The course chosen for this year's South of England Cyclo-cross Championships, in Rainham, Kent, certainly lived up to all expectations.

Predicted by the organisers to be full of speed, it was also extremely slippery in places after heavy rain had saturated the area 24 hours earlier.

"I've never seen so many riders fall off," said West End veteran, Andrew MacDonald (GA Cycles) and he was one of them, falling victim to an adverse camber which proved to be a major hazard for most.

The soft surface enabled all to remount without difficulty, but MacDonald's fall came early in his race for the veterans title, which he won in Southampton last year.

Mike Bell (London Fire Brigade CC) his principal rival for this Championship, took full advantage of MacDonald's plight to win, but MacDonald moved up to pass all three members of the Hargroves Cycles Trant RT) and win the silver medal.

Luck also deserted the Hargroves squad's hope for the senior title, when Stuart Bowers punctured shortly after passing the pits.

Shouldering his cycle, he ran most of the way to the next service area for a replacement wheel, and spent the rest of the race in hot pursuit of the leaders.

He caught all but two of them, but though happy to add a bronze medal to the silver one he won a year ago - he was hoping for gold this time and reckoned he might have caught the new champion, Jody Crawforth (Y2K) Giant) and runner-up, Brian Curtis (Team Corridor1) had the race been a little longer.

Wessex League's youth leader, Thomas Budd, also gave GA Cycles cause to celebrate before MacDonald's second place by finishing third in his race on a day when only one of the titles contested was retained by a previous year's winner.

He was Mark Russell, now racing for VC Veuden, who left none of his rivals in any doubt that he is still the best junior in Southern England.

Results

Seniors: 1 Jody Crawforth (Team Y2K Giant) 12 miles in 1hr 0mins 26secs, 2 B Curtis (Team Corridor1) @ 19secs, 3 S Bowers (Hargroves Cycles), 4 A Forrester (RATS), 5 S Bayliss (Addiscombe CC) C Price (Army CU)

Juniors/Veterans/Women: 1 Mark Russell (VCVouden), 2 M Bell (London Fire Brigade CC), 3 A MacDonald (GA Cycles), 4 C Remnent (VC Veuden), 5 M Cross (Hargroves Cycles) GD Dowling (Farnborough & Camberley CC)

Youths: 1, Sam Cotton (Ancillatt1 UK), 2 J Mixton (San Mairy Ann CC), 3 T Budd (GA Cycles).

With the shortest day little more than a fortnight away, CTC members will be producing some extra light this Thursday evening when they meet at the Scout Hall in Aldermoor Road, Southampton, for their annual photographic competition.

It starts at 8.30pm - and the public are welcome to attend.