Sutton Park in Birmingham is the venue this weekend for the British Cyclo-cross Championships, and with no fewer than eight titles in dispute the meeting is spread over two days.

This is the highlight of the cyclo-cross season in this country and the results will determine the teams which will be chosen for the forthcoming World Championships next month.

Though international selection is an unlikely outcome for Wessex League competitors they will be well represented in most races in Birmingham and local riders have good reason to return home with medals from the veterans race.

Hargroves Cycles RT Trant won the team title in this event last year, and they will be relying on Jon McDonald, Malcolm Cross and Peter Hargroves repeating the success this time, while MacDonald's brother, Andrew (G A Cycles) will be striving on improving on the bronze medal he won a year ago.

With last year's champion, Peter Stevenson, declaring himself unfit to defend his title after an illness disrupted his training two months ago, this race looks like being the most open of this year's championships, and MacDonald believes he can go better this time.

Speaking about his prospects this week, he said: "I know the course like the back of my hand. It has a road start which I prefer, the technical bits come towards the end and that also suits me."

Reports coming from Birmingham this week indicate that the course is drying out well and with no rain expected race officials reckon it will be in perfect condition.

This will see most competitors riding at their best, and though medals may be out of reach for other Wessex League riders Stuart Bowers (Hargroves Cycles) his team-mate, Ben Saunders and the Dorset Rough Riders, Thomas Budd and Brendan Roud, all are expected to gain top ten placings in their respective races.

The Watership Down randonnee on Sunday has also become an established fixture in the cycling calendar. This 105-kilometre ride organised by Winchester CTC marks the start of the Audax UK season on Southern Roads and has attracted another full entry with numbers governed by the provision of refreshments at the finish.

It starts from Kings Worthy (9.30am) and good quality tyres are recommended as some parts of the course have been damaged by recent floods.