Cycling: The Yorkshire Cyclo Cross Association was beaten by the North West CCA in the annual Trans-Pennine challenge promoted by Macclesfield Wheelers at South Park, Macclesfield.

Promoting club rider Ben Elliott, who is not too well known outside the North West, produced a determined ride to win by 13 seconds from Keighley rider Seth Smith (White Rose-Volkswagen).

Bradford rider Jon Watson (Paul Milnes RT) finished third, 23 seconds down on Elliott and just ten seconds behind Smith. The next best Yorkshire rider was Robin Bradbury (Aire Valley Cycles) who finished seventh with Dave Beresford (Norton Wheelers) and his club-mate David Maloney ninth and tenth respectively.

Rob Taylor (Team Marie Curie) was the best veteran with Mark Gill (Bradford RCC) the best senior veteran.

North West finished with 170 points against Yorkshire's 109.

The first round of the National Trophy competition held at Sutton Park, Birmingham, also produced an unexpected winner in Matthew Ellis (Atom Elite) who was a comfortable winner over National Cyclo Cross champion Steve Knight (Peugeot 406). Defending National Trophy champion Barrie Clarke (Raleigh) finished third.

Gargrave rider Chris Young finished sixth and expressed himself well pleased with the result. On Sunday he finished one place behind his Marie Curie team-mate Paul Oldham.

Young has been selected to ride for Great Britain in the Nottingham International next month.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.