Stirling Bike Club and the University of Stirling staged another successful Crit on the Campus on Sunday 1st April.
The University’s beautiful setting again offered the perfect backdrop for the event, in its fourth year. With over 400 entries spread over ten races, this was one of the largest days of road racing in Scotland this year. The event drew a large crowd of spectators who created a great atmosphere on race day, and, in a break with the recent weather, the racing took place under blue skies.
The day kicked off with Youth races, with races for Under 8 (Youth E), Under 10 (Youth D), and under 12 (Youth C) categories.
Conan Nicholson (Hoodom Velo) and Isla Cameron (Royal Albert CC) won the boys and girls Youth E races, and the Youth D races were won by Daniel Cosgrove (Southport CC) and Hope Thomson (Deeside Thistle), respectively. In the Youth C category, the girls’ race was won by Isla McCutcheon of Johnston Wheelers, and the boys’ race was won by Joseph Cosgrove (Southport CC), brother of the Youth C winner Daniel. The trip up from south of the border was definitely worthwhile for the Cosgrove family.
This year Crit On The Campus hosted Round 2 of the Scottish Cycling National Youth Series, for the Under 14 (Youth B) and Under 16 (Youth A) riders. The Youth B category was a double for East Kilbride Road Club, with Finn McHenry winning the boys’ race and Imani Pereira-James winning the girls race. The Youth A categories were won by Daniel Kain (Squadra Scozzese) and Evan Young (Pedal Power RT). All four riders were presented with their Series leaders jerseys by GB Senor Academy member Jenny Holl, who was also in action later in the day.
Following the Youth Races, there was a race involving Special Olympics riders from the Scotland West Section. Eleven riders took to the course for the 30 minute race, getting in some excellent training for the upcoming Anniversary Games, which will be held on Stirling University campus in early August.
Next up were three men’s races. The first two were for 4th category riders with Rory Webster (Ayr Roads CC) and Cameron Harris taking the wins. These races were followed by a race for 3rd and 4th category men, with Calum Gray (DUMRCC) taking an impressive solo victory. In the chasing group, local rider Wayne Barr (Velocity 44) took third in a closely contested sprint finish.
The women’s race saw a group of four riders establish an early gap. This included Team Brreze’s young local star Jenny Holl, along with Louise Borthwick (Edinburgh University CC), Joanne Thom (Sandy Wallace Cycles) and Julie Nimmo. Holl launched an attack towards the end of the final lap, and took the victoy from Borthwick, with Thom in third.
The final race of the day was for Elite, 1st, 2nd and 3rd category men, and a strong field of 40 riders lined up at the start. Like the women’s race, a small group established a lead early on, and held the chasing pack at bay all the way to the finish. A crash in the finish straight took a couple of the breakaway riders out of contention, but Angus Claxton (Wheelbase Castelli MGD) was ahead of the chaos after leading out into the final straight, and took a fine win, with Ryan Fenwick (Dooley’s Cycles) second and Chris Sherrifs third. Sherriffs was caught up in the crash, but managed to get up and scramble across the line to get third as the chasing pack closed in.
Stirling Bike Club would like to thank the 40 club members who volunteered to help run the race. They also thank all riders who took part and made such a great day of racing.
