Belgium
Across the channel in Belgium, Linlithgow’s Cameron Mason continued to underline his standing as one of the world’s best crossers, the 7 Racing rider snagging four further top 10 finishes, two of those coming in World Cup races.
First race out over the festive period was the World Cup on the sand dunes of Koksijde, where Mason would bounce back from illness to surf his way to a fine eighth place finish on a course not typically suited to his skillset. He would back this up with another eighth place finish the following day on another sandy course at Hofstade.
After a couple of days off over Christmas, the British Champ would bag another World Cup top 10 at Gavere, the course extremely fast and dry, a change from the norm. It was a similar story in Dendermonde where Mason had a slightly off day, but the next day saw Loenhout finally offer up a bit of mud, with the former West Lothian Clarion rider taking eighth.
Mason’s last race of kerstperiode would come at Baal on New Year’s Day, the muddy conditions suiting him, but fatigue had set in after a heavy block of racing, meaning he had to settle for 13th place, despite taking a time bonus by leading after the opening lap. With two races to go, Mason sits second in the overall X2O Trofee standings, just less than three minutes back on Joris Nieuwenhuis, and a minute and a half ahead of Niels Vandeputte, with a big prize purse up for grabs.
He’ll now rest up ahead of the defence of his British title at South Shields on Sunday.
Crossmanay
Irvine played host to a cyclocross extravaganza over Hogmanay, with four fantastic days of racing on the south-west cost. Starting off with a fun night race just before the bells, there was then a relay event before the National Trophy races on Friday and Saturday.
The weather was beautiful, if a little chilly, with riders from far and wide hailing the course as one of the best they’ve ever ridden, with a bridge to help the transition onto the beach the icing on the cake. A huge hats off to Alan Anderson, Hannah Kemlo and their vast team of volunteers who made it happen – no mean feat!
In the Trophy races, Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing) was the star of the show, the Edinburgh rider taking a commanding win by over two minutes in the Elite Female race. Scottish Champion Flynn has embarked on a short but successful cyclocross season so far, and will now take aim at the podium at the British Championships this weekend. Daisy Taylor (Royal Albert) was just off the podium in fourth, whilst Ishbel Strathdee (Team HUP) returned from a long injury lay-off to take sixth.
Freya Mowbray (Scotia Offroad Race Team) would take an even more impressive victory, albeit in a small Junior Female field, whilst Cameron Annable (SORT) was second and Xander Graham (Scott Pioneer DJ) fourth in the Junior Open. Innes McDonald would be the top Scot in the Elite Open in fifth place.
In the youth races Eilidh Scally (Johnstone Jets) was the top performer as she rode to a fine second place in the U14 Female race, whilst Sam Kingan (Pentland Racers) took fifth in the U14 Open event. Last but not least, Sian Tovey would take a brilliant win in the Female 50s, Helen Winton (Vanelli-Project Go) was second in the Female 60s, whilst Richard McDonald (Vanelli-Project Go) and Neill Raitt (Dundee Thistle) were third in the Open 40s and 50s respectively.