A last lap crash meant that Polegate rider James Dear had to settle for fifth place in Brighton Excelsior's open cyclo-cross in Moulsecoomb's Wild Park.

He was still the first Sussex rider to finish and, after having won the previous two rounds, he was a deserving winner of the Sussex Championship.

Excelsior officials designed a testing course that included fast stretches, run-ups and two poles placed across the course that the more experienced riders managed to jump their bikes over without having to dismount.

Nine laps were covered in a total of 11 miles and the race was won by Graham Rogerson, of the Army CU, in 53mins 35secs.

Steve Price (Prestige) was second at 36 seconds and Brian Curtis (Corridori), the 1994 national junior champion, was third at 52 seconds. Steve Hambling (VC Deal), who Dear beat when he won the opening round in East Grinstead, held Dear off for fourth.

Five-times Sussex champion Jonathan Sharpe (Boreas) was 19th.

Other local finishers included: 20th Tom Roberts (Brighton Excelsior); 26th George Higgs (Brighton Excelsior); 28th Steve Burgess (Lewes Wanderers); 29th Paul Howard (VC Etoile); 31st Simon Scarsbrook (VC Etoile); 35th Rik Taub (In Gear); 38th Tobias Bauer (Lewes Wanderers) and 39th Paul Gosling (Brighton Excelsior).

Dear said: "I prefer a fast course but it rained in the week and it was quite muddy in places.

The youth race was won by Louis Charity (Sutton CC). Matthew Howard and Peter Mitchell, who both ride for Shoreham's VC Jubilee club, were second and third.