A new venue which has only seen cyclo-cross twice before has been chosen for the South of England Championships taking place this Sunday.

A mid-week inspection by race organiser Steve Thomson of Swindon RC suggests course conditions will be: "very heavy going."

"I've never seen it looking so wet underfoot as it is at present," reports Thomson, who describes the Croft Sports Centre. Swindon, as similar in many respects to Southampton Sports Centre, with playing fields on different levels and a wooded area offering plenty of scope for cyclo-cross.

Southampton Sports Centre hosted this regional Championship two years ago when West Country International mountain biker Ollie Beckingsale (MBUK Scott) overcame a strong challenge from Wessex and Home Counties riders to take the title.

After losing it to Jody Crawforth (Team Y2K) last year, Beckingsale returns to the starting line with 43 others who include past and present Wessex champions Jamie Norfolk (Helly Hansen Giant) and Stuart Powers (Hargroves Cycles RT).

Both Bower's team and Southampton-based rivals GA Cycles will be contesting both the main race of the day as well as the supporting race for veterans, juniors, women and elite (under-23) riders. The three-hour programme also includes separate races for youths and under-12-year-olds, with the last-named age group due to start first - at 10.45am.

Barbara Braithwaite, the 80-year-old Southampton time trialist who holds seven national records for her age, has been made an honorary life member of the Sotonia CC. - a club she joined as one of 24 founder members nearly 36 years ago.

She became only the fifth member to be honoured in this way as a result of her successes at national level, at the club's annual meeting in Chandler's Ford. Another member present with a long period of service was Harold Finch, who stood down after holding the club's purse strings for 26 years.

His post as treasurer has been filled by the new road race secretary, and another change saw Julian Gee succeed Norman Harvey as chairman, but Frank Drinkwater continues to serve as president.

FIXTURES:

SATURDAY

Alton CTC meet Community Centre, 1.30pm for ride to West Tisted.

SUNDAY

South of England Cyclo-cross Championships, Croft Sports Centre, Swindon, 10.45am

Alton CTC meet The Butts, 9am. Elevenses at Totton & lunch at Worldham.

Fareham Wheelers meet Titchfield Abbey, 9am for choice of morning rides.

Sotonia CC meet North Baddesley crossroads, 9.30am for ride to Lyndhurst.

Southampton CTC meet Chilworth r.a.b. 9am. Elevenses at Middle Wallop and lunch at Weyhill, nr. Andover.

Winchester CTC meet King Alfred's Statue, 9am for ride to Wilton.

THURSDAY

Mid Hampshire CF Advent Lunch, Selborne, 12.30pm.