Event: The 2011 Inter Regional Youth Road Championships

Posted: 7th July 2011

Article by: Mark Young

Teams from:

Scotland
Wales
(England);
South
South West
South East
Eastern
Central
East Midlands
Yorkshire
West Midlands
North West
North East

This event is a major coup for Scotland as UK National Championship level cycling events happen rarely this side of the border. After British Cycling first made contact with Perth & Kinross Council in late 2010 to moot the idea of hosting the 2011 Inter Regional Youth Road Championships, the teams in the Perth & Kinross Sports Development, Economic Development and Roads departments and Tayside Police have worked extremely hard to make the event happen. All of these agencies have been needed to pull off the full road closures necessary to stage under 16's bike racing on public roads (under the rules of British Cycling - U16's can only race on traffic free courses).

The 100 young competitors coming to Perthshire next week will have a totally unique experience as they begin on their long and exciting pathway to become the Olympic stars of the future. With not just one but three closed road venues to race on, they will have their own mini ‘Tour de France' experience - with a following convoy of service cars and support crews in what will be a very continental flavour of bike racing around Pitlochry, Coupar Angus, Crieff and Perth. The organisers wish to thank the many residents on the closed road courses for their co-operation in the staging of this event as without this, the racing simply could not happen!

British Cycling and Scottish Cycling are supporting these Championships through the Talent Development Program and many support staff throughout the event.

The organising team is also very grateful to Glenalmond College near Perth for opening its doors as Event HQ for the weekend, in order to accommodate and cater for the 150 riders, coaches and officials associated with the race.

Live Active Leisure and the Gannochy Trust in Perth are providing the event with winners medals and yellow jerseys to add to the Tour de France feel - just a little something extra special to inspire the young hopefuls further.

SSE are also very welcome supporters of the event through the use of their Clunie Power Station as a base for the first race on Friday July 8th - the 9km Team Time Trial that passes the famous Clunie Arch on the wonderfully scenic South Tummel Road near Pitlochry. Volunteers from SSE staff are also providing much needed volunteer marshal cover for the racing.

Colbeggie Fruit Farm (A P Barrie & Co) on Saturday's (July 9th) course near to Coupar Angus, will be supplying the many expected spectators with punnets of their truly scrumptious strawberries and raspberries during the racing and the Red House Hotel, Coupar Angus - changing facilities and a base for Saturdays race entourage.

The finale will be staged on Sunday July 10th on a circuit based around the tiny but beautiful hamlet of St David's between Crieff and Perth. The brand new Community Centre there will provide changing facilities and post race refreshments for the final prize-giving as the 2011 winning team of boys, girls and coaches is honoured at the climax to 3 full days of fantastic youth road racing in Perth & Kinross.

Paramed UK will be providing race medical cover and additional support for the event will be through the following:

Cliff Bar - race energy food
Renner - bike race wear
The Bicycleworks shop Edinburgh
Fat Spanner - bike maintenance tools