Morgan Donnelly wins North East 'cross in Whitby

Beacon Wheelers' stalwart Morgan Donnelly secured victory in the final round of the North East Cyclo-Cross Series, taking a comfortable win by more than a minute at Caedmon School in Whitby, North Yorkshire, on Sunday.

The 39-year-old Cumbria rider was 1-11 ahead of runner-up Keith Murray (Scott UK) at the end of the nine-lap race, to secure his second win of the series and his fifth podium finish.

The sudden thaw on Saturday night left the venue muddy, and bike changes proved central to the decisive moves which saw Murray attack early in the race. And it was while Murray was changing machines that Donnelly got clear.

Elsewhere, Tom Payton (Isla Bikes) wrapped up the Waldrons Solicitors West Midlands League in style, taking victory in round ten at Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton on Sunday.

The win was Payton's fourth of the series and with several other podium places to his name he is a convincing winner of the 2012-13 title.

And his younger sister Hannah Payton (Kinesis Morvelo Project) took victory in the women's race to underline her challenge for the overall women's title.

In road racing, Redhill CC placed two riders on the podium of the elite race at the South East League's Winter Series on Sunday.

Ryan Visser bagged the victory in round six at the Cyclopark in Gravesend, Kent, while Aprire Bicycles' Josh Lawless took second and Visser's team-mate Dominic Clegg third.

The win was Visser's fourth of the series, and also comes after he won the fourth round of the Winter in the Park Series at the same venue.

And in latest round of the Imperial Winter Series at the Hillingdon circuit in London, Tom Smith (Felt Colbornes) won his first race, holding off junior Joe Crolla (AW Cycles) to bag his first win of the series.

The 36-year-old has been second and third in the previous two rounds, but finally tasted victory in Saturday's chilly race.

Also proving consistent was another AW Cycles rider Ken Buckley, who was securing his fourth victory in the third cat race, and has been on the podium each time he has ridden in the series.