IAN Taylor is hoping that a cold will not derail his National Cyclo-Cross Championships ambitions this weekend.

The Shibden Cycling Club member from Austwick warmed up for Callendar Park in Falkirk by winning the final round of the National Trophy Series in Bradford on Saturday.

The former Cononley and Skipton resident relegated Stuart Marshall (unattached) and Morgan Donnelly (Kendal Cycle Club) to the minor podium places at the Parkwood Outdoor Centre at Home Farm, Tong.

Taylor, who clinched the men’s 50-59 age group in the series with 1170 points, now heads up to Scotland for another battle with Nick Craig (SCOTT Racing), who has been concentrating on competing in the elite men’s trophy races, rather than the veterans.

The Shibden rider said: “I haven’t been ill all winter and now I have a cold, which has made my chest congested, but hopefully I will be all right for Saturday.”

Glusburn’s Cat Ferguson, whose interest is in major European races now rather than domestic, was a spectator at Tong on Sunday, opting out of racing in order to manage her increasingly crowded schedule.

Barnoldswick’s Vicky Peel (Hope Factory Racing) was a lonely 11th in the elite women’s race at Tong, while Skipton’s Matilda McKibben (AWOL-O’Shea) was 20th in the women’s under-23 category.

Will Weatherill (Hope Factory Racing), also from Skipton, was 18th in the men’s elite race.