KINGSWINFORD cyclo-cross star Hannah Payton is fast closing in on her third National Trophy Series title.


The 22-year-old student has already won three of the four Trophy Series races this season and another good showing at Shrewsbury next weekend would seal the crown again.


Hannah has already crossed the finishing line first at Trophy Series meetings at Derby, Sunderland and Ipswich, the only hiccup occurred at Abergavenny when she came home fourth behind world under-23 winner Evie Richards.


Hanna, who rides for Team Kinesis UK, has since avenged that defeat by Richards and now sits in poll position to complete the hat-trick.


She said: "This season has gone better than expected. I now split my time between cycling and studying physiotherapy at Birmingham University and the combination appears to be working quite well.


"The only person who can realistically beat me to the title is Annie Simpson. She would need to win at Shrewsbury while I only have to finish in the top 12.


"But I won't be thinking about that. I'll be going flat-out to win again."
The omens look good as Hannah beat Annie Simpson at Ipswich by over a minute. But she'll take nothing for granted even though she holds a healthy 22 point lead over Simpson.


Hannah has now abandoned full time cyclo-cross when she was previously based in Belgium and is back at her home in Kingswinford.
But she still has her sights set on international competition.


Hannah plans to ride World Cup races in Belgium and Holland either side of Christmas.


She also intends to contest the National Championships which take place in Bradford during early January.


And there's also the World Championships to complete the season in Luxemburg.


However, cyclo-cross success hasn't just been confined to Hannah in the Payton household.


Brother Tom  has also picked up prized victories at Aldersley in Wolverhampton and Newport in the West Midlands League, while dad Kevin is among the frontrunners in the veterans category.


Kevin, who is also chairman of Stourbridge Cycling Club confirmed that Stourbridge members are having a good season.


Anthony Neave is battling for top spot in the West Midlands League under-23 section.


And the club's former national champion Isla Rowntree is also bidding for success in the National Trophy Series as she leads the Women's Veteran category having made it a double Stourbridge success at Ipswich.


Isla is now favourite to win the veteran's title as she leads Bolsover's Maddi Smith going into the final meeting at Shrewsbury.


Kevin Payton said: "Isla is based over in Ludlow these days but still comes over to Stourbridge on occasion to train.


"The club has never been so well placed. We've got around 250 members on the books at the moment, the highest the club has ever had."