SOPHIE Thackray put her stamina to good use in the National Trophy Cyclo-Cross Series on Sunday at the Rolls Royce Complex at Barnoldswick.

The 23-year-old CAMS-Basso rider from Eldwick finished eighth in the women’s elite race on a weekend where frozen ground meant that many sports suffered postponements.

Cyclo-cross riders are a hardy lot, however, and Thackray said: “I was just behind the leading quartet on the first lap, but I just couldn’t get to them, though I was happy with how I rode.”

Rain had fallen onto frozen ground and Thackray added: “It was just a matter of trying not to fall and I only had one slip so it wasn’t too bad.

“The top 10 was my aim as there were a lot of really good riders, such as Millie Couzens (who finished third and whose grandparents live in Baildon), so I am really happy.

“When I did a walk around the course this morning it was really icy but the rain softened it a little bit.

“There were still icy bits, so you had to concentrate for the whole race, otherwise you were on the floor.

“There were short power climbs, which suited me, so I could have done with a few more of those on what was a twisty course, but it was good for me overall.”

Thackray is next in action on Monday, January 2 in Bradford for the final round of the Yorkshire Points Series at Peel Park.

Apperley Bridge’s Eleina McFadden (East Bradford CC) was 21st in the under-16 girls’ race, which was held on Saturday, when conditions were more brutal.

Fourteen junior riders being treated for hypothermia and former Bingley man Rob Jebb fell on to the hard ground and dislocated a shoulder.