MORE than 60 riders from across the Borders took part in the first Inter-Schools Cycling Championship at Scott Park, Galashiels.
The event used a unique competition format that combined cycling skills with a mountain bike race to determine the championship winners – and joint organisers Borders Sport and Leisure, the Scottish Borders Cycle Development Group and Scottish Cycling were delighted with the response.
Ewan Jackson, chief executive of Borders Sport and Leisure, said: “Following on from the Olympics, the interest in cycle sport has never been higher. We were looking to lead the way by developing a championship format that would not only encourage participation in cycle sport, but also help to build life-long bike skills. I’d like to give special thanks to the cycling clubs who provided coaches and volunteers to help on the day, and to Borders Tennis Centre, Scottish Borders Council and friends of Gala Policies for allowing us to use their facilities.”
The championship featured races for pupils from P5 to S6, with the riders initially undertaking a skills element in Scott Park and the results from this used to grid the start line for each race – a dirt crit (short off-road race) through Gala Policies Community Woodland.
In addition to coaching on the day, Borders Sport and Leisure co-ordinated a series of coaching sessions in Hawick, Jedburgh, Duns, Kelso Galashiels, Innerleithen and Peebles to help riders prepare for the championship.
Results:
P5 boys: 1, Jamie Magowan (Kingsland Primary, Peebles); 2. Rudi Hanlon (Kingsland); 3, Jack Rayner, Drumlanrig Primary (Hawick).
P6 girls: 1, Elena McGorum (Priorsford Primary, Peebles); 2, Kerry Minto (Priorsford); 3, Imogen Dawson (Channelkirk Primary, Oxton).
P6 boys: 1, Corran Carrick-Anderson (Priorsford); 2, Gus Meldrum (Howdenburn Primary, Jedburgh); 3, Lewis Wetton (Duns Primary).
P7 girls: 1, Angela McGorum (Priorsford); 2, Imogen Mackinnon (St Margaret’s RC Primary, Galashiels).
P7 boys: 1, Alex Jones (Priorsford); 2, Hamish Brown (Priorsford); 3, Toby Dawson (Channelkirk).
S1 boys: 1, Finton Higgins (Peebles High School); 2, Jack Easton (Peebles).
S2 girls: 1, Millie Hanlon Cole (Peebles); 2, Louise Watt (Peebles).
S2 boys: 1, Calum Grant (Peebles); 2, Euan Magowan (Peebles); 3, Lewis Gray (Peebles).
S5 girls: 1, Lucy Grant (Peebles).
S5 boys: 1, Angus Miller (Kelso High School); 2, Matt McDonald (Peebles).