YORK Cycleworks rider Suzanne Young has been crowned the cyclocross female over-50 (FV50) champion of the North of England.

Young came 14th of 33 female riders at the North of England Championships at South Shields Velo Cycling Club, topping her age group to cap a successful season in the Yorkshire Cyclocross Association Winter Series.

There are nine weekly point-scoring events in the series, from which the best six results are taken into account to determine final standings. So far this winter, Young has accumulated 10 points, finishing in second place in the events at Temple Newsham, Skipton, Huddersfield, Wakefield and Halifax.

The North of England Championships, though, is a stand-alone event. Held at South Shields, it was based on a 40-minute race around five laps of a 2.5-mile course for FV50 competitors. Senior men completed six laps over the course of an hour.

Young has participated for two years in cyclocross, which is a multi-terrain sport involving obstacles and sections of running.

She is hoping to continue to build up the strength and technical ability that is required to navigate the courses, and is working towards participation in the World Masters Championships in Belgium next year.

The final point-scoring event of the YCA Winter Series will take place next weekend at York Sports Village.