SCX Series Results
A wild weekend on Mull saw the 2019 Scottish Cyclocross Series draw to a close. With seven action packed rounds across the length and breadth of the country, there has been a mix of conditions from sand to ice and mud, and just occasionally some sunshine. With the best six rounds counting for each rider, the scores have been tallied up (full results are available on the results page) and series champions confirmed.
In the Senior Men category, Gary MacDonald (Nevis Cycle Racing Team) took an early lead with wins in rounds one and two, and despite challenges from Sean Flynn and Mark Scott (with a win apiece) and the ever present John Mackenzie and Dave Duggan, Gary rounded off the season with further wins at Knockburn and Mull.
In Senior Female, Isla Short, Eileen Roe and Joanne Thom all enjoyed race wins throughout the season, but Kerry MacPhee’s form from her MTB season followed into CX season, and consistency saw her emerge with the series victory over Joanne and Isla.
In U14 male, Elliot Rowe (Deeside Thistle) took an impressive five wins from six starts to emerge victorious over the Edinburgh RC pair of Innes McDonald and Oliver Blyth. A similar story played out in the U14 female category with Deeside Thistle’s pair of Millie Thomson and Arabella Blackburn taking the top two spots in the series, with Edinburgh RC’s Rudie Shearer in third, just two points shy of second. A notable mention for Royal Albert CC’s Daisy Taylor too, who took four race wins.
There was success for Edinburgh RC in the U16 Male category though, with Frederick Fuller winning the first two and last two rounds to emerge victorious over Reuben Oakley, himself just five points ahead of Ben McMullen. The U16 female category too was hotly contested, with Ruby-Soho Smith (Peebles CC) finishing just twelve points ahead of Anna Reid with Beatrix Kiehlmann rounding off the podium.
There were five race winners in the hotly contested Junior Male category, with Andrew Turner (West Lothian Clarion CC) emerging over Finton Price and Duncan Crawford. Erin Murphy (Deeside Thistle CC) won the first round on her way to the Junior Female series win ahead of Elena McGorum with Eva Young and Anna Flynn sharing third spot with a win apiece.
The Veteran 40 male category has often been one of the closest in the Scottish Series, but Chris Buchan ripped up the rulebook to take wins in all six rounds that he entered. Malcolm Bain and David Ogden emerged in a close battle for the other two steps on the podium. Similar dominance was shown by Roslynn Newman (Female Riders Race Team) in the V40 female category, likewise taking six wins from six entries. Christine Fischer made the most of a win in round one and consistent podiums thereafter to take second spot above Jaime Nicholson.
In the Veteran 50 males, Murray Swanson (Pedal Power RT), James Melville and Gary McCrae battled over podium steps in close races throughout the season, with Murray ultimately standing on the top step often enough to emerge victorious, with James finishing just five points ahead of Gary for 2nd place. Brenda Callander (Stirling Bike Club) did not relinquish the top step of the podium all season though, to take the V50 female series victory from Beth Clayton and Louise Gibson.
The growing V60 categories saw victories for Phil Lacoux (COG Velo) from Thomas McNeish and John Newton, and Fiona Paton (East Sutherland Wheelers) from Carol Middleton and Jane Sargent.
Across all categories there were intriguing battles throughout the season and the standard and closeness of racing suggests that Scottish Cyclocross is certainly in rude health. As the 2019 Series rounds to a close, eyes now turn to the Super Quaich series, the North Series and the plethora of other standalone races throughout the rest of winter.
