Best cyclocross bike under £1000 and other CX chat

i see geared bikes and it looks more like a group ride instead of a race!?!?

Has anyone considered the MERIDA Cyclocross 4 Disc? £999.99 with full 105 components and some very nice Hayes CX5 brakes. Saw one last week in a local shop and it is rather nice.
Still hard to justify it over a Boardman when it is reduced by £70.00 and 10% discount through British Cycling.

Not as pretty as the Rose Bikes similar spec thing but yes, my LBS is trying to make me buy one!

Merida are on a lot of shops books now so you can get one properly put together by someone with brain (unlike the Boardman/Halfords situation).