Scottish Open BMX Championships 8th September 2013 - Race Report
Words - Scott Davidson
Photos - Bob MacFarlane
The 8th September saw a warm welcome from the Western Titans hosting the 2013 Scottish BMX Championships at their BMX Track in Clydebank. This is the premier race of the Scottish race season, which generally speaking, closes with a bang! Last year a number of Top Elite riders came up from south of the border, hungry for the lure of a cash prize for the Elite pay-out race. This year to makes things just that little bit sweeter the pay-out race prize fund was doubled to £1000 with the support of UK Paper Roles and Fast Signs. More than what’s offered at English National races. Along with the friendly Scottish welcome of the home club who could resist a trip up north!
Riders lined up in the pens ready to race.
Not only did some of the fasted Elite riders from England show up, so did the sun! With help from club volunteers, Scottish Cycling and Scottish Powers support the track has never looked better. The banners, course taping and flags helped up the ante as well as the presence of elite rider Mr Tre White, last year’s winner and currently in the Olympic Development Program, training full time at Manchester. Rich Eames, the Olympic Commentator came along too, to add his enthusiastic thoroughbred tones for the day.
Racing was awesome! 101 of the best riders, raced on a tight technical track with some meaty jumps, making the visitors work harder than they may have hoped for.
Stands outs such as young Harrison Bell, under 6’s, a finalist from the British Championships winning all his races to top his National No. 1 Plate. Fearless on a BMX track, but only in Primary 2.In the 8 year olds race were the likes of Euro No 4, Jacob Murray showing consistency and not losing a race all day. A number of local riders from the Western Titans put in some impressive performances, Robyn(Hightower)Paton 10 yr girls, winning on the day and for the season, with Andrew 11, and his sister Carla, 13 winning the majority of their races. Ryan Anderson having jumped the 24 ft. Double’s for the first time last week, looked like he had found new desire, winning every race with a ton of style in the 13’s.
BMX racing isn’t just for the young either. There are guys well into the 40’s still rocking it, some even mixing it with the younger fast dudes. Titans Legends such as Sean(take it tight)Boyle, Davey Lynsday and the new Veteran Champ David Russell may have a combined age of 130 years but you wouldn’t know that seeing them skilfully weave around the track with 20 feet jumps and 10 ft. high berms.
Onto the final race of the day, with the money on the table, well the big presentation cheques, the Elite race were the highlight of the day. Lining up in the gate with Team Identiti’s Tre White was the likes of World number 3 and Euro number 2, Kieran McAvoy and Jack Critchlaw another new British number 1. Tre smashed the gate down and rode flawlessly manualing and jumping his way to regain his title and £450! Not bad for a few hours work. Kieran grabbed 2nd and Michael Cummin 3rd. Two local riders did us proud, with a wee clash of the Titans themselves in the final, with one making an impromptu exit from the track off the side of a jump no less. Exciting stuff, ahem, as long as that wasn’t you.
Races lost and won, raffle drawn, it was time for medals and the trophies kindly supplied by Scottish Cycling and ScottishPower. Giving mementoes to the riders their hero Tre White presented the kids trophies and medals for the prizing giving on top of the start hill signing autographs before heading home a happy man.
Another Scottish Championships done for this year, with the biggest attendance to date, sunshine and a lot of happy smiling people, it was another great event. Thanks to all the volunteers, riders, sponsors, Scottish Cycling and Scottish Power for all there support and look forward to seeing everyone next year.
Until then the Winter Series…
Scott Davidson Chair Western Titans BMX Club
