ERC Juniors - Inch Park Youth Cross Report
The organisers could never have expected that moving the ERC youth cyclo cross from March to September would have resulted in such a transformation in the event’s fortunes. The Indian summer brought out a field of 135 riders along with accompanying parents and supporters to Inch Park on the south side of Edinburgh. A tight fast course in the grassy park used the slope to best challenge the riders. Despite this event not counting towards the season long Scottish Cyclo-Cross League the races were hard fought and entertained the crowd.
The under 8s race attracted a large field of 33 youngsters on a variety of machines. The small hill was a challenge to some but not to Gavin Gronkowski who managed to lap all but second placed Cian McCrickard, with Edinburgh’s Patrick Kneen coming in third. The girls’ race was won by Kristin Peil from Orla Macinnes, both from Edinburgh, with Niamh Waters (cxaddicts) filling the bronze medal position.
The next race (U10’s) brought success for the promoting club’s Alfie Atterton 26 sec ahead of James Ballantyne (Glasgow Riderz) who edged out Miller Crombie (West Lothian Clarion) by 2 seconds for the third spot. The girls’ race was hard fought, with Morven Yeoman (East Kilbride Road Club) crossing the line fifth to win the category beating Imani Periera-James (Glasgow Riderz) and Emily Carrik Anderson (Peebles CC) into second and third places.
Jamie Johnson (Team Thompson Cycles) went one better than the U8 winner by lapping the entire field including Coraan Carrick Anderson (Peebles CC) and Hamish Arimtt (Glasgow Riderz) who were second and third. On this performance we can expect Jamie to be tough to beat this ‘cross season. In the girl’s event, Niamh Doherty(Glasgow Riderz) was fourth to cross the line to win her category and was followed by ERC’s Anna Flynn and Elena McGorum of Peebles CC.
The final event of the day combined the U14 and U16 categories and produced an exciting race. John Macleod (ERC) took off with Conner Johnstone (Hardie Bikes) and they appeared to have the race sown up. However, they slowed mid-way through, which allowed U14 rider Sean Flynn (ERC) to catch the leading pair. Towards the end of the race Johnstone and Flynn rode away from Macleod with the former winning the U16 race and the latter the U14s. Macleod finished second in the U16s race and was followed by Callum Shackley (Glasgow Riderz) in third who was the last rider not to be lapped.
Eleanor Strathdee (ERC) was the winner of the girls U16 race with Heather Coull (East Kilbride Road Club) taking second spot. The second and third places in the U14 race were taken by Cameron Mason (West Lothian Clarion CC) and Max Bloor (ERC). The U14 girls’ event brought disappointment for Glasgow Riderz’ Ellie Park who had to withdraw half way through, leaving Ishbel Strathdee (ERC) to win. Anna Mcgorum (Peebles CC) came home second with the final podium place taken by Laurie Adamson.
Edinburgh Road Club would like to thank event sponsors; the Alpine Bikes, The TriCentre and CX addicts for their generous support.
Here’s hoping that the organiser’s good fortune with the weather as well as the hard work of the team will be on display again in 2014. See you there?
Results: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/97728/ERC-Juniors-Inch-Park-Cyclo-Cross#results
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/103681154@N07/sets/72157636042965236/
