Lapierre SCX Series Results and Series Standings - One to go!
With the results from a snowy Cross at the Castle now in, its a good time to take a look at the Series standings before we take a break for Christmas and the Super Quach Series, and return in February for the final race of the 2017-18 Lapierre SCX Series at Strathclyde Park.
(Photo: Finn Crowther!)
U14 Male and Female
A win for Ben McMullen (Sprockets Cycle Shop Race Team (Scotland)) at Cross at the Castle on Saturday sees him stretch his lead of 15 points over Archie Ellen (ERC), with Alfie Atterrton (ERC) in 3rd, 23 points behind. It’s all to play for as we head into the winter break.
In U14 Female Series, none of the top 3 in the League raced on Mull, leaving the standings unchanged. Emily Carrick-Anderson (PCC) sits 10 points clear of Imani Pereira-James (East Kilbride Road Club). Underlining how competitive racing is at all levels right now, only 20 points separating Carrick-Anderson from third place Eilidh Shaw (Stirling Bike Club).
U16 Male and Female
Patrick Kiehlmann (Falcons Cycling Club Bishopbriggs) took his chance to move up in the league standings with a win on Saturday, ahead of Ross Birrell (ERC) in 2nd and Sorley Johnston (Glasgow Riderz) in 3rd. With the top two not racing at the weekend, Corran Carrick-Anderson (Peebles CC) still leads the series from Alexander Ball (West Lothian Clarion CC).
In the U16 Females, a small field on the west coast saw Elena McGorum (PCC) repeat her win at Lochore and all but cement the Series, with a big lead of 43 points over Sophie Paterson (Glasgow Riderz), but in cyclocross nothing is certain, even on the bell lap, and both Paterson and third place Abbie Mason (West Lothian Clarion) will be keen to keep the pressure on McGorum at Strathclyde Park.
Junior Male and Female
Anna McGorum (PCC), racing in the Series for only the second time this season, took the win on Mull over current Series leader Ishbel Strathdee (Edinburgh RC). Only 20 points now separate Strathdee from Anna Shackley (Glasgow Riderz) in second place, and Estelle Fuller (who didn’t race at Mull) could also shake things up, sitting 27 points back from the leader.
Robbie Hearns’ (Synergy Cycles) win on Mull sees him leading the Lapierre SCX Junior Male Series from teammate Craig Dobbins by a full 50 points. The rest of the Mull podium (second place Aiden Foulner (ERC) and third place Harry McGarvie (North Sports/Kinesis)) won’t be letting Hearns have it all his own way though, and if Charlie Johnston (Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique) races at Strathclyde Park it could be all change at the top.
V50 Male
With his fourth win of a phenomenal season at Lochore Meadows at the end of November, Murray Swanson (Pedal Power) was the first Lapierre SCX Series winner to seal his title - Congratulations Murray. James Melville (Glasgow United CC), currently sitting second in the Series, took the top spot on Mull from Michael Nally (Dunfermline CC), with Colin Shearer (VC Moulin) in third. Melville now sits 32 points clear of third placed Kenny Kentley (Velocity 44 RT) in the Series, with one round to go.
V40 Male
In contrast to the V50M Series, it couldn’t be much closer at the top of the V40 Male table. Graeme Cross (SR Albannach) missed his chance to leapfrog Gary McCrae (Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique) and take the the top spot in the Series, finishing third in Mull which leaves him just 1 point behind McCrae in the standings. Chris Buchan’s win at the weekend (his first of the season) moves him up into 4th in the Series, while newly crowned Scottish V40M Champion Malcolm Bain remains in third.
Vet Female
With the current Series current Series leader Brenda Callendar (Stirling Bike Club) winning on Mull, 19 points now separate her from Caroline Harvey (ERC), with Lindsay Branston (RC Cumbernauld & Kilsyth) in third.
Senior Male
It’s now all to play for at the top of the Senior Male Series, with Davie Duggan (Devinci/Freeborn) taking the top step at Mull and pulling level with Gary MacDonald (Nevis Cycles RT) in the overall. MacDonald didn’t race on Mull due to illness, while Duggan has found some good form at the right time, with this win adding to a podium spot in the Scottish Championships at Knockburn Loch last weekend. A second for Huw Oliver on Mull moves him up the League to fourth, while John Mackenzie (SR Albannach) currently 3rd in the Series, was escorted home in 4th place on Saturday by teammates Lewis Rattray (3rd) and Niall Shannon (5th).
Senior Female
A win for Kerry McPhee at Glengorm on Saturday and a second place for Jane Barr (Velocity 44) (ahead of Louise Borthwick (Edinburgh RC)) means the Senior Women's Lapierre SCX Series is another close race. McPhee has currently only raced three Series races, so currently sits a fair way back in the standings, but a victory at Strathclyde Park in February would mean she would move ahead of current Series leader Eileen Roe (Team WNT). Barr's second place on Mull sees her move 36 points clear of third place Joanne Thom (Sandy Wallace Cycles) in the overall standings.
