Iona Moir led the way in qualifying with a 10.7, with Ellie Stone (Black Line) following close behind in a 10.8. Both riders setting another time underneath the 11.054 Commonwealth Games standard.
A shock in round one as Lotte Wardrop came from behind in the final lap to pip the ever-impressive Maddy Silcock to the line and progress into the medal finals.
Sarah Johnson (Glasgow Track Racing Club) claimed bronze after winning the semi-final against Wardrop but more drama would unfold in the gold medal final.
After Moir and Stone would both take the semi-finals in straight rides to set up a grandstand final, it would be Moir – the three-time U23 European Champion who would take a 1-0 lead in the race one.
The Highland rider would however draw proceedings level, with a fantastic display of tactical nous in race two. Stone was position one but forced Moir to take the lead after an excellent track stand just after the halfway mark in the first lap.
The Aviemore native then pounced into a gap left open by Moir and launched her sprint with two laps to go – a question that could not be answered by the Great Britain Cycling Team rider to set up a decider.
Moir would set a quicker tempo in the final race, ensuring that there would not be a repeat of cat and mouse in race two. Stone would however, come around the stop of Moir with a lap and a half to go, using the banking of the track to power away and take the victory.
Our first national title of the morning was decided in the open Kilometre. Ross Birrell (Moonglu) set the early pace with a strong time of 1:02.518, great to see the Dunfermline native back to some of his best riding.
Birrell would be in the hot seat for the final two riders to come, Niall Monks (Glasgow Track Racing Club) would go first.
Monks emptied the tank in the longest of the sprint events – producing a time worthy of winning the Scottish title in 1:01.951.
Calum Moir would be the last rider to go at the end, and his time of 1:02.2 would be enough to claim silver.
In the open 40+ 3km individual pursuit we had six riders bidding for glory. Through to the run-off for the final place on the podium, the bronze medal went to Karl Farmer (VC Glasgow South) as he caught Graeme Steen (Glasgow Nightingale CC) in a time of 3:09.00.
The final was between Andy Bruce (Vanelli-Project Go) and Gavin Shirley (Studio Velo) and again it was a catch in a time of 3:24.00 with the win going to the Vanelli rider. First medals of the day for both riders but not their last.
In the masters 50+ 2km female pursuit, it would be Stirling Bike Club’s Carole Dick who best RT23’s Gillian Anderson to gold, with VC Astar Anderside’s Janel Tait taking bronze.
With support races giving the riders a chance to recover it was back to pursuiting again but this time as teams in the Open Team Pursuit. The hot money was always on the young team from the Scottish Cycling Performance squad but there were strong teams giving them a run for their money.
Glasgow University put up a strong team but an unfortunate shoe cleat incident meant they had to settle for the bronze medal position. The Scottish Cycling team was not to be denied and came home in the gold medal position with Vanelli-Project Go taking Silver on this occasion.
It was great to see a number of teams in action in youth team pursuits. In the 3km open pursuit it would be a Scottish RACE National squad of Fraser Gemmell, Micah Myles, Andrew Levinson and Reuben McLardie that would take the victory in a new Scottish record (subject to ratification) of 3:20.657.
Taking silver was a strong A/B composite team of Callum Atkinson, Ezra Nduini, Oliver Mayes and Louis Thornley. With bronze going to a mixed team of Calum Lambie, Matthew Moran, Liam Phllips and Josh Sharp.
A Scotland RACE National Zara Main, Eve Fairbairn, Millie Boothman and Izzy Barbour set a new British record of 3:35.164, with Glasgow Riderz’ Femke McKenna, Eleya Mold, Freyja Shackley and Imogen Hammond taking silver in a 3:47.641 and Katy Tweedie, Sarah McCormac, Jasmine Grieve and Boo Williams and 4:13.615.
The sprinters were back in action but this time being led out by the Derny bike. Fast and furious as always in was a close run thing on the line with South African Jean Spies (Cycle Nation) taking the win from Isaac Small.
With Spies being ineligible for the Championship medals, it became a Glasgow Track Racing Club podium lockout gold to Small with Callum McNicol in Silver and Struan Ferns in bronze
The final two events of the day, and the championships, were distance event…the Female 15km Points race first up. No stranger to this track it soon became apparent that Jenny Holl (Loughborough Lightning) was out to add to her medal collection. Millie Thomson (Solas Cycling) was determined to give her a run for her money.
Holl took the first four sprints but Thomson fought back to take the fifth but the Loughborough rider, by way of Stirling of course, put the race to bed by riding into the distance and taking a lap and the final sprint well ahead of anyone else to secure Gold. Thomson easily took the Silver but will be a force to be reckoned with in future races. Kayla Dinnin (Liv Cycling Club-Halo Films) was a solid third all the way through the race to secure the Bronze medal.
Finally it was the Open 10km Scratch race over 40 laps of the track. Right from the gun Logan Maclean (Private Member) set off to distance the field and the only person that could live with him was Struan Shaw (Tofauti Everyone Active Majaco). The two riders worked effectively and had soon caught back up to the bunch putting them in with an almost unassailable advantage. All they had to do now was stop anyone else getting a lap, and beat each other in the final sprint.
The closest challenger at one point was Matti Dobbins (Edinburgh Bike Fitting RT) but the duo were astute enough to make sure he couldn’t get away. Into the final few laps and Maclean went again absolutely dominating this race and taking the win on the line. Next across was James Sweeney (BCC Race Team) and this gave him the third place finish and the Bronze medal.
With Scottish Cycling President Sandy Gilchrist presenting the medals, the final podium ceremonies were well attended and another successful weekend of racing was finally completed. The last Championship event of 2025 and we get to do it all again come the New Year.
For now, everyone at Scottish Cycling would like to express our very best wishes for the holiday season. Eat drink and be merry, but not too much as the track isn’t finished for this year.