THERE was no double for Ian Taylor (Jedi Cycle Sport) at the National Cyclo-Cross Championships at Abergavenny.

The Skipton veteran had won the season-long National Trophy Series the previous week but had to settle for second place in south-east Wales.

However, although Taylor was the runner-up behind Nick Craig in the men's 40-49 years' race, he had the consolation of winning the 40-44 years' sub-division.

Nick Craig (Pioneer-Scott Synchros) rode superbly to deny the strong challenge of Taylor.

These two, plus Darren Atkins (Ride Coventry), made an early break, and Taylor and Atkins had a small gap on Craig at the end of the first lap.

However, Taylor and Craig then managed to distance themselves from Atkins, who was recovering from a flu bug.

By the midway point, Taylor and Craig were playing cat and mouse at the front, but Craig made the decisive move on the short climb after the pits.

Taylor said: "I knew I had to keep it hard all race but it took it out of me. I knew I had to put the effort in to string the rest of the race out.

"However, I've done a lot better than I thought I would. I came down with a cold after Derby (National Trophy Series final round) and I've struggled to clear it up.

"I thought 'Let's start and see how it goes through the race' and it was worth the effort."

The Horrocks family from Barnoldswick were again in action for Hope Factory Racing, with mum Juliet ninth in the veteran women's race, dad Mark 26th in the veteran men's 50-plus race and Emily third in the under-16 girls' race when she had to retire.