LUKE Gray (Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Specialized) won the under-16 youth title on day one of the British Cycling National Cyclo-Cross Championships at Sutton Park, Birmingham.

After finishing second four times this year in the four rounds of the National Trophy Series, Gray was determined to succeed with his main target of the season. He also had a little extra motivation after attending the funeral of his great grandfather the day before.

Gray was a picture of confidence on the start line, but as soon as the race was off he found himself in a spot of bother. Said the Broadstone-based youngster: "I had a bit of a problem at the start and slipped on the pedals. I made up some time into the first corner but the early laps were very hard and fast."

As the race settled down Gray moved into the top three and on entering the quarry section for the second time he took the lead.

"It was a very fast pace and I wanted it to slow a little so I took the lead, but then Sam Harris rode up to our group and went straight past us. I was the only one to stay with him," said Gray.

He then put his superior technical skills to work, giving Harris a hard time on the technical sections. "He was gaining ground on the straights but I just stuck to my pace knowing I could bring him back in the corners and the technical sections," added Gray After Harris made a mistake re-mounting his bike, Gray took full advantage and went for gold and maintained his race-winning gap.

The victory gave Gray his second national cyclo-cross title to go with the under-14 accolade he gained two years ago. He now goes into the fifth and final round of the National Trophy Series as hot favourite for the season-long competition title.

Stuart Bowers' bad luck continued in the elite event with two unfortunate mechanical problems that took him out of a richly deserved top 10 placing.

Bowers, who needed a top 17 finish to help his team win the overall title, had an incredible start but then suffered a mechanical failure which was then compounded by tyre problems on his spare bike which caused him to crash on the last lap.

The Charlton Marshall-based rider eventually finished 14th with his consolation being that the Peter Hargroves team won the club title.

The elite race was won by European professional Roger Hammond.