THE queen of the mud in Myrtle Park was definitely Eldwick's Sophie Thackray (Scott Racing), who won the women's race by over four minutes from Victoria Peel (Hope Factory Racing) at the fourth round of the Yorkshire Points Cyclo-Cross Series

University of Cumbria student Thackray, 20, said of Myrtle Park: "It is a really tough course.

"It is quite similar to Peel Park but not as extreme. The hills aren't quite as heavy so I would say it is 75 per cent as difficult.

"But there is a lot of climbing and I was happy to take a lead early on - pretty much from the first lap - and just keep going and pull away."

Thackray, who won rounds two and three of the Trek Fox Valley-Bespoke Sports Kit Yorkshire Points Winter Series at Temple Newsam Park in Leeds and Aireville Park in Skipton, was a dyed in the wool PH Mas Paul Milnes Cycles member.

She explained: "I had ridden for Paul Milnes Cycles as long as I can remember.

"I love the sport, I have always taken it seriously and I love to do well and the support from Scott Racing, who I joined in March, has been fantastic.

"But I am also family oriented and the support of my parents has been great too - my dad has been in the pits all day - and my grandad is on the course cheering me round, which is brilliant."

As for her 2019-20 season, Thackray said: "I am currently leading the under-23 women's category in the National Trophy Series - a title I am defending - and am in with a chance of taking the overall women's leaders' jersey next weekend (in Crawley) and there is the National Championships in January to go for as well (at Shrewsbury) so I will definitely be riding the Yorkshire Points race at Peel Park (round eight) the week before that."

The men's race was won by Jenson Young (Garden Shed UK-Scott RT) - nephew of Shipley cyclo-cross legend Chris - by almost five minutes from Shibden CC's Joe Coukham.

Third was Yeadon's Jack Clarkson (Hope Factory Racing), who said of his race: "I got a poor start, which was down to me not being fit enough due to a change of jobs from being a salesman to working in construction as a joiner, which has given me a bit of a belly being on site all the time.

"I found myself chasing but found my rhythm by midway round lap one and took the corners a bit better and it started to flow.

"There were some super-hard climbs but I was able to rest on the descents and it was a fantastic race and a fantastic day."

The 25-year-old former Greetland man added: "If I can match that podium and maybe get a couple more then I will be happy and come back even better next year."

Former Haworth resident Andy Peace (Shibden CC) won the men's 50 category by one minute 23.3 seconds from PH Mas Paul Milnes Cycles member Mike Burdon, with Stefan Macina (Ilkley CC) third.

Macina said: "I am happy with my position and tried my hardest. It is a really excellent course and dried out quite a bit while we were going round.

"There are a lot of places where you could get it wrong if you didn't keep your focus but the guys ahead of me were away so I was just trying to consolidate third."

Peace's club-mate Will Thompson, from Brighouse, won the junior men's race from Ethan Whiteside (East Bradford RT).

The latter said: "I am happy with second but it could have been so much better as I have just got back from holiday and am drained and also have a bit of a cold."

The 17-year-old Ilkley Grammar student, who finished ahead of Henry Hollyman (Otley CC), added: "It was a good course but difficult and saps your legs. With the illness it was definitely damage limitation."

Chloe Hinchliffe (PH Mas Paul Milnes) won the junior women's category from club-mate Lily Young, while East Bradford RT's Bjorn Koerdt triumphed in the boys' under-16 race, where Oliver Peace (Shibden CC) was third.

Joseph Cosgrove (PH Mas Paul Milnes) lifted the boys' under-14 crown ahead of Noah Ellison (Shibden CC), while Florence Greenhalgh (East Bradford RT) took the equivalent girls' race from 13-year-old Cat Ferguson (Cycle Sport Pendle).

South Craven School pupil Ferguson said: "I could have done better on the corners."

In the younger age groups there were wins for Shibden CC duo Louis Stanton-Spencer (in a club 1-2-3 ahead of William Young and Henry Bairstow) and Elodie Geall in the under-eights, while the latter's brother Ellis was second in the under-10s, with club-mate Elsie Hughes coming third in the under-10 girls.

Izabel Young (Shibden CC) was runner-up in the under-12 girls ahead of Isla Aylward (Otley CC), whose brother Ruaridh was third in the equivalent boys' race.

Freya Whiteside (East Bradford RT) was second in the girls' under-16 category, while Nicky Hartle (PH Mas Paul Milnes) was third in the women's 50 section.