STOKE Prior rider Pete Banham was crowned Junior Welsh Mountain Bike Champion at the MTB Championships over the weekend.

The gifted young rider overcame a injury hit season to storm the event at Builth Wells.

So strong was his performance that his time would have seen him finish fourth overall in the elite category at the championships.

Banham had missed most of the early season races with a serious knee injury that required surgery.

However, the gutsy young rider fought back to fitness and recently completed the tough Ras De Cymru five day stage race, finishing in a respectable 42nd overall against senior opposition.

Now the talented rider will be hoping his good form continues when he rides in the National Mountain Bike Championships at the end of July.

Banham's Wyre Forest CC fellow Bromsgrove rider Dave Barnes maintained his good form by winning the British Cycling National Masters three kilometre pursuit championship over the weekend.

He shrugged off a thigh strain problem to win the event in a time of three hours, 50 minutes and 9.43 seconds at Welwyn Garden City in the 35 to 39-year-old age group, finishing two second ahead of closest rival - Ipswich's Philip Hetzel.