CHRIS Oldham of Colne took bronze in the men's grand veteran category of the RAV4 National Mountain Bike Series.

The event, organised by the British Cycling Federation and sponsored by Toyota, attracted over 800 mountain bikers from all over the UK. Around 4,000 spectators witnessed some of the most exciting mountain biking of the series at the final round in Shropshire.

Oldham competed in the gruelling cross-country discipline, an event of lung-searing climbs and breakneck descents. Each lap was five miles and was designed to test the rider to the maximum.

"It was tough," he said. "The course was quite technical and the weather was hot. It was survival of the fittest out there."

Oldham completed the three laps of the five-mile circuit, in one hour, 28 minutes and 24 seconds.

In the elite men's section Oliver Beckingsdale from Nailsea, Somerset, claimed the gold medal with Carl Sturgeon taking silver and Paul Lasenby the bronze. In the women's section Scotland's Tracy Brunger snatched gold from Louise Robinson who had to settle for silver and Adie Parker bronze.

Chris Oldham, left, on the podium with gold-medalist Ian Jewell, centre, and silver-medalist Dave Froy.

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