Happy Camper(Down)!

Keith Stocker and Martin Harris are the driving force behind this season’s opening series race at Camperdown Park. As ‘well kent faces’ in the Scottish CX scene, we got together with them to find out what got them into the Scottish cross, what got them organising races, and how they see the scene developing in the next few years.

1. Scottish Cyclocross (SCX): Let’s start off by telling us a bit about yourself. How did you find yourself putting on a Cyclocross race on a Golf Course?! 

Keith Stocker (KS) / Martin Harris (MH): 
MH – we’ve got a golf course and we wanted to put on a CX Race haha!  

SCX: Haha! Was there anywhere else under consideration? 

MH: I had put on races including Scottish Champs over the years at Caird Park, Dundee, once using the Velodrome, before we settled on Camperdown as our favoured venue.

SCX: How did you guys meet? 

KS: I used to work as a coach for Scottish Cycling and travelled to meet with Martin as he was coaching locally with the Discovery Juniors.  That’s well over a decade ago, but it was the start of a beautiful friendship. haha! 

Also, I quickly realised Martin was a world champ in “event organisation”, and I could hang off his coat tails so it led to us organiser races together.

2. SCX: Diving in a little more to the race itself, it’s been a fixture for years now.  What do you think keeps people coming back and can you share any new course developments?

KS: The novelty still remains, I think. And we’ve played on the golf theme you know “riding through bunkers” & “finding yourself in the rough” that sort of thing. 

MH: Camperdown always puts on a good show and it’s more than just riding on a golf course – it’s the combination of a good event and good course.

KS: Yip, you can put on a great event but if the course is rubbish then people won’t come back. Similarly you can have a great event but a rubbish course, and again, people won’t come back. 

3. SCX: Last year we saw some excellent racing in challenging conditions at Camperdown. If you had to attribute that to one thing, what was it?

KS: We reduced the climbing and that I think kept everyone together, leading to close racing. No one could really get away and that made it exciting. 

MH: And teamwork too, without good teamwork we would never have been able to pull off such a good day.

4. SCX: When not organising cyclocross races you are involved in coaching and race timing solutions. When you do get downtime how do you like to spend it?

MH: My two-year-old granddaughter. I love getting time with her.

KS: What’s downtime? I always seem to be busy, haha! Joking aside, I love podcasts – on politics or history, but I’m happiest when I’m on my skis.

5. SCX: Leaving aside Camperdown for a moment, what’s your favourite CX race of the season? Domestically and internationally? And why?

MH: Oh, that’s a hard one! I’m always too busy at domestic races to properly get a feel for the race. Internationally it’s Koksijde. I’ve seen some good battles over the years, it’s challenging and it keeps the riders honest. Be careful how you spell it for the article, hahah!

SCX: Yes, that could prove tricky, hahah!

KS: Last year's British Champs course at Falkirk. Brilliant to ride and the whole day was just excellent. Internationally… oh hard one. My stock answer is “the course that produces the closet race.... but if I had to pick one it’d be Ruddervoorde. They build this amazing course year on year. The cambers, the features all tend to create a close race. Be careful how you spell that one too… hahah!

6. SCX: This year has seen early bird initiatives and a relaunched Superquaich Series. What else could we be doing as race organisers, racers and fans to grow the sport? 

MH: The calendar needs sorting out. There are so many races and so many race organisers. Clashes are inevitable. And now with gravel we have riders looking to do that. It’s great to have so many races, but in turn some races and race organisers are going to miss out. Multi-discipline riders too, as they have to choose between different races being on the same day.

KS: My top tip for riders would be ‘stay around and make a day of it’. It’s a brilliant day out so don’t just turn up for your race and disappear. Come along early and watch the kids, do some marshalling or line judging. Grab yourself a brew and be part of the ‘scene’.

7. SCX: Quick fire round!

SCX: MVDP or WVA? – 

MH: (no pause) MVdP! 

KS: Oh (grimaces a little) WVA. After yesterday (ed. Third stage win at the Vuelta!)  he looks like he’s back to his best and we need that. (pause)…. Can’t believe I never said “Mathieu”. 

MH: (laughs)… Matt-Uuu! 

SCX: Tunnocks Teacake or Tunnocks Wafer? 

KS: Teacake – every time! 

MH: Wafer. I’m sweet enough. 

SCX: I’m going to quote you on that, haha! 

KS: Or he just likes to stay bitter!

All: (Laughs)

SCX: SRAM or Shimano?

KS: Shimano!

MH: Whatever’s on the bike, hahah! 

SCX: Irn-Bru or Coca-Cola?

MH: Coca-Cola!

KS: Irn-Bru!

SCX: Are you sure you're good pals? You’ve yet to agree on any of these quick-fire questions! 

ALL: (laughs)

Namur or Benidorm?

KS: Namur. Iconic course

MH: Namur. It’s not even close!

SCX: Thanks guys! Great to hear about your plans for the upcoming race and to get your take on the scene. Here’s to a successful series opener.