Glasgow Track Racing Club hosted the first Scottish National Championships of 2023, with the Madison Champs. While across the city, the UCI eSports World Championships took place, both online and in person.
GTRC GP & Madison Championships
Sunday saw the first Scottish National Championships of 2023 take place with the GTRC Sprint GP, which incorporated the Madison Championships at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
The open madison saw the pairing of Ian Fraser (Glasgow Nightingales CC) and Alexander Macrae claim gold.
There was a strong performance too from the pair of para pilots Jenny Holl (Tekkerz) and Matt Rotherham (Glasgow Track RC) however their medal chances were dashed with a crash midway through the race.
JG Cycles pair of Tarn Fynn and Liam Scott Douglas took home the silver medal after a late lap gain, with Spokes Racing Team’s Conal Davidson and Keir Gaffney claiming bronze.
It was great to see a strong number of pairings in the Youth Madison. The Youth Boys title was won by the Edinburgh RC duo of Struan Shaw and James Sweeney. Adam Murray and Elliot Speedie claimed silver with Johnstone Jets’ team of Evan Marsh and Colin Johnstone claiming bronze.
The Youth Girls saw Anna Birrell (Edinburgh RC) and Erin Boothman (East Kilbride RC) claim top spot, with Eve Fairbairn (Discovery Junior CC) and Kasey Park (Edinburgh RC) win silver. Millie Boothman (Glasgow Riderz) and Melanie Rowe (Deeside Thistle) claimed bronze.
The Sprinters were competing for the JP Memorial Cup. The cup is named after one of Glasgow Track RC and Scotland’s finest sprinters, John Paul, who sadly passed last year. With multiple junior and senior titles as well as competing for Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014, JP was an excellent athlete and a fantastic ambassador for our sport.
Team Inspired’s Hayden Norris claimed the victory in the Men’s Sprint from Luthais Arthur and Lyall Craig (Glasgow Track RC). Anna Whitworth Hey (SES Racing) beat out Anna Birrell (Edinburgh RC) in the Women’s Sprint, with Georgia Holt (Glasgow Track RC) claiming third place.
A massive thank you to Jonny Mitchell, Lewis Stewart and the team at Glasgow Track Racing Club for organising the Championships and Sprint GP, as well as the great commissaire and volunteer teams for making the event possible.
eSports Worlds
Glasgow played host to its first of many UCI World Championships in 2023, with the UCI eSports World Championships taking place at the Engine Works in the city.
Riders raced on the brand new Scotland world on Zwift (watch our review of it here). Glasgow’s very own Natalie Stevenson was in action and came home in 35th place.
Scots Abroad
Oscar Onley’s first stage race this season for Team DSM was a successful one. The Volta a Algarve saw the Kelso man come home with the White Jersey for best Young Rider and finish 12th overall.
Mark Stewart (Bolton Equities Black Spoke) and Corran Carrick-Anderson (Great Britain) are in Central Africa for the Tour du Rwanda – Stewart claimed a strong 11th place on Stage 2.
Meanwhile on the flat bar of the mountain bike Charlie Aldridge made his debut for Cannondale Factory Racing in the Class .HC UCI race in Huelva, with the Scot claiming a strong 18th place, a siolid platform for the Crieff man to build on for the rest of the season.
