Individual and team titles of the Wessex Cyclo-cross League will be decided on the playing fields of Oxford School in Cowley, Oxford within the next two weeks, and if everything goes to plan for Stuart Bowers (Hargroves Cycles Trant RT) he should return home as champion on Sunday night.

A honeymoon in Cuba kept him out of competition when the season started last September and since then he has trailed the league leader, Paul Lloyd (TDR Giant). He is now only 14 points behind his Abingdon rival, having collected 238 points from only eight meetings; this means he can add a maximum 30 points if he wins again this time, for he and former champion, Andrew MacDonald (GA Cyles) currently leading the veterans category, are the only two contenders in the top ten who still have one meeting in hand. Lloyd and second-placed Sean Williams (Vectis Off-Shire Sports CC) have exceeded nine meetings - the number set to decide the outcome of this year's league table - which means they have little chance of adding significantly to their present scores.

Oxonian CC has the support of Bikezone Cycles for this Sunday's meeting and though Bowers will be concentrating on individual success his presence could affect the destiny of the team title. The Hargroves Cycles squad have a deficit of 53 points to make up on their Southampton rivals, GA Cycles, and though Tony Green, Robin Wilmott and MacDonald should hold their present advantage the final result in the team championship may remain undecided until the last meeting, at Oxford on February 10.

GA Cycles already have a champion in the Youth League. Thomas Budd is assured of this title, but Philip Gough (Portswood Cycles) may slip out of the medals if Ian Legg (Principia RT) contests either of the two remaining meetings, for this 15-year-old Petersfield rider is only one point behind him and in great form at present, with a silver medal from the recent national championships and victory in the Gorrick MBC meeting last Sunday confirming that form.

FIXTURES:

Sunday

Bikezone Cycles cyclo-cross meeting: Oxford School, Oxford, 11.30 am

Sotonia CC: Meet North Baddesley cross-roads, 9.30am for on-road ride to Landford Garden Centre, or Ampfield Church, 9.30am for off-road ride.

Southampton GTC: Meet Moorgreen Hospital, West End, 10am. Lunch at Horndean.

Winchester CTC: Meet King Alfred's Statue, 9.00am. Lunch at Andover.