Team Ridley-Crosstrax claimed the third team prize in the daunting Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross on Sunday. The team of four, all local riders riding under the newly formed Crosstrax team title, took third spot without a single mechanical or rider problem.

The Three Peaks is arguably the world's toughest cyclo-cross event with competitors coming from as far as Australia and America.

The mountain bike Guru Keith Bontrager came all the way from Santa Cruz California to compete.

The race winner for a third successive year was Robert Jebb of Wheelbase in 3hrs 4.52.

The first lady home was Louise Robinson of Stourbridge who finished 45th overall in a time of 4hrs 21.

The Ridley-Crosstrax riders were: Steve Bottomley 13th (03-37-05), Jason Hemsley 34th (03-52-00), Addingham's Stefan Macina 49th (04-03-35) and Otley AC's Dale Foster 172nd (04-51-59).

They had to ride across Ingleborough, Whernside and Penny-y-Ghent through the rain, mud and the strongest winds experienced in the event for over 20 years.

The Crosstrax team also run for Pudsey and Bramley and Otley AC, competing in a variety of events, including, fell and mountain running.

Indeed some of the team spent some time in the Alps through summer this year training at altitude and competing in a number of Swiss mountain marathons and half marathons to help improve fitness.

All the team were delighted with the result and now intend to keep competing in fell, cross-country, mountain bike and cross events right through winter supported by Crosstrax in their endeavours.

Philip Wilson of Otley's Team Chevin Cycles finished 22nd overall in 3hrs 46.14 with Otley Cycle Club's Ian Cullen 94th in 4hrs 20.15.

Clubmate Philip Mason was 106th in 4hrs 26.05 while Michael Hopkinson of Otley Cycle Club was riding in his first Three Peaks and did 4hrs 35.29 for 131st place out of the 255 finishers.

Nigel Brown (Otley CC) was 205th in 5hrs 9.9 and Ilkley's Heather Dawe (Team Marie Curie) finished third lady out of the ten ladies who finished and her time was 4hrs 30.34.