BRINGING forward the annual Geoff Walker Memorial cyclo-cross meeting by a day was not welcomed by many Wessex League competitors in the southern half of the region - but those who did make the journey were rewarded for their efforts.

Defending champion Stuart Bowers (Hargroves Cycles RT) was the chief beneficiary. Breaking his trip to Ipswich for the third National Trophy meeting of the season, Bowers left all but one of his rivals behind on the opening lap of his Oxonion CC race at Oxford.

He proved too strong for Paul Lloyd (Didcot Phoenix), winner of the last league race near Romsey, on the second circuit, before cruising home to win by over two minutes, lapping all but one other rider in the process.

That man was Andrew Gough (Portswood Cycles RT) who spent most of the event in 'nomansland' between the two leaders and the chasing group.

The firm going at Oxford was replaced by very slippery conditions at Ipswich as overnight wind and rain swept across the course, but though unable to keep up with the leaders, Bowers kept them in sight for most of the hour-long race as he adapted to the change brought by the weather, showing remarkable consistency by finishing seventh again, just as he did in the previous two rounds - at Cheltenham and Matlock. RESULTS:

Wessex Cyclo-cross League, Oxford: 1 S Bowers (Hargroves Cycles RT) 12 laps in 55min 10sec, 2 P Lloyd (Didcot Phoenix) @ 2.20, 3 A Gough (Portswood Cycles RT) @ 5.34, 4 P Mace (RAF) @ one lap, 5 D Starr (Westbury Wheelers), 6 L Lloyd (DP), 7 P Smith (High Wycombe CC), 8 S Gough (PCRT), 9 J Painton (Artisan RT), S Gregory (Oxonian CC).

Youths: 1 T Butt (Chapel Tri) four laps in 26.49, 2 R Harrigan (Bicester Millennium, 3 J Harris (DP).

Under-12s: 1 L Gray (Dorset Rough Riders), 2 M Baxter (Palmer Park Velo, 3 A Harris (DP).