Eight-times winner Rob Jebb (Wheelbase.co.uk) may have been a spectator due to shoulder surgery but Bingley still had a good day in the Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross last Sunday.

Robert Watson (Paul Milnes RT/Bradford RC), winner of a Yorkshire Points race the previous weekend, smashed the under-23 record by 19min 51sec in finishing eighth overall.

And he wasn’t the Keighley area's best finisher. Cononley's Ian Taylor (Craven Energy Tri) came fourth and Bingley veteran Andy Peace (Crosstrax) fifth.

Watson was hampered by losing his chain on Ingleborough, though after having his chain rap in the drive and crank at the bottom, he had another bike waiting on the final road section run-in.

And Watson’s team finished second overall, with Otley’s Richard Thackray 16th and Seth Smith 22nd behind Crosstrax which included Neal Crompton (second), Peace and Stephen Bottomley (23rd).

The favourite Nick Craig (Scott UK), from Derbyshire, notched his third individual men’s victory in 3hr 8min 47sec - almost three minutes clear - and also took the veterans’ crown in front of Peace (second) and Smith (third), with Alistair Dow (Paul Milnes RT) in fifth.

Jebb’s record of 2hr 52min 22sec was never in danger because of recent rain and a morning downpour but Watson wasn’t the only convincing winner.

Louise Robinson, a former winner and current record holder, made a sensational return to the event, winning the women’s race in a cracking time of 3hr 44min 49sec, which put her almost 20 minutes clear of runner-up Isla Rowntree.

Over 650 riders started, and Taylor was in the lead group behind Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing).

But on reaching Ribblehead viaduct, Craig had passed Oldham and had a slender ten-second lead over Taylor, who stopped to exchange his hydration pack and lost valuable time.

At the bottom of Pen-y-Ghent Lane, Craig had at least 30 seconds on Taylor and Crampton, with Oldham fourth. On Pen-y-Ghent, Taylor dropped back to fourth, which is where he finished.

Keighley’s Pete Dimitrijevic was 194th and Keighley and Craven Athletic Club’s Richard Ballantine 231st. Bingley’s Dave Johnston was 264th, Mark Whitaker (Keighley & Craven AC) 293rd and Bronte Wheelers duo Craven Moses - father of Tom and Joe - and Kevin Hickie 312th and 313th.

Further back, Bingley’s Michael Jowett was 364th and Fraser Hardie (Keighley & Craven AC) 377th. Next year will be the Three Peaks’ golden jubilee and invitations are due to be sent out to former winners in what should be a class field.