Photo: Jay Golian
Results
Men: 1. Iain Paton (Leslie Bike
Shop) 55.35; 2. David Duggan
(unattached) +0.37; 3. Mark McGuire
(100% ME) +1.15; 4. Gary MacDonald
(Nevis Cycles RT) +1.28; 5. David Lines
(Wheelbase Altura) +2.43; 6. John
Mackenzie (SR Albannach) +5.45; 7.
Lewis Rattray (SR Albannach) +6.46; 8.
Niall Shannon (SR Albannach) +7.06; 9.
Chris Hinds (Rapha CC) +7.12; 10. Neil
Henderson (unattached) +8.02.
Women: Isla Short (OMX Pro Team)
1:01.42; 2. Eileen Roe (Team WNT)
+2.36; 3. Kerry MacPhee (Rock and
Road) +4.33; 4. Louise Borthwick
(Edinburgh RC) +1 lap; 5. Joanne
Thom (Sandy Wallace Cycles); 6.
Alicia Lawson (VC Moulin); 7. Natalie
Munro (Moray Firth CC); 8. Laura Fidao
(Glasgow Nightingale CC); 9. Margaret
Normand (Hervelo Cycling); 10. Helen
Gorman (Stirling BC).Snowdon Sportsountain bike riders Iain Paton and Isla Short
were both victorious at the Scottish Cyclo-Cross
Championships, staged by Deeside Thistle CC at
the Knockburn Loch and Outdoor Centre on Sunday.
Twenty-two years old and riding for Leslie Bike Shop,
former GB mtb ace Paton crossed the line 37 seconds clear of
his nearest rival, while in the women’s race 21-year-old Short
was more than two and a half minutes clear as she successfully
defended her 2016 title.
The scenic venue provided riders with plenty of challenges.
The course was longer than in previous years at 2.7 kilometres
and included a straight 200-metre descent, while there were
also plenty of switchbacks as well as a steep 180-degree turn
into an off-camber climb which saw many forced to dismount.
A long uphill start meant that the fields were strung out early
— an advantage as they headed into a wooded section at the
end of the opening drag.
“I really wanted to do well here,” said Golspie-based Paton.
“I broke my wrist at the end of the mtb season and had to have
a couple of operations, so I missed the whole cross season last
year and was keen to get back into things.
“The course here was great and suited my style as it had
a significant climb, but it had everything really with lots of
technical bits and even a sandy area.
“I had a slow start but was still up there near the front, then
about halfway through I used the climbs to my advantage and
hit the front.”
He crossed the line 37 seconds clear of David Duggan, who
moved up from fourth last year, while Mark McGuire (100%
ME) took third.
“I love riding cross up here,” added Paton. “At some races we
get more than 600 riders across all categories, but it still has a
great friendly atmosphere.”
In the women’s race Short took the win comfortably from
Scottish Series leader Eileen Roe (Team WNT), the Peebles-
based rider crossing the line 2-36 ahead. And last season’s
championship runner-up Kerry MacPhee (Rock and Road) had
to settle for third this time, another couple of minutes back.Racing
Scottish Cyclo-Cross Championships |
December 3 | Aberdeenshire
Mtb stars shine
in Scottish
Cross Champs
54 | December 7, 2017 | Cycling Weekly