CROSS ROADS cyclist Robert Jebb won the gruelling Three Peaks Cyclo-cross Race last weekend.

The race is rated among the toughest cyclo-cross events in the world and covers a tough 40-mile course over Penyghent, Whernside and Inglebrough.

Jebb, a 25-year-old telephone engineer with British Telecom, has ridden in seven previous Peaks events, but this was his first win. He is also an international fell runner and a member of Bingley Harriers.

This week he teams up with former Three Peaks winner Ian Holmes, who is also an international fell running athlete to represent England in the World Mountain Race championship event on Mount Kinabalw in Malaysia.

Keighley rider Andy Peace, who was a favourite for the Peaks title was forced to abandon his attempt after suffering a hamstring injury in the build-up to the event. Last year's winner, Ian Cuthbertson, retired from the race on Penyghent due to mechanical problems with his bike.

Jebb complete the race in 2 hours 59 minutes and 35 seconds, almost four minutes ahead of Tim Gould of Racing Terrain (3:03:59). Third place went to Ian Wilkinson of Team Y2K (3:07:07) and Chris Young of Team marie Curie was fourth in (3:08:37).

Ian Taylor, a member of Keighley Road Club, took eleventh place (3:23:20) less then 24 hours after running the anchor leg for the Keighley and Craven Athletics team in the Northern Six-Stage Road Relay. In that event he took the team to 17th place, well inside the 25th place needed to earn the club a place in the National Finals later this month.

Other locals included Ian Ferguson who was 34th and second veteran (3:42:34), 69 Robin Bradbury from Haworth (3:58:07), Andy Holden who was 77th (4:00:20), 122 Simon Charlton from Oakworth (4:18:09); 169 Matthew Woods (:4:36:07); 201 Paul Sharples (4:56;33), 214 Johnny Gow (5:05:05); 231 Paul Buckley (5:23:30); 233 Allan Greenwood (5:23:51).

Sue Thomas from Southport repeated her 1998 victory in the ladies event, finishing 58th overall (3:53:31) with Helen Jackson from Bingley second (4:15:52), 3 Kali Taylor of Keighley Road Club (4:38:26). Janine Pickard from Cross Hills was fifth lady (4:52:36).