OUTGOING Wessex Cyclo-cross League champion Stuart Bowers (Hargroves Cycles RT) marked his recovery from injury with a return to winning ways in the new year meeting organised by Crabwood CC at the Sports Centre, Southampton.

Bowers is happy to pass his title on to teammate Tim Dunford who, along with Ross Adams (Red Kite Cycles) made him work for his win.

Though Bowers always looked in command to reverse the Boxing Day result at the same venue when he was runner-up to Dunford, the other two could easily have swept by if the leader met any mishap.

Behind the three were the usual battles for the junior and veterans awards, Andrew MacDonald (GA Cycles) making amends for his unexpected defeat by his brother, Ian, by taking the latter category with comparative ease. The placings of Portswood Cycles RTs' Gough brothers were also reversed, the older Andrew finishing two minutes ahead of Philip.

It was a disappointing start to the new year for Philip Gough after distinguishing himself with a third place performance, and the junior prize, on Boxing Day. This time Petersfield teenager Ian Legg (Principia RT), fourth overall, was best junior, but there was no surprise in the outcome of the Crabwood club championship incorporated in the race.

Kerrie Wallace, the club champion two years ago but now better known as league co-ordinator, was the only member of his club to race for the title this time, and all he had to do was finish, which he did.

Tom Butt's winning run in the youth race came to an unexpected end when David Sinclair (Owens Cycles) and Gareth Dickinson (Team Luciano) outpaced him, but the Chapel Tristar's victories in the previous two Crabwood meetings assured him of overall victory in a new competition for this age group in memory of the promoting club's Geoff Greenfield of Southampton, a pioneer for local cyclo-cross who did much to encourage youngsters into the sport through voluntary work with the English Schools CA.

Two other cycling stalwarts who gave much of their lives to the sport died last week. Gordon Stubbs, of Shirley, Southampton, better known as 'Buz' was a member of the city's regent CC who helped set up the Southampton TTA during the Second World War which enabled cycling servicemen home on leave to compete in local time trials by entering 'on the line' - a hitherto unheard of practice. He then made a name for himself as a leading timekeeper, handicapper and course measurer, was 90 at the time of his death and a life member of the Veterans TTA as well as past chairman of the Wessex Group.

The death on the same day of Isle of Wight born John Pendleton, aged 71, was much more of a shock, and came shortly after he was admitted to a hospital in Portsmouth for radiotherapy treatment. President of Southdown Velo, Pendleton was also a devoted worker for the sport as race organiser, judge and commentator. He also competed against the watch in time trials in his younger days and, as a member of the Vectis Roads CC team, completed a Poole Wheelers 12-hour race shortly before moving to the mainland 40 years ago.

RESULTS:

Wessex Cyclo-cross League, Southampton: 1 S Bowers (Hargroves Cycles RT) 11 laps in 56.8, 2 T Dunford (HCRT) @ 4, 3 R Adams (Red Kite Cycles) @ 32, 4 I Legg (Principia RT) @ 2.55, 5 A Gough (Portswood cycles RT) @ 3.30, 6 A Forrester (Racing All Terrain Squad) @ 3.47, 7 A MacDonald (GA Cycles) @ 4.38, 8 P Gough (PCRT) @ 5.6,9 R Wilmott (GAC) @ 5.16, 10 A Shaw (Exeter Wheelers) @ 5.38, 11 A Boyd (Southampton University) @ 5.58, 12 P Hargroves (HCRT) @ 6, 13 J Samways (GAC) @ 1 lap, 28 K Wallace (Crabwood CC) @ 2 laps.

Youths: 1 D Sinclair (Owens Cycles) 4 laps in 26.37, 2 G Dickinson (Team Luciano) @ 1.40, 3 T Butt (Chapel Tri) @ 2.41, 4 B Heinrich (Fareham Wheelers) @ 5.38, 5 P Dibben (New Forest CC) @ 5.55, 6 J Harris (Didcot Phoenix) @ 1 lap. Under 12s: 1 L Gray (Dorset Rough Riders) 10.57, 2 T Robbins (DP) @ 43, 3 J Dibben (NFCC) @ 50, 4 L Barber (Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers) @ 52, 5 A Hardwicke (Bournemouth Flying Arrows) @ 1 lap, 6 C Charlton (BFA) @ 1 lap.