Auchentoshan Report
Round two of the Scottish Cyclocross series was hosted by Glasgow United Cycling Club at Auchentoshan, near Glasgow. Hidden behind a wall, just off the Great Western Road lies what is perhaps Scotland's best loved 'cross course. Auchentoshan serves up the perfect mix of grassy sections, barriers, woodland singletrack, pavement and an infamous steep, muddy clamber up from a small burn crossing.
The weather was kind to racers this year, with mild temperatures and just a little rain to make a couple of the grassy corners nice and slick. The singletrack sections through the trees were riding as fast as we’ve ever seen them, a real pleasure to ride.
The action kicked off with the Youth categories. The young guns were on it straight away with a scorching start. Stuart McClusky (VC Glasgow South) took the victory in the male category and Hannah Ferguson (Glentress Riders) taking the female category.
Another superb field of over 100 raced the second event of the day. James Fraser-Moodie (Pedal Power) and Ruth Fraser-Moodie (Pedal Power) followed up their wins in the first round of the series with convincing victories in the male and female classes. Iain Nimmo (Squadra Porcini) came in fourth overall and top veteran. In the junior category, Lewis Kirkwood (Glentress Riders) finished well up the main field an took the win.
In the last event of the day, a total of 28 racers lined up for a combined U12, U10 and U8 race of 10 minutes and lap. A number of these riders had spent five hours in the saddle the previous day at the National Coaching Session at Ingliston, so were out to test their aching muscles. Of the 500 metre course, most of the track had already been ridden over by the senior riders in previous races, so the kids were faced with quite slippery conditions that most handled very well, though a few had some spectacular slides!
From the gun Jamie Willoughby (Drumlanrig) took up his customary position at the front of the field, but with Joe Nally (Carnegie Cyclones) close behind. By half way through the race Willoughby was fading, and the much fresher Nally quickened past him. Erika Allen (Wallace Warriors), who had also ridden at Ingliston, joined Willoughby for a desperate sprint to the line, to come third by a wheel while Lewis Mullholland (Johnston Jets) got to within two bike lengths of them in fourth place.
Many thanks to Glasgow United for another superb race and to event sponsors UK Whitegoods and the Santa Cross Worlds for their support.
Race Pics
Trina Ritchie and others were on hand to capture the action from around the course – lots of great images are on Flickr in the Scottish Cyclocross Group.
U12s reporting & photo: Guy Willoughby. All other photos: Trina Ritchie
