Sunshine and warm temperatures made a welcome change for the riders at Carlisle Cycle Circuit this week, though a strong breeze still provided some challenges, especially for the youngest riders in the Youth racing.
End of term activities and illness meant that a few regular riders were missing from this week’s Youth races, but nevertheless there was a good turn out.
Families travelled from Scotland and the North East to join Cumbrian youngsters for an enjoyable evening’s racing.
As has often been the case this year, the Scots dominated the podium with Dumfriesshire-based brothers Josh, Cobey and Mitchell Stewart, fresh from success at the British Schools’ Championships last weekend, taking convincing wins in their age groups.
Their success was matched by the Barbour siblings – Sam, Zach and Izzy – who won all their races, whilst Zoe Martin and Boo Williams of the Royal Albert Cycling Club were also victorious.
It was left to Rosie Horton of Cockermouth to fly the flag for Cumbria, with her win in the Under-14 girls’ race.
The adult race got off to a flying start, with the riders going full out from the whistle, with the Beacon Wheelers duo of Ed Moss and Joss Livesey setting a blistering pace which split the bunch.
Ultimately it was another Scottish win however. Glasgow rider Liam Scott Douglas made a bold solo attack and rode extremely strongly to keep the main group away, finishing well ahead of his pursuers and taking a well-earned ten British Cycling ranking points.
The fight for the rest of the placings was a lot closer, however, with a group of around half a dozen sprinting for the line together.
Beacon Wheelers’ Neil Withington snatched second place by the narrowest of margins from his younger team mate Ed Moss who is coming back into excellent form following injury.
