Liam Scott Douglas (JG Cycles) and Evie White (Alba Development RT) won out at the Mark Stewart Velodrome in Dundee, as the sun was shining on the Scottish National Omnium Championships.
Senior Championships
The racing started with the scratch races in an overcast morning in Dundee. The women’s field saw a healthy increase on last season’s Championships, and it was a win for Louise Haston (Torq Performance), who was able to come round the top on the final bend to take victory.
The men’s Scratch Race saw a victory for Liam Scott Douglas (JG Cycles) who was able to best Keir Gaffney (Spokes RT) and Liam White (Torvelo) in the final sprint for the line – after the 10km of racing.
The sun had come out for the afternoon’s racing, with the heat as well on the Costa del Tayside. The Elimination Race saw a long-range attack by Andy Bruce (Vanelli-Project GO) which was enough to take victory in the second race, while White was able to finish second. Leaving the trio of White, Douglas and Bruce level on 77 points at the top of the standings.
While the women’s race saw Evie White (Alba Development RT) win out, to make it finely poised at the top of the standings halfway through the omnium.
The Alba Development rider would take the win in the Tempo Race – after taking 7 sprints in an early attack and doing enough to ensure that her lead was maintained in the final sprints.
Sam Edgar (Ribble-rchrg) followed White’s example, with an early attack sweeping up a number of the sprints to provide the former Johnstone Jet with a healthy advantage halfway through the Tempo race, which he was able to maintain in the final sprints to take victory, and place Edgar in contention for the medals heading into the final event.
The final Points Races was where the medals would be decided, the men’s race saw the medal positions swap several times in the early sprints, but it was Liam Scott Douglas who took the initiative as his attack stuck and had a half lap lead, which he held to the line to take the Points Race victory and the gold medal. Andy Bruce finished second from the bunch, that result plus his efforts earlier in the day paid dividends to claim silver, with Keir Gaffney won the bronze medal, in third.
The women’s race saw an early attack from Anna Fairweather (RT23) and Evie White which stuck to the finish, with the duo gaining a lap on the field late on. Fairweather was first across the line in the points race, but the sprints across the race was enough for White to claim the victory in the points race and with it the gold medal to become national champion.
Fairweather’s efforts rocketed the RT23 rider up the standings to take the silver, while Louise Haston claimed bronze.
Youth Championships
The Youth Omniums consisted of three events, a standing time trial, a keirin and a Scratch Race.
In the Youth A’s Anna Birrell (Edinburgh RC) won out in the first two events, and a second place finish in the scratch was enough to claim the win from Thea Aitken (Deeside Thistle), with Abigail Chaplin (Discovery Junior CC) in third.
Melanie Rowe (Deeside Thistle) was victorious in the Youth B’s with three wins out of three with Eve Fairbairn (Discovery Junior CC) in second and Zara Main (Deeside Thistle) in third.
In the Youth A boys, Adam Murray (East Kilbride RC) won the gold after a clean sweep of victories in the omnium. Alistair Easton (Edinburgh RC) and Colin Johnston (Johnstone Jets) taking silver and bronze medal.
While Innes Long (Deeside Thistle) was victorious in the Youth B ranks, with Reuben McLardie (Johnstone Jets) scored silver and Murray Alcorn (Discovery Junior CC) in bronze. Josh Stewart took the victory in the Youth C boys, with Callum Atkinson in second place and Griff Aitken) in third.
A massive thank you to Discovery Junior CC for organising the National Championships, as well as to the commissaires and volunteers for ensuring the smooth running of the event.
