Dates: 29th December 2021
As 2022 draws ever closer, we’d like to take a look back on the return of Scottish National Championships in 2021 after the pandemic forced their suspension in 2020.
Spokes RT organised the first Scottish National Championship to return was that of the Senior Men’s and Women’s Road Race in Aberdeenshire on Sunday 24th July. Scotland’s best road riders covered the brutal climb of Suie Road – with the Women racing two ascents and the Men five.
The Women’s Event was deservedly won by Becky Storrie (Cams-Basso) how was joined on the podium by her breakaway companions Beth MacIver (Torvelo Racing) and Beth Morrow (Storey Racing).
After a flurry of attacks including an 80km solo effort from David Lines, David Duggan (Wheelbase – Castelli-CabTech) won the Men’s Road Race title with Alex Gibb (Spokes RT) catching the cramping Gavin Dempster (Torvelo Racing) on the line.
Several weeks later it was the turn of the Scottish National Youth Road Race Championships & Senior Criterium Championships at Fife Cycle Park in Lochgelly.
The Senior and Junior women saw the very best of the weather as the early downpours subsided and the sun made an appearance, just in time for theirs, the penultimate race.
A few laps in and a foursome went off the front comprising Beth MacIver (Torvelo Racing), Heather Elder (Forth Velo), Kate Richardson and Morven Yeoman (Tofauti Everyone Active), the latter of whom contesting the junior women’s category – with them finishing in that order.
In the men’s race it was another powerful sprint that decided the title in the favour of newcomer Jamie MacKenzie (META Bike Division), just a wheel separating him from his podium contemparies Ciaran McSherry (Edinburgh RC) and Corin Halliday (Torvelo Racing), who took silver and bronze respectively.
The Youth A and B categories are often the most animated and Calum Moir (Welwyn Wheelers CC) flashed around the circuit. Again, breaks came and went, but eventually another foursome took to the head of the field with Moir beating out Elliot Rowe (Deeside Thistle), Lanark Race Team’s Corey Whiteford and Cormac McConville of East Kilbride Road Club.
The Girl’s Youth A and B races were run together and Deeside Thistle had come prepared, with seven riders across the two categories. First across the line in an extremely tight finish was Erin Boothman (East Kilbride RC), who edged out Blackburn for the Youth B title - Niamh Waters (Edinburgh RC) claimed bronze. In the Youth A race it was a Deeside one-two, with Evie White pulling on the stripes, ahead of Molly Evans and Emily Carrick-Anderson (T-Mo Racing).
August also saw the Scottish National Team Time Trial Championship take place in and around Forfar. The Women’s Championship served up a nail-biting finish, as despite a race distance of 36 miles, the top two were separated by just 13 seconds at the finish with Torvelo Racing winning out from Vanelli-Project GO.
The Men’s Championship was won by Ryan’s Bike Surgery-Thomson Homes, took it up and never relinquished their position at the top of the leaderboard. That team, consisting of Silas Goldsworthy, Raymond Wilson, Andrew Underwood and Hamish Creber stopped the clock in 1.04.30, to eventually win by some 29 seconds from Kelpie Racing and Vanelli-Project GO.
Iain Macleod (Kelpie Racing) and Vicky Smith (Aerocoach) were victorious after taken on the demanding course laid on by Hawick Cycling Club for the 2021 Scottish Cycling National Olympic Time Trial.
Cairngorm CC hosted the Scottish National Veteran Women and Junior Women Road Race Championships as part of the Sally Anne Low Memorial Road Race.
In the Veteran’s Champs Sharon Bird (Torvelo Racing) was victorious on Kirk Brae with teammate Zosia Martin and Lorna Breetzke (Elgin CC) taking the minor medals. The final podium of the day saw Erin Murphy (Deeside Thistle) collect her jersey, with Iona MacDougall (Team 22) claiming the silver medal in the junior category.
Fort William hosted the Scottish National Downhill Champs with George Gannicott narrowly beating Callum McBain and Brandon Gonsales to win the Elite Men’s Championship on the slopes of Aonach Mor.
The Scottish National Junior Men's Road Race Championship took place at the Battle of Black Loch Ross Birrell led the charge. Although he was passed by a couple of senior riders just before the line, he held on to take the junior title, just ahead of a fast-finishing Callum Twelves, with bronze going to Elijah Kwon (The Cycling Academy)
The final championship of 2021 was the Scottish National Cyclo-Cross Championships, taken place in Camperdown Country Park, Dundee. Anna Flynn and Charles Fletcher both won their respective senior titles with Emily Carrick Anderson and Rueben Oakley winning both Junior Titles. The Youth A Boys was won by Elliot Rowe (Deeside Thistle) with Erin Boothman winning the Girls event.
Having practised with Pascal Eenkhoorn a few weeks earlier, Xander Graham won the Youth B boys Championship.
