Scottish Cycling's Regional Development Officer Fiona Walker set off for the British Masters Track Championships on Thursday, along with many other Scots, in the hope of bring back medals. Here is Fiona's report from the event!
"A strong contingent of Scottish Riders made the long journey to Newport in South Wales for the British Masters Track Championships and came back with an impressive haul of medals.
Friday was sprint day. In the male 50-55 category, Ivor Reid (City of Edinburgh RC) qualified 3rd fastest and progressed through heats to the final. Unfortunately he was deemed to be riding dangerously so was relegated. Andrew Louis (Glasgow life TCT) took the silver medal in the 30-34 age group.
Scottish riders were on the podium in every age group in the women’s sprint. Gwyneth Rixon (Sandy Wallace Cycles) won the bronze medal in the 50+ category, as did Fiona Walker (Walkers CC) in the 40-49 category. Louise Haston (Torq Performance) took the silver medal in the 35-39 category as did Anna Fairweather (Spokes RT) in the 30-34th age group.
The time trials took place on Saturday morning. The women competed over 500m. Louise Haston added another silver medal to her collection. Fleur Stoops (Glasgow Green CC) won gold in the 40-44 category. Gwyneth Rixon won the 60+ category, with her team-mate, Jenni Nicholson finishing 3rd. Peter Robertson (Forres CC) took silver in the male 75+ 500m TT Ian Humphreys (Sandy Wallace Cycles) got the bronze in the 60-64 event. Ivor Reid finished 2nd in the 55-59 age group. In the 45-49 750m TT Colin MacKenzie (Edinburgh RC) picked up the bronze medal as did Andrew Louis in the 30-34 1km TT.
Saturday afternoon saw scratch racing in all categories. Graham Barclay (Leslie Bike Shop) won the 55-59 8km race. In the 50-54 race Peter Ettles (Sandy Wallace Cycles) attacked with 2 laps to go and managed to hold off the chasing bunch to win. Commonwealth games rider, Alistair Rutherford (The Nab Racing) took gold in the 30-34 15km race. Fleur Stoops added another gold medal to her tally in the 40-44 age group 10km scratch race and Louise Haston picked up her 3rd silver medal in the 30-34 race.
Sunday morning kicked off with pursuits. In the 75+ 2km event, Peter Robertson took gold with Gordon Johnston (Sandy Wallace Cycles) taking bronze. John Mason (Ayr Roads CC) finished 3rd in the 70-74 category. Ian Humphries won gold in the 60-64 age group. Graham Barclay picked up the silver medal in the 55-59 race as did Peter Ettles in the 50-54 age group and Alistair Rutherford in the 30-34 3km pursuit.
Jenni Nicholson won the gold medal in the 60+ women’s 2km pursuit with Gwyneth Rixon taking silver. Kathleen McCormac (Glasgow Wheelers) finished 3rd in the 50-54 age group. Fleur Stoops added a silver medal to her collection in the 40-44 race, as did Louise Haston in the 35-39 category.
The weekend ended with points races. Graham Barclay picked up another gold medal in the 55-59 10km race with Ivor Reid taking the bronze. Peter Ettles finished 2nd in the 50-54 event and it was another win for Alistair Rutherford in the 30-34 24km points race. Carole Dick (Stirling BC) finished 3rd in the 45-49 category in the women’s 10km race.
Most of these riders will now be focusing on the World Masters Track Championships which take place in Manchester in October."
