British Downhill Championships
Scotland played host to a truly epic edition of the British Cycling Downhill Mountain Bike Championships, as a healthy dose of wind and rain welcomed riders from all over the UK to Glen Coe.
Typical Scottish conditions welcomed the riders, with crashes a plenty during practice, thankfully none too serious. Seeding runs were highly competitive, but it was the final runs on Sunday afternoon that really mattered, and where the silverware would be decided.
Greg Williamson took his third British elite title, the Highlander prevailing by a full second on the two minute seventeen second course, whilst William Brodie scooped the junior gong by a similar margin – his time would have also put the man from the Borders in fifth in the elite competition.
In the Junior Women’s race there was a brilliant Scottish 1-3, as Bethany McCully from Black Isle Mountain Bike Club and Nina-Yves Cameron from West Highland Wheelers put in a pair of stunning riders, particularly McCully who dominated proceedings to win by some 13 seconds! There was also a further medal in the Elite Women’s race, as Kerry Wilson was a worthy bronze medal winner.
Results: https://my.raceresult.com/212373/live#0_0E76F7
British XC Championships
The British Cycling Cross Country Mountain Bike Championships returned to Scotland this weekend, with Kirroughtree Forrest playing host to the XCO races, as well as the inaugural XCC (short course) championship on the Friday evening.
That fast and furious format saw the best of the weather and provided the biggest Scottish success as Charlie Aldridge backed up his European U23 title in this discipline by capturing the senior title and those coveted red, white and blue stripes; Cameron Mason also put in a great ride, aggressive from the get-go to secure bronze.
Coming into the XCO races on the Sunday, the wet weather across the weekend made the course a true Scottish test, with many of our home riders making the most of the conditions. Aldridge would once again get his hands in the air, taking victory in the U23 Men’s event, despite riding the closing stages with a rear puncture. Rory Mcguire would secure bronze in that one, with Corran Carrick-Anderson taking fourth.
On the women’s side, Commonwealth Games bound Isla Short continued her comeback from illness with a strong ride to take bronze in the Elite Women’s, whilst Elena McGorum and Anna Flynn took silver and bronze in the U23 race. In the Junior races, Emily Carrick-Anderson continued her fine form this season, securing a superb silver medal, whilst in the men’s equivalent Reuben Oakley put in a strong ride for sixth place. At Youth level there was gold for Daisy Taylor, the Royal Albert CC rider continuing her dominance.
Full results: http://results.smartiming.co.uk/
National Road Series
Stuart Balfour enjoyed a successful weekend at the Manx Telecom International, a three day, four stage race on the Isle of Man. The man from Edinburgh was in the mix throughout, third place in the opening criterium stage on the Friday evening setting him up for an eventual third place finish on the General Classification, backed up by eighth place in the time trial and a top ten on the final hilly road stage.
Finn Crocket, Balfour’s trade teammate also put up a strong showing with second on stage two as he fine tunes his Commonwealth Games prep, whilst Michael Gill took fifth in the time trial. On the female side Kate Richardson was leading as they hit the final corner in the opening criterium, but was unfortunately impeded by another ride before hitting the deck. Her Alba Development Team teammate Sophie Enever was ultimately the best placed Scot on General Classification in 18th place, with Beth Harley-Jepson just two spots further back, rounding out the top 20.
BMX Freestyle
On Saturday the inaugural British Freestyle Series visited Unit 23 in Dumbarton as part of the Backyard Jam event – a round up of the action
