This weekend will see the best riders from across Britain compete for the national champions jersey at the 2022 HSBC UK | National Cyclo-Cross Championships in Ardingly, West Sussex.

After a strong winter based in Belgium and competing in the UCI Cyclocross World Cup and Superprestige Series, Linlithgow’s Cameron Mason will be at the head of the Scottish challenge in the Elite and U23 Men’s race. The Trinity Racing rider comes into the British Champs in top form having finished 15^th in the Elite round of the World Cup in Hulst and winning his first World Cup at Under 23 level in Dendermonde on Boxing Day.

In his two races on British soil this season, at Clanfield and Gravesend respectively, Mason took dominant victories – he will be hoping for more of the same on Sunday. Joining Mason in the Elite/U23 Men’s race are the two contenders for the National Trophy Series title, Corran Carrick Anderson and Rory McGuire.

Wheelbase CabTech Castelli’s McGuire took his maiden Elite Trophy victory in Sunderland in November and rode to 31^st and 38^th in his debut Elite CX World Cup events this season. Meanwhile friend and rival Carrick-Anderson has enjoyed an excellent first season as an U23, with a Trophy win at Falkirk,  as well as podiums in Milnthorpe, Sunderland and Gravesend; this gives the T-MO Racing rider a sizeable buffer heading into the last round on the 16^th January in Yorkshire, where he’ll hope to wrap up the series crown.

2018 British CX Champion and Olympian Grant Ferguson (Hope Factory Racing) will again join the Men’s Elite field having recorded 10^th in the Falkirk round of the Nat Trophy this season, whilst veteran David Lines (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) will double up and take to the start of both the Men’s Elites and V40s races, having won the V40 Scottish title in November.

Scottish National CX Champion Anna Flynn will lead the Scottish contingent in the Women’s Elite/U23 Race. Having won comfortably at Camperdown Park in November, the Edinburgh RC rider will take comfort in her consistent form that sees the 19-year-old sit second in the National Trophy standings, leading the U23 competition. With a worst finish of eighth this season , the Scot will be hoping another good consistent ride will see her at the pointy end this weekend.

Flynn will be joined in the Elite Women’s race by Ishbel Strathdee (VeloRevolution-WP Cycles) who has also produced some fantastic rides this season including a sixth at Derby - that has her sitting in fifth in the National Trophy standings.

Emily Carrick Anderson will be flying the saltire in the Junior Women’s event, having grown in confidence and experience after making her World Cup debut in Namur. After winning the Junior Women’s Scottish title in November, the first year Junior’s form has been magnificent, winning in Gravesend, whilst in Belgium she recorded top 20 results in both Namur and Baal. On the male side look out for Rueben Oakley (Rotor RT) and Sam Chisolm (West Lothian Clarion) who will lead the line in the Junior Men’s race.

A number of Scots will be in action in the Veteran and Youth Races which take place on Saturday, and we wish them the best of luck. Sunday’s action though, which features the Elite and Junior races, will be available to watch live via GCN+ and Eurosport’s TV and digital platforms, with British Cycling’s YouTube channel also hosting the stream.

Sunday’s TV schedule:

-          Junior Women – 10am start

-          Junior Men – 11am start

-          Elite and U23 Women – 1.50pm start

-          Elite and U23 Men – 2.50pm start