Linlithgow played host to the 2025 edition of the Scottish Cyclocross National Championships, which incorporated the penultimate round of the HUPcc Scottish Cyclocross Series, a morning of heavy rain ensuring we were treated to true cyclocross conditions, with mud being the dominant feature of a technically challenging course.
The course deteriorated throughout the day, with the Senior Open race featuring the most running, particularly on the lower sections of the course. Sam Chisholm (Team HUP) went off like a rocket and in truth, was never challenged as he romped to victory.
2025 has been a halcyon year for the former West Lothian Clarion rider, who today secured his third Scottish Championship win of the year, following on from taking the Road and MTB XC titles over the summer.
Asked afterwards which his favourite was, Chisholm said:
“I’ve been training really hard for this over the last few months and I really wanted this today – I didn’t want to leave anything to chance, so I just pushed all the way from the start to the end. By the end of the race you were running every corner, bikes were clogging up, it was half lap changes, so I was just trying to take no risks and hold the gap.”
Silver went to Reuben Oakley, who is enjoying a great cyclocross season having finally got on top of breathing issues that have hampered him over the last few years, with Alex Ball (Beeston CC) rounding out the podium.
In the Female race, Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing) defended her title after an epic race-long battle with Daisy Taylor (Royal Albert CC) that was only decided in the final minute. It was a ding-dong back and forward, with Flynn’s strength going up against Taylor’s skill. It was Flynn’s first CX race of the season, and she admitted afterwards her skills were a little rusty; on the flip side Taylor was finding grip where nobody else could.
Inside the final minute of racing, Flynn used her power to gain three bike lengths, and coming out of the final corner it looked like she had it, which was confirmed when Taylor dropped her chain, allowing the former Edinburgh RC to cross the line with time to spare.
Of her efforts, Flynn said:
“I’m really pleased, as it was a really tight race with Daisy – she was really pushing me with her skills, which were really good, but I think I just managed to hold her off in the end in the sprint. I’m really happy to defend my title again.”
Taylor would eventually get her chain back on and finish well clear of Monica Anderson (Livingston CC); the Royal Albert rider would also take the Craig Hardie trophy for first U23, which went to Chisholm in the Open race.
The Juniors and Masters were all part of one large, combined field, Deeside’s Emma Campbell taking the Junior title with a dominant ride ahead of Eleya Mold (Glasgow Riderz) and Nina Padmanabhan (Solas). Lettie McDonald would take the 40s win, Sian Tovey the 50s and Helen Winton (Vanelli-Project GO) the 60s.
In the Open equivalents, Xander Graham (Scott Pioneer DJ) led from gun to tape to win the Junior race, albeit chased all the way by SORT duo Cameron Annabale and Joel Gillan in second and third. In the Masters 40 Open, similarly Richard McDonald (Vanelli Project-GO) would lead all the way, matching his wife’s achievements in securing the champions’ stripey jersey. Silver and bronze went to previous winners Davie Lines (Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli) and Gary MacDonald (Nevis Cycles).
The Youth races delivered some fantastic racing, none more so than the U14 Female where Eilidh Scally (Johnstone Jets) and Isla Reekie (Falkirk Junior Bike Club), who have both won rounds of the British National Trophy this season, were having a great race until Reekie suffered a mechanical after getting tangled in the tape, allowing Scally to take the Scottish title. Reekie would still come home for silver, whilst Glasgow Riderz’ Emma Nicholson would complete the podium. Stirling Bike Club’s Emie Smith would take an impressive win in the U16 race, ahead of Ella McQueen (FJBC) and Mairi Dowens (West Lothian).
In the U16 Youth Open we were treated to another fantastic race, the lead changing hands numerous times as Josh Buchan (Pentland Racers) would eventually take the win by a mere second from Rhuairidh Fulton (West Lothian) and Josh Stewart (Stepping Stanes). In the U14s it was Alexander Mullen (FJBC) who took the title ahead of Angus Dowens (West Lothian) and Cobey Stewart (Stepping Stanes).
The first race of the day was the Masters 50 & 60 Open, Dougie Cameron (i-cycles) taking the 50s crown for the third year in a row, whilst Neill Raitt (Dundee Thistle) would take the 60s title.
Big thank you to Falkirk Junior Bike Club and West Lothian Clarion for jointly hosting a great edition of these Championships in tough conditions, including U12 racing and a youth relay the previous day.