BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 2

On day 2 of the National CycloCross Championships in South Shields, the races winners were Jacob Steed (Junior Men), Peggy Knox (Junior Women), Anna Flynn (Women) and Cameron Mason, (Men)

NATIONAL CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 2
REPORT (British Cycling Press Release): Four-midable Mason takes top spot, while Flynn flies high at Lloyds National Cyclo-cross Championships. — Cameron Mason (777 ) secured his fourth elite mens Lloyds National Cyclo-cross championship in a row, while Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing) produced a dominant display in a tight elite female field.

The frost and ice of yesterday cleared in South Shields, but rain overnight, which persisted into the morning left the course wet and muddy. A bitter headwind peppered the riders all day long, which tested them on what was an already tough course.

Elite Open
Cameron Mason (777 ) made it four from four national championship events in what became a dominant performance by the Scot. The race got off to a flyer, with Oscar Amey (TEKKERZ CC) producing an electric outlap to set the tone for what was to come. Mason managed to keep close to maintain pressure while Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing) joined the leading fray. As Amey fell away, the battle between Mason and Barnes became the story of the race, with Mason being put under a lot of pressure.

Mason showed his class as the race went on, and with three laps to go, a 15 second gap formed, while Barnes and crowd favourite Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing) held strong in the chasing group, before Barnes stormed ahead to cement a second-place finish. Mein faded shortly after. Once the gap had formed, Mason made sure to take his time. A considered ride, he made the course very long, as after a full weekend of racing, most grass and traction had disappeared to be replaced by a slippy, thin layer of mud.

The battle for the remaining podium positions heated up, as Ben Askey (CC Etupes) and Daniel Barnes (Spectra Racing) made moves to vie for a medal. It was Askey who had that more in him to pip Barnes to the podium, topping the under-23 podium in the process.

Speaking after his win, Mason said: “It was really tricky, probably one of the trickiest wins I’ve had. Toby [Barnes] pushed me all the way, amd I just couldnt stay on my bike for some of those laps. I put together a few good laps in a row and managed to find the gap. Theres so many corners, there’s not many places to put the power down, then for the other parts of the lap I was under pressure and the wind was absolutely savage.

Joining Askey in the under-23 podium positions were Amey in second, finishing sixth overall, and Alfie Amey (Spectra Racing) finishing seventh overall.

Elite Female
Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing) took home a brilliant national title with a dominant display in the elite female national championships. Last year’s junior winner Zoe Roche (Santini Cycling) took the lead early doors, cementing herself at the head of the field in the outlap, with the advantage of the chasing Flynn and Grace Inglis.

A slip in lap one opened a door for Flynn and Inglis (Team HUP), now accompanied by Elena Day (Spectra Racing) as the leading bunch, with Xan Crees (OGT p/b USE) and Alderney Baker (Team Empella) competing in the chasing group. While the rain had died down, the bitter wind and cold still made conditions tricky, and a full day’s racing made parts of the course a true mud bath.

As expected, the race was unpredictable from start to finish, but with Flynn making a move on lap three to power away from Day, Crees and Inglis, she created a 14 second gap heading into lap four which only widened from there on in. With two laps to go, Inglis was able to create a bit of breathing room in second place as Crees went to the pits, while Flynn extended her advantage to over a minute.

Flynn crossed the line with ease, but the battle raged on behind her. That bike change by Crees proved to be the key, as she powered ahead of Inglis to snatch second place, with Inglis finish in third. Primarily a road rider, Flynn’s previous best result was fifth at the 2025 National Championships. Speaking after her win, she said: “I still feel a bit shocked. I did it a bit different this year with a lot of training for road but I think it’s come in quite well, I’m coming in quite fresh to these races and I’m really happy with how I’ve done.”

In the under-23 podium, Day topped proceedings, finishing fifth overall, with Alice Colling (Smurfit Westrock CT) finishing second, sixth overall and Zoe Roche (Santini Cycling) completing the podium positions, finishing seventh overall.

Junior Open
Jacob Steed (Sherwood Pines Cycles) came out on top in a fierce battle that went down to the wire in the junior open. A tight opening two laps was blown open when Milo Wills (Trinity Racing Cross), 2025’s runner-up, found an opportunity to push on, leading the chasing pack and was in prime position to take home the jersey.

Lap four saw Wills suffer a devastating mechanical, which opened the floodgates for Steed, who was right on the tail of Wills to challenge. A close bunch behind in the form of National Trophy Series winner Luke Trafford (Shibden Cycling Club) and Samuel Stacey (Verulam Megan’s RT) also made moves to take advantage.

Into the final lap, Steed was able to push away from the pack to take first, with Trafford finishing second, just seven seconds behind with Stacey completing the podium places in third. Speaking on his win, Steed said: “It was a really tactical race, me and Milo were together early doors, and I could see his lines. When he had a mechanical halfway through, I just thought ‘this is my opportunity, it’s been given to me’, so I just needed to give it 100%.

“[The weather] Added an extra challenge but definitely suited me, I’m quite a technical rider so as soon as I saw that weather, I was so happy.”

Junior Female
Peggy Knox (ViCiOUS VELO) stole the show, putting in a dominant display to take home the national champion jersey. The two-time under-16 national cyclo-cross champion came in as one of the favourites and did not disappoint – taking an early lead in the first lap, and refused to let up, to come home arms aloft in the pouring rain.

Tough conditions only worsened as the race went on, with even Knox slipping during some of the more technical parts of the course. The sandpit section of the track was a notorious problem throughout, with the terrain causing a host of mechanicals. A brilliant race from Freya Mowbray (Scotia Offroad RT) saw her maintain touching distance early on, trailing only by around four seconds going into lap three, and creating a healthy gap to the rest of the field, but Knox was able to put in a consistent ride to maintain the gap. Mowbray was able to cement second place, while Heidi Roscoe (Exact Power Versa Energy) had a brilliant ride to complete the podium places.

Speaking after the race, Knox said: “It was a very good race, I went super hard up the first hill because there was a headwind on the straight, so I tried not to be first and then I just went “nyoom” and created a gap. That gap just stayed the same for a long time, so I just tried to be smooth and not make any mistakes. “I just wanted to see how [the race] went, I didn’t want to blow the doors off super soon. I just wanted to see what the race was like and how it played out because usually I don’t get a good start.”

All our podium positions from the day are below:

Elite Open
1. Cameron Mason (777 )
2 Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing)
3 Ben Askey (CC Etupes)

Under-23 Open
1 Ben Askey (CC Etupes)
2 Oscar Amey (TEKKERZ CC)
3 Alfie Amey (Spectra Racing)

Elite Female
1 Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing)
2 Xan Crees (OGT p/b USE)
3 Grace Inglis (Team HUP)

Under-23 Female
1. Elena Day (Spectra Racing)
2. Alice Colling (Smurfit Westrock CT)
3. Zoe Roche (Santini Cycling)

Junior Open
1. Jacob Steed (Sherwood Pines Cycles)
2. Luke Trafford (Shibden Cycling Club)
3. Samuel Stacey (Verulam Megan’s RT)

Junior Female
1. Peggy Knox (ViCiOUS VELO)
2. Freya Mowbray (Scotia Offroad RT)
3. Heidi Roscoe, Exact Power Versa Energy

RESULTS

MEN
1. Cameron Mason, Alpecin-Deceuninck OS
2. Toby Barnes, Spectra Racing OS
3. Ben Askey, CC Etupes OU23
4. Daniel Barnes, Spectra Racing OS
5. Thomas Mein, Hope Factory Racing OS
6. Oscar Amey, TEKKERZ CC OU23
7. Alfie Amey, Spectra Racing OU23
8. Declan Oldham, Hope Factory Racing OU23
9. Luke Gibson, 4T+ Cyclopark OU23
10. Sam Chisholm, Team HUP OU23
11. Jenson Young, Ribble – Verge Sport OS
12. James Swadling, Pedal Power Lough OS
13. Joel Hurt, Moonglu SpatzWear OU23
14. Scott Fisher, Hope Factory Racing OU23
15. Joseph Beckingsale, Spectra Racing OS
16. Rowan Baxter, Shibden Cycling Club OU23
17. Steven James, Hope Factory Racing OS
18. Oliver Barker, Alterra XCOMTB.COM RT OU23
19. Spencer Corder, ROTOR Race Team OU23
20. Sullivan Berry, ROTOR Race Team OU23
21. Kieran Jarvis, Optimum Coaching OS
22. Grant Scott, Ronde Cycling Club OS
23. William Weatherill, Hope Factory Racing OS
24. Nicholas Craig, SCOTT Pioneer DJ OM50
25. Dan Clark, Magspeed Racing OS
26. Christopher Hilbert, Sherwood Pines Cycles OU23
27. Thomas Crapper, Magspeed Racing OS
28. Robin Godden, Hope Factory Racing OS
29. Oscar Baxter, Unattached OU23
30. Henry O’Brien, Scotia Offroad RT OU23
31. Murray Gray, ROTOR Race Team OU23
32. Jack Parnaby, Shibden Cycling Club OU23
33. Ollie Maynard, St Ives CC OS
34. Scott Chalmers, Magspeed Racing OS
35. James Elves, Reifen Racing OU23
36. Samuel Brownsword, Solihull CC OU23
37. Roddy Weir, Muckle Cycle Club OS
38. Liam Walshaw, Protech Velo OS
39. Kyran Levey, IGNITE Race Team OU23
40. Joshua Jones, ALL IN Racing OS
41. Max Avery, Ornata Factory Racing OU23
42. Mark Cotton, Velo Club Lincoln OS
43. Sam Kettlewell, TAAP Kalas OS
44. Ben Scott, Racing Metro 15 OU23
45. Ryan Parkinson, Muckle Cycle Club OS
46. James Wright, Newhall.cc OS
47. Samuel Ridgment, Sotonia CC OU23
48. Emil Petrov, Border City Wheelers CC OS
49. Anthoney Craig, Whitby Wheelers CC OS

WOMEN
1. Anna Flynn, Spectra Racing FS
2. Xan Crees, OGT p/b USE FS
3. Grace Inglis, Team HUP FS
4. Alderney Baker, Team Empella FS
5. Elena Day, Spectra Racing FU23
6. Alice Colling, Smurfit Westrock CT FU23
7. Zoe Roche, Santini Cycling FU23
8. Anna Kay, Essec Cycling Team FS
9. Madeline Cooper, Spectra Racing FU23
10. Ellie Mitchinson, Exact Power Versa Energy FU23
11. Anna Patterson, Brother UK – On Form FU23
12. Libby Bell, Unattached FU23
13. Rebecca Woodvine, Fossa Racing FU23
14. Sophie Thackray, Paceline Cycles North FS
15. Kacey Eyeington, SCOTT Pioneer DJ FU23
16. Ishbel Strathdee, Team HUP FS
17. Daisy Taylor, Royal Albert CC FU23
18. Kate Eedy, Team Empella FM40
19. Amy Perryman, Unattached FS
20. Cassandra Mackintosh, Shibden Cycling Club FS
21. Esme Wiley, London Academy FU23
22. Victoria Peel, Hope Factory Racing FS
23. Florence Lissaman, Uni of Nottingham FU23
24. Ruby James, Hope Factory Racing FS
25. Amy Mourne, O’Shea – Development FU23
26. Katie Hadnum, Reifen Racing FU23
27. Phoebe Skinner, Reifen Racing FU23
28. Tia Taylor, Shibden Cycling Club FU23
29. Ingrid Gascoigne, Team Empella FU23
30. Amelia Cleathero, SCAD Savannah CT FU23

JUNIOR WOMEN
1 Peggy Knox, ViCiOUS VELO
2 Freya Mowbray, Scotia Offroad RT
3 Heidi Roscoe, Exact Power Versa Energy
4 Iris Gray, Liv Cycling Club Halo
5 Charlotte Lissaman, Pine Sport
6 Georgia Mahoney, Magspeed Racing
7 Isla Pattinson, Exact Power Versa Energy
8 Katie Colling, Brother UK – On Form
9 Megan Cherry, Tofauti Everyone Active
10 Scarlett Ford, Stratford CC
11 Isabelle Dalgleish, Cog Set Papyrus RC
12 Nicole Anderson, Hetton Hawks CC
13 Isabelle Land, Calder Clarion CC

JUNIOR MEN
1. Jacob Steed, Sherwood Pines Cycles
2. Luke Trafford, Shibden Cycling Club
3. Samuel Stacey, Verulam Megan’s RT
4. Sam Genazzini, Exact Power Versa Energy
5. Jody Mills, Inspire Racing Adaston
6. Theo Sandell, VC Londres
7. Xander Graham, SCOTT Pioneer DJ
8. Arthur Limb, Harrogate Nova RT
9. Joel Gillan, Scotia Offroad RT
10. Joseph Wooliscroft, Shibden Cycling Club
11. Milo Wills, Trinity Racing Cross
12. Oliver Swinburn, Prologue Racing Team
13. Jack Morgan, IGNITE Race Team
14. Alarik Knox, Verulam Megan’s RT
15. Oliver Larner, Team Pau
16. Isaac Starmer, Colchester Rovers CC
17. Jed Claxton, Wheal Velocity
18. Charlie Albone, Shibden Cycling Club
19. James Calvert, ROTOR Race Team
20. Noah White, Lee Valley Youth CC
21. Tanner Beetge, Unattached
22. Tom Allen, IGNITE Race Team
23. Isaac Allaway, Pedalon
24. Oscar Shaw, The Grit Cartel
25. James Cook, 4T+ Cyclopark
26. Matthew Sanderson, VC Azzurri
27. Zack Stobbs, Otley Cycle Club
28. Thomas Nabb, Otley Cycle Club
29. Thomas Watkins, Bigfoot CC
30. Edward Lindsay, Team Andrew Allan
31. Joseph Taylor, Derby Mercury RC
32. Will Hocking, North Cheshire Clarion
33. Elliot English, Clancy Briggs Cycling
34. Cailean Vorster, West Lothian Clarion
35. Theo Mcfadden, Inspire Racing Adaston
36. Gabriel Rees, Unattached