Bradford cyclo-cross ace Rob Watson stepped up his bid for the Yorkshire Points Series title with victory in the eighth round at Thornes Park in Wakefield.

The Paul Milnes RT/Bradford Olympic RC rider was third overall heading into the event but closed the gap on series leader and clubmate Tim Baldwin of Wilsden, who could only manage fifth around three minutes behind Watson.

Recent snow had turned into hard-packed ice on many parts of the circuit, making the going treacherous and leading to numerous spills.

A somewhat depleted senior and junior field made up the last race of the day and it was junior rider Tom Armstrong (Wheelbase) who flew into an early lead after Watson punctured on the first lap.

But he was gradually pegged back, with Watson heading the chase and taking the lead on lap two. From then on it was a one-horse race as Watson rode away from the field to claim an impressive win.

Team Elite rider Paul Bethell made a successful trip from Cheshire to take second, 1min 26sec behind Watson, while Northallerton veteran Noel Clough was third over the line, edging out Wheelbase team-mate Armstrong by three seconds.

Bradford’s Graeme Bird (unattached) finished eighth, while Keighley’s Chris Young (Wheelbase) was tenth with Oxenhope’s Matt Denby (www.zepnat RT) 11th and Philip Hinchliffe (Bradford RCC) 12th.

Armstrong was named top junior ahead of Tom Saville (Norton Wheelers), while in the veterans race Dan Cook (Planet X) tasted victory by around 40 seconds from Pete Middleton (www.zepnat RT).

Bradford’s Jonathan Watson (Charge Bikes) finished third after taking an early lead, with Mike Young (Pedalsport CC) in fifth.

Jake Womersley (Sowerby Brothers CRT) and Ollie Wood (Aire Valley Cycles RT) dominated the under-16s youth race, with Womersley holding a slight advantage almost throughout to win by six seconds.

Edwyn Oliver-Evans (East Bradford CC) took third, with Sebastian Marsh (Paul Milnes RT/Bradford Olympic RC) taking sixth.

Abby Parkinson (Aire Valley Cycles RT) had an excellent ride to be the first under-14 and first female rider home, finishing an impressive eighth overall. Billy Harding (Paul Milnes RT/Bradford Olympic RC) was surprisingly a non-finisher.

Jacob Feetham (Wakefield Tri) took the under-12 race by almost half a minute from Lewis Howarth (Bronte Wheelers CC/Neophix Engineering).

The final round of the series takes place in Todmorden on Sunday, January 2.

* Bingley-born Rob Jebb (Wheelbase) secured a hard-fought victory in the Cyclo-Cross North East League event in Carlisle, winning by 36 seconds ahead of MTS Cyclesport rival Steven Ward.