Cyclo-cross ace Chris Young had to settle for third spot in the National Championship's veterans category as Midlands rival Steve Knight snatched the title from the Keighley rider.

Third spot at Sutton Park in Birmingham was a fourth successive veterans medal for former senior champion Young, who was disappointed but philosophical after the race.

"I can't expect to win every time," he said. "There was some good opposition there and if anyone was just a little bit off form, you could drop a few places, being as it was so close. It is good that it's so competitive."

Knight led a one-two for the MI Racing team with colleague Geoff Giddings taking second and Young third, 28 seconds off the pace, while he just managed to hold off Yorkshire rival Noel Clough from Northallerton, who was fourth.

Young added: "The course is very twisty with lots of corners and probably not ideal for me but I enjoyed it.

"It was really quick. I got a good start, did everything right, was in second place on the first lap but I just didn't have the horsepower in the end.

"When Steve came past me, he was going like a train so that was that. I was lucky to hold on to third as the guys were just behind me."

Meanwhile in the under-23s race, Burley-in-Wharfedale's Mark Thwaites (Crosstrax) was fifth, almost two minutes behind winner Ian Bibby.

Keighley-based Tom Moses took third place in the youth race in SSC Cyclesport colours, while fellow town rider Paul Young was fourth, the JD Cycles rider finishing just 34 seconds further back.