Cycling: Oli Beckingsale, who won the last two Western League races of the season, put in a superb effort to claim fourth place at the National Cyclocross Championships.

Despite a lack of winter training, the three-times Olympic mountain bike rider, pictured, battled it out with the country's top cross racers until well into the final lap.

The hilly course and an energy-sapping, bitter wind finally took their toll on Beckingsale (Giant Racing) and he fell away from the leading group of three in a fiercely-contested race at Peel Park, Bradford.

Beckingsale ended up 27 seconds behind winner Jody Crawforth (Arctic Premier RT), who saw off Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing) and former national champion Roger Hammond (Cervelo Test Team) in a thrilling sprint to the line on a long road section.

Fellow Western League rider William Bjergfelt (Sport Beans/Wilier) finished four minutes down in 13th place, while Simon Burgess (Dream CC) was unable to ride due to illness.

Result: 1 Jody Crawforth (Arctic Premier RT) 1 2m 43s 2 Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing) at 0:7 3 Roger Hammond (Cervelo Test Team) at 0:10 4 Oli Beckingsale (Giant Racing) at 0:27 5 Rob Jebb (Wheelbase/Gore Bike Wear) at 1:5 6 Ian Bibby (Science in Sport/Trek) at 1:22 7 Ian Field (Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/GSI) at 1:35 8 Nick Craig (Team Scott UK) at 1:54 9 Lewis Craven (Wheelbase/Gore Bike Wear) at 2:28 10 Stuart Wearmouth (Picarsso-Pulman RT) at 2:45.

Final Western Cyclocross League placings: 1 Scott Chalmers (John's Bikes RT) 2 Barry Holley (VC Walcot) 3 Craig Denning (Dream CC).

Full result of the last round of the league held at Beaufort School, Gloucester: 1 Oli Beckingsale (Giant Racing) 53m 23s 2 Lee Williams (Abergavenny R C) at 0:09 3 Darren Atkins (Cov RC Ride.co.uk) at 0:32 4 Anthony O Boyle (Cwmcarn Paragon) at 1:26 5 Paul Prince (Wyre Forest CRC) at 2:13 6 Craig Denning (Dream CC) at 3:32 7 Scott Chalmers (John's Bikes RT) at 3:35 8 Barry Holley (VC Walcot) at 4:59 9 Richard Bowen (Gateway Cycles) at 1 lap 10 Mark James (MI Racing) at 1 lap.

About 200 riders will be taking part in the 100km Jack and Grace Memorial Ride on Saturday. The charity event, which takes in the Severn Vale, starts in Almondsbury at 9am.

The Severn Road Club's Boxing Day 10 at Iron Acton, near Chipping Sodbury, was won by Mark Wilkinson (Severn RC). Chris Madge (Severn RC) was second, with David Curtis-Whitfield (Felt Racing) third. Anyone wishing to join the club can go to www.severnroadclub.co.uk.