{"id":407356,"date":"2026-01-12T01:59:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T01:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/407356\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T01:59:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T01:59:06","slug":"british-cyclo-cross-national-championships-cameron-mason-secures-fourth-consecutive-elite-mens-title-in-challenging-conditions-at-south-shields","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/407356\/","title":{"rendered":"British Cyclo-cross National Championships: Cameron Mason secures fourth consecutive elite men’s title in challenging conditions at South Shields"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cameron Mason (Seven Racing) battled slippery and windy conditions to secure a fourth consecutive victory in the elite men’s division at British Cyclo-cross National Championships<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing) rode solo in the chase for the silver medal, and 21-year-old Ben Askey (CC Etupes) finished with the bronze, one spot better than last year.<\/p>\n

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Mason moved into the lead halfway through the first lap and then went on a tear, having to make multiple bike changes to find a tyre pressure which would keep him from slipping in corners.<\/p>\n

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“It was probably one of the trickiest wins I’ve had. I just couldn’t stay on my bike for a couple of those laps. I spent a while trying to get lower pressure as well. But yeah, I put together a couple good laps in a row and managed to get the gap,” Mason told organisers at the finish after holding up four fingers to indicate a fourth national ‘cross title.<\/p>\n

“A really tricky course, it was like,frozen underneath the mud, so it was really hard to kind of dig in. There were no ruts, there were no lines, just all mud.<\/p>\n

“Honestly, the gap came down at the end because I was still struggling to just get around all the off-cambers. Toby pushed me absolutely all the way.”<\/p>\n

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\"Picture\n<\/p>\n

A fourth national ‘cross title for Cameron Mason on Sunday (Image credit: Olly Hassell\/SWpix.com)<\/p>\n

The silver for Toby Barnes was his best career finish in seven elite races at cyclo-cross nationals.<\/p>\n

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By the final lap, Daniel Barnes, brother and Spectra Racing teammate of Toby, closed the distance to Askey in a battle for the final podium spot which went to Askey with Daniel Barnes going fourth.<\/p>\n

Thomas Meins (Hope Factory Racing), the 2022 British CX champion finished fifth.<\/p>\n

“I kind of rode my own race, used Cam where I could when it was a strong headwind, tried to tuck in behind him,” Toby Barnes said about the early part of the race where he battle with Mason.<\/p>\n

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“There’s a few technical sections where I felt really good. So I’d lead a couple of times, got a little gap. I thought halfway through, well, we’re still with him. I could win.<\/p>\n

“Then he got away. And then second-last lap, I think I pulled it back maybe to about 10 seconds. And then last lap, he you found another gear, and went again.”<\/p>\n

How it unfolded<\/p>\n

Cold temperatures and thawing mud persisted on Sunday in South Shields for the British Cyclo-cross National Championships, with the 2.8-kilometre track adjacent to the North Sea becoming slippery.<\/p>\n

On the first lap 18-year-old Oscar Amey (Tekkerz CC) set the pace at the front, with the field strung out in a hectic tempo. Cameron Mason (Seven Racing) moved from fourth position and took the lead with a powerful pass on a small uphill, Oscar Amey and Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing) the only two to follow. Only a few minutes later, Oscar Amey dropped a chain and fell off the lead group.<\/p>\n

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\"Picture\n<\/p>\n

Toby Barnes (right) and Cameron Mason slide in a corner (Image credit: Olly Hassell\/SWpix.com)<\/p>\n

Mason grabbed a new bike in the pits for lap two, no technical issues with the bike just a new ride with adjusted tyre pressure. The three-time elite men’s ‘cross champion set the pace with only Toby Barnes nearby. Meins had worked his way into the chase group of Ben Askey.<\/p>\n

Toby Barnes then took control at the front with the red jersey of Mason looking to fight to hold his wheel near the end of lap two, with a bike change for Barnes allowing Mason to go back to the front.<\/p>\n

With four to go, Mason opened a gap to Toby Barnes and pushed away with a 10-second advantage. Ben Askey rolled through the start-finish in lone third, with a substantial margin to any riders behind.<\/p>\n

On the next circuit, Mason’s back wheel slid out slightly on a few corners, and he yelled to his pit crew but did not take a bike change on that pass. Toby Barnes and Ben Askey continued with their solo efforts in second and third, respectively.<\/p>\n

Despite another bike change to get the tyre pressure dialed, Mason continued on his commanding ride for the solo victory.<\/p>\n

Results<\/p>\n

Results powered by FirstCycling<\/a><\/p>\n

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