Kirroughtree Forest played host to this year’s National Cross-country Championships this weekend, combining both cross-country and our first-ever short track championships, with Annie Last taking home both jerseys.
Short track (XCC)
The women were the first to take to the start line for our first-ever XCC national championship race, and it was Elena McGorum (Peebles CC) who led from the start, after winning the national series title this year in the elite women's category.
She wasn’t allowed to escape, however, and as the race settled there were two groups of two who managed to break away. Annie Last (Scott Racing) and Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing) were just ahead of Hattie Harnden (Trek Factory Racing) and Isla Short, and that’s how it stayed until the finish, which came down to a nailbiting sprint finish, with Annie Last winning by just a bike length. Evie was second, Hattie third, Isla fourth and Christina Wiejak (St Piran WRT) a very creditable fifth.
In the men’s race Rory McGuire (Leslie Bike Shop) led the field in the first lap. A group of seven riders then got a gap and started swapping the lead around between them. There was some tactical positioning within the group of Corran Carrick-Anderson (T-Mo Racing), Cam Orr (Team Inspired), Cam Mason (Trinity Road Racing) Joe Blackmore (Team Inspired), Harry Birchill (Scott Racing), Rory McGuire and Charlie Aldridge (Scott Racing), before Charlie and the two Camerons got a break.
Charlie got a further break from the group coming into the camping field for the final time and took the win for his first national title, and adding another special jersey to his collection following his recent success at the European championships. Orr was second, Mason third and Blackmore and Carrick-Anderson fourth and fifth.
Cross-country (XC)
Saturday's rain created plenty of mud and some tricky sections of the course, but it remained a big hit with riders, with many several describing it as the best of the season.
The inclement weather certainly made life inreresting for the Open, Male Expert and Sport categories which took place in the afternoon, and it was Jared Linden (Livingston CC) who took the win in the non-championship Sport and Expert class ahead of Neil Scott (Deeside Thistle) and Sam Holder (Liverpool Century). Sofia Christiansen (Galloway Hillbillies) comfortably won the Female Open class with Charlotte McDowell second and Katrina Jenkinson third.
In the Male Open it was Josh Matthews who took a commanding win, with Sam Gurling second and Mike Harper (Alba Rosa) third.
Overnight the rain continued but Sunday morning thankfully dawned dry. The commissaires were keeping an extra close eye on the course and its rideability but thankfully it remained dry for most of the racing and the course did not require any alterations.
In the Juvenile Female category Aelwen Davies (RR23) escaped from Zoe Roche (WXC) in the singletrack to take the win convincingly. Maizie Harper was third with a strong ride. In the Juvenile Male category Leon Atkins (Welwyn Wheelers) easily defended his title ahead of Gus Lawson (Pentland Racers), with Arthur Limb (Matlock) in third.
Daisy Taylor (Royal Albert) did as she’s been doing all season in Youth Female and led from start to finish. Madeline Moorhouse-Smith (Shibden) had a strong ride to take second ahead of Tulsi Bakrania (WXC). In the Male Youth category Max Standen (Southfork Racing) came top of a very strong field with Oscar Gaylor (Team RL360 Isle of Man) in second and Alex Hart (Mid Shropshire Wheelers) in third.
In Male Masters Ross Thorley (Manx Viking Wheelers) beat Daniel Moore (Muckle CC) and Nathan Wilson (Wilsons Wheels) after a race with a constantly changing lead for the first few laps. Adrian Lansley absolutely dominated the Vet class to defend last year’s title, beating Matt Lawton (Macclesfield Wheelers) and Philip Holywell (Peak Road Club) to the jersey.
Nick Craig (Scott Racing) led the Grand Vet class pretty much from the start with Ian Taylor (Shibden) in second and Doug Cameron in third. In the Super Vets Pete Harris (Pearce Cycles) defended his jersey ahead of Grant Johnson and Bruce Rollinson (All Terrain).
In the Female Senior category Annie Last (Scott Racing) was on fire, dominating the race and taking another championship jersey to go with Friday night’s short track title. In second was Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing), with last year’s winner Isla Short finishing third. Hattie Harden successfully defended her Female Under-23 jersey ahead of Elena McGorum (Peebles) and Anna Flynn (Spectra Wiggle).
Ella Maclean-Howell (Tofauti Everyone Active) comfortably won the Female Junior race ahead of Emily Carrick Anderson (T-Mo Racing) and Kacey Eyeington (Derwentside CC).
In the Female Vets Ceris Styler took the win ahead of Helen Jackson (Kendal Cycle Club) and Ruth Fraser-Moodie. In the combined Grand and Super Vets class Virginia Roberts (Albion Cycling Co) took the win, clearly delighted, ahead of Lindsay Newman (Pedal Power Loughborough) and Carolyn Spiers (Kendal Cycle Club).
After a couple of close laps in the Male Senior Cam Orr (Team Inspired) took advantage of Cam Mason’s mechanical to disappear out of sight of the rest of the field. Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing) took second ahead of Isaac Mundy (Spectra Wiggle).
Charlie Aldridge (Scott Racing) also won a second national champion's jersey of the weekend by taking the Male Under-23 race by the scruff of its next. Second was Joe Blackmore (Team Inspired) and third was Rory McGuire (Leslie Bike Shop).
In Male Juniors Max Greensill (Hope Factory) broke away to take the win with Bjoern Koerdt (Shibden) in second and Nathan Smith (Hope Factory) in third.
ThHuge thanks to Galloway Hillbillies and SXC for the course and race organisation, and to all of the marshals, commissaires and partners who supported the event.
