British XC Champs
Whilst nobody was surprised to see Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) do the double, dominating both the Elite Open XCC and XCO races, there was perhaps a surprise winner in the Elite Female XCO as Grace Inglis (Team HUP) took the title in impressive style.
The XCO course featured a tough climb, especially when you add in the heat, before a dusty technical descent really tested riders’ full armoury. For Inglis, who has only raced a pair of mountain bike races all year, it was an impressive show of strength to get the better of runner-up and defending champion Isla Short, who also took silver in the XCC on Friday night.
For Aldridge, it’s another year in the stripey jersey which he has represented so well in recent seasons on the World Cup circuit; in truth he was never really challenged, biding his time before putting the hammer down midway through the seven lap race. In the U23 category there was silver for Innes McDonald (SORT), a result that Daisy Taylor (The Hera Project) matched in the Female race, after taking bronze in the Elite Short Track on Friday – a great weekend for the Glasgow rider.
In the Junior Female events Daisy Wilkinson (SORT) made a great return to competition after an injury lay-off to take the XCC title and silver in the XCO. In the Open category it was Gus Lawson (Pedal Power RT) who took a brace of silver medals, joined on the XCO podium by Joel Gillan (SORT), the Callander rider enjoying a great day out.
Saturday saw the Youth and Masters riders in action, and in the Youth Female race there was no surprise to see Olivia Poole (Specialized Youth Development Team) run out a commanding winner, the Invernesian winning by over two minutes, with Stirling’s Emie Smith a fine fifth. Poole also took the XCC title. In the Juvenile race there was another Scottish winner, Lily Cant (West Highland Wheelers) taking an impressive win, with Eilidh Coutts (Edinburgh RC) joining her on the podium as she won bronze. Cant also took silver in the XCC, with Boo Williams (Clydesdale Colts) taking bronze.
On the Open side, Gregor McNaught (Falkirk Junior Bike Club) scored the biggest win of his young career in the Youth XCO taking the title in his first year in the age group, with Zach Buchan (Pentland Racers) third, Ross Allan fourth and Guy Rorke (Pentland Racers) fifth. In the Juvenile category Sam Kingan (Pentland Racers) was just off the podium in fourth.
Moving on to the Masters, Jane Barr (Velo 56.0) took both the XCC and XCO titles in the Female 40 category, whilst Gary MacDonald (Nevis Cycles) took silver in the Masters 40 Open XCC, and Kenny Kentley (Velo 56.0) bronze in the Masters 60 Open XCC.
British Downhill Champs
Whilst the XC Champs were at home in Scotland, our best Downhill riders travelled to Revolution Bike Park in Wales and returned with more silverware.
Starting with the Elites, Phoebe Gale (Orbea FMD Racing) and Emily Carrick-Anderson (Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli) took silver and bronze in the Female event, only bettered by Harriet Harnden. In the Junior Female Championship Megan Horne produced a run to be proud of to take the title and will get the honour of wearing the British Champion’s stripes for the coming year. What’s more, her run would have put her fourth among the Elites. There was also a strong fourth place finish for Katy McGowan, whilst it was bronze for Stan Nisbett in the Open Junior Championship.
There was a further British title in the Juvenile Open, as Ty Simpson showed his rivals just what he is capable of, whilst brother Reid Simpson took a sterling silver in the Youth Open. In the Female Juvenile race it was silver for Izzy Blackman (Wolfpax Riders) whilst in the Youth race her teammate Rosie Mclaughlan was fourth.
Enduro World Cup
Sticking with mountain biking, Ella Conolly continues to impress on the world stage, with yet another UCI Enduro World Cup victory, this time in Bellwald, in the Swiss Alps. Competing across a demanding eight stages, Conolly’s total time was 51.41, over half a minute up on her nearest rival, Elly Hoskin of Canada. What was even more impressive was that she recovered from a puncture mid race to take the win!
With that, Conolly extends her lead at the top of the overall standing, sitting pretty on 920 points, with her nearest rivals on 850 and 630 respectively. The Highlander will look to keep her form going for the rest of the summer to take both the overall, and the World title.