The Macclesfield Wheelers’ Supercross event is well established as one of the highlights of the winter season and always attracts a top-class field from all over the country.

This year the event was sponsored by local retailer Peak Cyclesport and saw more than 200 riders competing in the three events. In contrast to recent years, the weather was mild which made for heavy going on the testing circuit which one of the competitors described – not entirely accurately – as "uphill all the way round."

In the supporting races, the Wheelers were represented by members of well known cyclo cross families with Tom Gamwell in the Under-eight category and James Bethall completing the Youth race.

The main event saw reigning national champion Paul Oldham in top form on the sticky ground and securing an important psychological advantage over his main rivals less than a fortnight before the National Championship.

By the third lap, Oldham and Olympic mountain bike competitor Liam Killeen were really beginning to show their strength and had pulled away from Ian Bibby and David Fletcher.

By the midway point Killeen had opened a small gap over Oldham but the latter fought back and, with 15 minutes to go, stamped his authority on proceedings with a burst of speed that soon opened a 30-second gap over Killeen.

Free from the crashes and mechanical failures which have dogged him this season, Oldham kept the pace high and rode across the line to take the victory from a chasing Killeen who had left it just half a lap too late to respond.

Bibby had pulled away impressively from Fletcher a few laps earlier but Fletcher stormed past on the final climb up to the putting green and rode away leaving Bibby, competing in his first cross race for over a year, to take fourth place.

This was a good result for Bibby who had two months off the bike after damaging his shoulder when he got entangled with Geraint Thomas in a sprint at this year’s Tour of Britain.

Simon Harding was the best placed Wheeler in 33rd place, followed by Kevin Walford, Marcus Fielden, Brian Renshaw and Mark Bethell.

Thanks go to the event sponsor and to Macclesfield East Council for allowing the use of the park. A special thank you to Greg Rowson who is stepping down as event organiser after seven successful years in charge.

If the weather was good for the Supercross, it was dreadful for the Manchester and District Christmas 10 with heavy rain and freezing temperatures throughout. Macclesfield’s Steve Burke defied the conditions to win overall in a time of 22.54, beating last year’s winner Jon Surtees into fourth place. Roger Wrenn won the veterans category with a 25.31 and came ninth overall as well.

In the fancy dress competition the Chelford Chicks – Clare Logan, Georgina Rowson, Sue Rowson, Jill Wesley, Rowena Jackson, Lynne Skellen, Carol Pardoe, Joanne Harcourt, Denise Hurst, Janet Shaw, and Mary Renshaw – were not only warm in their resplendent outfits but also caught judges’ eye as they raced round en mass and were awarded first prize.