can't really comment as the last nat xc race i did was nottingham 92, however, has recently become re aquainted with my training partner from bitd & he has been racing again, this as last winter he is campaining a 'dale m700 cira 1991 with skinny knobblies on it in the vets class & doing quite well. he tells me that cx fields are bigger than xc, that xc are a lot smaller than we remember. we used to do a fair few cx races in the early 90's for something to do on a sunday, & to upset the local roadies by stealing thier prize money "ON A BLOODY MOUNTAINBIKE!" good fun....