

Moses recovered, however, and won by 14 seconds in the end, and paid tribute afterwards to his coach Seth Smith, from Cowling.

The former Oakbank School pupil said: "He has been working with a lot of the Paul Milnes riders since last year, but mainly me, and he has been a massive help in improving me in every way.

"My aim is to win all six National Trophy races, but Milton Keynes will be tough as it is a World Cup weekend and there are some Belgians coming over."

Wilsden's Annabel Simpson, who won the Shrewsbury round, was the early leader in the women's race, with 16-year-old Charlotte Broughton (Team Corley Cycles) keeping her company, but Simpson was third 25 minutes behind Merce Pacios (Beeline Cycles RT) and Moses' clubmate Amira Mellor.

With two laps remaining, Simpson hit the front. She had 17-year-old Holmfirthian Mellor on her wheel and tried to drop her, forcing a small gap on the final lap, only for the teenager to pass her on an off-camber section just before the finishing straight.

Cononley's Ian Taylor (Jedi Cycle Sport) was second in the veteran men's 40-49 years race behind national champion Nick Craig (Pioneer Scott Synchros) but regained the series lead after a three-way race tussle that also involved Darren Atkins (Ride Coventry).

Taylor's clubmate Andy Peace, from Haworth, was seventh, Keighley's Mike Young (Pedalsport) was 20th and Oxenhope's Matt Denby (www,zepnat.comRT-Kuota-GSG) was 29th.

Mike's elder brother Chris (Pedalsport CC) was third in a tightly-contested veteran men's 50-plus race, only three seconds separating him from winner Steve Davies (Hargroves Cycles-Ridley RT) and runner-up Philip Roach (Team Jewson-MI-Thule-Polypipe), although Young is still the series leader.

Marie Jackson (Paul Milnes Cycles-Bradford Olympic RC) was second in the veteran women's race, while fellow Bingleyite Robert Jebb (Hope Factory Racing) was 18th in the men's elite race.

Ben Turner (Paul MilnesCycles-Bradford Olympic RC) was fourth in the under-16 boys' race, with Euan Cameron (East Bradford Cycling Club) ninth, while Paul Milnes rider Sophie Thackray was fourth in the under-16 girls' race, and clubmate Finlay Cooper-Oldroyd was sixth among the under-14 boys.