Flynn’s the Queen of the (sand) castle
Anna Flynn took the Open Female Scottish Cyclocross title on the beach at Irvine on Sunday afternoon after a great battle with defending champion Grace Inglis, perhaps the highlight of a brilliant day of championship racing.
Irvine always serves up classic cross racing, with this year’s championship edition serving up an extra special, and extra hard, edition, with multiple banks meaning there really was no let up. Add the strong winds, super steep run up and sand into the mix, and the strongest riders really would prevail.
Spectra’s Flynn would set her stall out from the get-go, but defending champ Inglis (Tweed Valley Bikes) would give chase, the pair separated by 5-10 seconds the whole race, as the hunted held off the hunter, both women delivering tenacious efforts.
Inglis hadn’t entered the championship however, so third across the line, Ishbel Strathdee (Team HUP) would take silver, with Daisy Taylor (Royal Albert) rounding out the podium, as well as taking the Craig Hardie trophy for first U23 rider.
Of her effort she said:
“It felt pretty good! The season is going well, but it’s nice to pull it off today. It’s a pretty challenging course and the wind made it really difficult, so I had to keep pushing the whole way. – and felt that I can hold the effort for 30-40- minutes”
Lewis Martin (Studio Velo) started as overwhelming favourite in the Senior Open, the Dumfriesshire rider looking to defend the title he won last year, just as he did at the Scottish XC MTB Championships exactly three months ago. On that occasion he would win by a huge margin, and it was a similar story at Irvine.
From the gun he forged clear, but eventual runner-up and first U23 finisher Sam Chisholm (Team HUP) would give a valiant chase, holding his rival close for the first two laps before the gap started to open up. From there, it was solo endeavours for the pair, Martin a classy winner.
Further back though there was a brilliant battle for bronze. Aaron King (Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli) was clear for the first 30 minutes of racing, before Reuben Oakley (Rotor RT) and then Milo McIntoch (Cycling Academy) would bridge up to him. A ding-dong tussle would ensue, Oakley first to surrender before King showed his foot speed up the run up for the final time, building a five second gap that he’d hold to the line.
Martin, who will wear the Scottish stripes for another 12 months, said afterwards:
“I’m very happy with that one, I’m quite relieved as well! I thought I went a bit hard too soon, especially the first time I went up the run-up. It’s hard the whole course just wore you out, badly!”
The penultimate race of the day was the combined Junior Open and Vet 40 Open, Davie Lines (Wheelbase) a runaway winner in the later. The Junior race proved to be a great battle however, Jem Henderson (Hetton Hawks) and Cameron Annable (Derwentside CC) going hammer and nail. Henderson claimed the victory, with the junior title going to Annable.
Third across the line was Henry O’Brien (SORT), the Borders rider taking second in the championship, with Benjamin Massey (West Lothian Clarion) rounding out the podium. Silver in the V40s would go to Scott Smith with Rob Friel (Vanelli-Project Go) taking bronze.
In the Female equivalent Freya Mowbray (SORT) was the class act, hanging onto the coattails of her older rivals to take the title, Harriet Hendry (Solas) taking silver and Abigail Chaplin (Discovery Juniors) the bronze.
The Youth races kicked off the day’s action, Gus Lawson (Pentland Racers) the first rider of the day to get his hands in the air and take home a coveted Scottish title. He led from gun to tape, defending the U16 Open title he won at Knockburn Loch last year. Joining him on the podium were Arran Drackford (FJBC) and Xander Graham (Scott Pioneer).
In the Female U16 race Zara Main (Deeside Thistle), like Lawson, was a dominant winner, with Mairi Dowens (West Lothian Clarion) and Eleya Mold (Glasgow Riderz) also getting their hands on Scottish Championship medals. In the U14 race it was Riderz’ Emma Nicholson who punched the air in delight as she clinched the title, with Eilidh Scally (Johnstone Jets) and Isla Reekie (FJBC) chasing her home.
In the U14 Open Guy Rorke (Pentland Racers) turned the tables on this season’s prevalent winner Josh Stewart (Stepping Stanes) thanks to a stunning opening lap, with Gregor McNaught (Glasgow Riderz) rounding out the podium.
As has been the case throughout this cyclocross season, the U12s, U10s and U8s raced on a tailor-made course, suitable to their age and stage – but as it’s Irvine, this included a couple of sand sections. Whilst not series races, there was a Championship for the U12s, with Cobey Stewart (Stepping Stanes) taking home the jersey and gold medal in the Open, from Alisdair Ogg (Johnstone Jets) and Evan Howson (Falkirk Junior BC). In the Female equivalent it was Kirstie Annable (Derwentside CC) who took the win, from Abbie Boyle (Clydesdale Colts) and Freya McQueen (FJBC).
In the V40 Females it was Alison Banford who crossed the line first, but Janine Inman (Stirling BC) who took home the jersey, silver going to Ailsa Curtis (West Lothian Clarion) and bronze to Madeline Pope (KICC). In the V50s Sian Tovey would win out, with Megan Mowbray (Team HUP) pushing her close in second and Caroline Harvey (Paul Milnes) third. The final category in the combined Female race was the V60s, with Helen Winton (Vanelli-Project GO) first over the line, but having missed the entry date for the championships, the title would go Fiona Paton (East Sutherland Wheelers) with Elizabeth Clayton (Stirling BC) scoring silver.
The V50/V60 Open once again boasted healthy fields, and despite strapping on his knee from a training crash two weeks ago, Dougie Cameron (i-cycles) would prove top dog once again. He wouldn’t have it all his own way though, Gordon Mackenzie (RT23) leading the early stages – he would take second, with Douglas Sharp (Forth Velo) rounding out the podium. In the V60s the effervescent Brendan Roe (Ryan’s Bike Surgery-Thomson Homes) took the title, clear of Neil Raitt (Dundee Thistle) who claimed silver and defending champion Gregor Grant (Moray Firth) with the bronze.
In a first for this event, Saturday saw some super fun mixed team relays, with Team HUP and Falkirk Junior Bike Club taking the adult and youth victories respectively.
Huge thanks to Scottish Cyclocross Series sponsor HUPcc, and Championship sponsor Pedal Power for their support, and to Alan Anderson, Hannah Kemlo and their crew for putting on a stunning weekend of racing.
All the results can be found here.
