CONONLEY'S Ian Taylor (C and N Cycles) took the early initiative alongside Darren Atkins (Ride Coventry) in the over-40s race but had to settle for a ninth-place finish in the opening round of the National Trophy cyclo-cross in Southampton.

Taylor and Atkins were soon joined by Daniel Guest (Performance Cycles) and Jim Bryan (Zepnat RT), and the quartet's pace split the field.

However, Atkins, Bryan and Guest went on to claim the first three places, with Taylor tailing off to end up 1min 23sec adrift of Atkins.

Chris Young (Pedalsport CC), formerly of Keighley, won the over-50 men's race by three seconds from Tim Gould (www.Zepnat.comRT/GSG).

Former Wilsden resident Annie Simpson (Hope Factory Racing) was in a six-strong group at the start of the women's race, with Hannah Payton (Team Kinesis UK), Simpson and Beth Crumpton (NW Cycling Club) then creating a small gap.

Payton pulled clear on the penultimate lap, Simpson passing Crumpton at the bell for second place, ending up 20 seconds behind the winner.

Round two is on Sunday at Derby.