Despite a recent run of bad luck, Rebecca Kennedy has managed to pick herself up, dust herself down and retain her Scottish National Downhill Mountain Bike Championship title.
Last August, the 19-year-old from Earlston suffered multiple breaks and a severe dislocation after getting her finger stuck between the brake lever and bar of her bike when crashing out onto a boulder in Fort William.
Then, just as she was good to go again following a nine-month recovery, she had her much-prized Mondraker Summum racing bike stolen at Hamsterley while waiting for podium awards.
Last weekend, however, riding her “old steed” Trek Session 88, a determined Rebecca put all her troubles behind her when cruising to her second successive Scottish title victory on the infamous rocky Glencoe course.
Rebecca told The Southern: “The course was fantastic fun, dusty and fast, and very rocky, just how I like it.
“The location was superb also, with hills all around, and the cheers I got when I received my trophy were phenomenal.”
The Borders bike ace won the women’s event in 3 minutes and 49 seconds, and raced in 13 seconds ahead of Debs Primrose in second place.
Rebecca admits that last year’s freak accident is just par for the course for an ambitious young mountain biker, but she is still hurting over the disappearance of her beloved bike.
“The loss of my bike has been heart-breaking as it was very special and close to my heart,” she added.
Rebecca has been appealing through various social media outlets to try and get her bike back, and is also attempting to raise £3,000 to buy another one in case her plea for help fails. She is also seeking business sponsorship after leaving her race team of one year.
“If anyone out there wants to sponsor me or help out in anyway with the bike, please get in touch so I can follow my dream and become a World Cup rider next year,” she appealed.
“I feel that I am now getting back on track and turning negatives into a positive.
“I am relaxed and my confidence is returning, and I look forward to all the races still to come.”
This weekend, Rebecca is heading to the British Downhill series (national race) at Llangollan in Wales, and hopes to be on the podium again, hopefully winning it.