The SXC series returned to an old favourite, Badaguish near Aviemore for this years penultimate round on September 6. The course was a wonderful mixture of fireroad climbing and twisty rooty, rocky descents, made more challenging by the heavy rain the week before.
The first winner of the day was Stuart Wilcox (Inners MTB Racing/ i-cycles) in the Juvenile race, with Ben Miller only 24 seconds down and Iain Paton (Square Wheels) a further 12 seconds back in third. The Juvenile girls race was another battle between Scottish Champion Lucy Grant (Glentress Riders) and British Champion, Yuka Gallagher (777 Mountainbike Club) with Grant winning by just over a minute. Louise Borthwick (EdinburghRC) , fresh from success in the Scottish Track Championships the weekend before was only 8 seconds down in third.
Grant Ferguson (Dooleys Cycles) continued his unbeaten run in the youth category, with Irish visitor, Matthew Adair (Banbridge CC) finishing in second, and Michael Butcher (Sandy Wallace Cycles) third. Katy Winton (Glentress Riders) won the Youth girls category. The Junior race saw another battle between Ewan Clark (Drumlanrig/Rik's Bike shed) and Jamie Maxwell (Nevis Cycles RT). Maxwell eventually managed to pull away on the last lap and win by over a minute.
Alex Glasgow (Nevis Cycles RT) maintained the good form that secured him a fourth place in the World Masters Championships to win by almost 6 minutes from Iain Nimmo (Squadra porcini) and Kenny Kentley (Velo Ecosse). Anne Murray continued her domination of the female Veteran's category with Nicola Diggins (Cairngorm CC) finishing second. Gregor Grant took another impressive win in the Grand Vets race, with Steve Brown (Square Wheeels) 15 minutes down in second and Billy Matthews (Square Wheels) in third. Fiona Paton took her second win in the female Grand Vets category in front of Mary Wark (Fullarton Wheelers) and Lesley Yarrow (Stirling Bike Club) Sandy Allan (Sandy Wallace Cycles) won the Super Vets category.
European Masters track champion Mari Todd (Sany Wallace Cycles), continued her all round good form by winning the female masters race by nearly three minutes from Katie Collins, with Jenny Boyd (Deeside Thistle CC) taking third. SXC newcomer Jane Barr (Stirling BC) won the female Sport race, in front of Hannah Barnes (Nevis Cycles RT) and Natalie Milne (team Leslie Bikeshop - Right Move Windows). The Elite female race was won by Irish visitor Ciara Macmanus from Scottish Champion, Lee Craigie. (Square Wheels) In third place was last years series winner, Ruth Fraser-Moodie (Pedal Power RT) in her first race back since giving birth to son Angus earlier this year.
Tim Mackley (HPR (UK) Ltd) won the Sport category by almost three minutes from Iain Haworth (Stirling BC) with David Arnott a further minute back in third. The Masters race saw Paul Newnham (Edinburgh RC) lead from start to finish. Dan Whitehead took second place and Paul McInally (Rock & Road Cycles) finished third. In the Elite men's race Dave Henderson (Pedalpower.org.uk/Endura RT) and Andy Barlow (Dirt School) were together for the first two laps but Henderson pulled away after that to win by nearly two minutes. James Fraser-Moodie (Pedalpower.org.uk/Endura RT) almost managed to close the gap on Barlow but finished 20 seconds down in third.
The SXC series finale takes place on September 20 at Drumlanrig Castle. Top course designer Rik Alsop is sure to provide a superb course for this UCI C2 event. There UCI points and cash prizes down to fifth place in the elite race. Drumlanrig is easily accessible from the M74, so hopefully the English and Welsh will join the Irish to make it a four nations race!
