Barrie Clarke regains British open cyclo-cross title

Cyclo-cross

Barrie Clarke fought back from a spill to regain his British open cyclo-cross title yesterday at Sutton Park, Birmingham, beating surprise silver-medallist Steve Knight by eight seconds in the 14 kilometres championship. Roger Hammond, the 1992 junior world champion, was considered the big threat, but finished more than a minute behind for the bronze on a 2km circuit that was a mix of frost-hardened ground and thick mud.

DAWES BRITISH CYCLO-CROSS CHAMPIONSHIP (Birmingham, 14km): 1 B Clarke (Team Raleigh) 51min 45sec; 2 S Knight (Halesowen A & CC) +8sec; 3 R Hammond (Evans Cycles) +1:08; 4 S Blunt (Ace R T) +1:43; 5 J Norfolk (Sachs) +1:46; 6 D Baker (GT-Shimano) +2:0. Under-23 (12km): 1 J Taylor (Team Giant) 45:24; 2 B Curtis (Team Corridori) +16sec; 3 G Hardwicke (Shocktech-Continental) +37. Women, 10 kms: 1. C. Alexander (Team Ritchey) 43:24; 2 I Rowntree (Black Country Wheelers) +1:44. 3 L Robinson (Team Raleigh) +3:41.