NEARLY 150 riders competed in Bromsgrove Olympique Cycling Club's second annual Cyclo-Cross meeting at Sanders Park last Sunday.

Despite poor weather, riders were again in good form at the Kidderminster Road park to take a variety of positions across a range of categories in the second round of the West Midlands Cyclo-Cross League.

The U12s and youth categories escaped much of the rain and Olympique's young star Craig Talbot, who had been on the course 24 hours previously, used his knowledge to win by 15 seconds from Halesowen's Alex Tinsley.

Talbot also won the British Schools Cycling Association Regional Championships for U12s, which were run at the same time.

Jason Dingley finished sixth in the race, giving him an easy victory in the U8s category in the schools' competition.

Stephen Boyle was the next club rider, in tenth, just ahead of Leanne Talbot who took the U10 girls title.

Genny Billington had held her second place in the U12 girls for most of the race until a jammed up rear wheel lost her nearly two minutes and relegated her to fourth.

Katherine Twigg, riding her first event, finish fifth in the U12s.

In the youth category, Will Goulbourne was Olympique's second winner of the day, with excellent rides also from Peter Banham, Joe Dodd, Ross Dingley, Chris Macdonald and Ben Underhill who were third, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth respectively. Joe Underhill took third in the U14s.

The main race of the day saw many riders falling off in the slippery conditions.

Steve Talbot survived the deluge to end up the best placed senior, finishing back in 20th.

In the juniors, Olympique saw Matt Lee, who has left the team for a sponsored team, win his category by a convincing margin with Alex Billington over a lap down.

In the ladies, Francine Billington was third. Dave Lee took seventh place in the veterans.