BRADFORD rider Billy Harding (PH-MAS-PaulMilnes-Oldfield ERT) was a happy man after the fifth round of the National Trophy Series cyclo-cross in Peel Park.

His third-place finish in the men's under-23 race enabled him to keep his lead in the series with one round to go in Ipswich on January 6.

The Birkenshaw youngster went out hard on the first lap and was actually leading not only the under-23 race but also the men's elite race, which was run simultaneously, after the opening lap.

However, he eventually dropped back outside the top ten but was third in the under-23 race behind winner Calum Fernie (Nottingham Clarion CC) and Mark McGuire (100%ME).

But Harding was not too disappointed, saying: "I went out hard and fast so as to try and avoid getting caught up in any crashes as the course was slippery.

"My aim was to finish in the top five."

That was the last race of the day after the course had been chewed up somewhat, and the men's veterans had first go, with former Eldwick resident Rob Jebb (Hope Factory Racing) coming second and Skipton's Ian Taylor (C and N Cycles RT) third in the men's 40-49 years' race.

Jebb, who now lives in Staveley in the Lake District and also competed well in the men's elite race at the end of the day, said: "I love racing in Bradford."

Taylor, who had finished third in the UCI World Masters Cyclo-Cross Championships men's 45-49 years' race the previous weekend in Mol, Belgium, confessed: "I have been bunged up since I got back and my wife didn't want me to race, but I thought I would give it a go.

"I took it out hard in the first half but I couldn't breathe in the second half, and it was very cold."

As for his race in Mol, he said: "I had won the event the year before there, so to get two podiums in as many years is great as there is a lot of pressure on you as defending champion.

"Plus I was only beaten by Erik Dekker, who has won four stages of the Tour de France, and Arne Daelmans, who has beaten cyclo-cross ace Sven Nijs."

Shipley's Chris Young (PH-MAS-PaulMilnes-Oldfield ERT) pulled out of the men's 50-plus race on the opening lap, and said afterwards: "I wasn't feeling well."

In the junior men's race, former East Bradford Cycling Club junior Euan Cameron (PH-MAS-PaulMilnes-Oldfield ERT) of Wibsey, who is taking sports sciences at Huddersfield New College, finished fourth, and said: "The race went very well.

"I was third until Jenson Young jumped me on the last lap, and the course was a good balance between being speedy and technical."

Cameron Mason (Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique) won ahead of Toby Barnes (Lichfield City CC) and Cameron's clubmate Young.

In the men's race, former East Morton resident Ian Field (Hargroves-Ridley-Montezuma's) also finished fourth to clinch the overall men's series.

Belgium's Braam Merlier (Steylaerts-Betfirst) recovered from an early crash which also involved American Jeremy Durrin (Neon-Velo CT) to notch a comfortable win, while Field went down on the next corner.

Harding led at the end of the first lap only to fade, with Merlier joining Lewis Craven (Wheelbase Altura MGD) at the front, with Durrin and then Field further back.

With two laps left, Merlier was 20 seconds ahead of Craven, with Ferguson and Field neck and neck at 50 seconds.

Rio 2016 Olympian Ferguson then produced a storming finish to come second.

Ffion James (Abergavenny RC) won the elite women's race, clawing back early leader Bethany Crumpton (Storey Racing), who finished second ahead of Harding's clubmate Amira Mellor, who finished third and was second women's under-23 behind James. 

Millie Couzens, another Paul Milnes rider, won the under-16 girls ahead of Anna Flynn (Edinburgh RC) and Maddie Wadsworth (Beeline Bicycles RT), while Zoe Backstedt (Maindy Flyers Youth CC) was a convincing under-14 girls' champion in front of Grace Lister (Wolverhampton Wheelers) and Ella Maclean-Howell (Cardiff JIF).

Oliver Stockwell (Welwyn Wheelers CC) triumphed in the under-16 boys' event, with (Lichfield City CC duo Daniel Barnes and Emile Alexander taking the minor placings, while Joshua Tarling (West Wales Cycle Racing Team) took the under-14 boys' race in front of Ben Askey (RST Racing Team) and Sullivan Berry (Redditch Road & Path CC).