HUPcc British Cyclo-Cross National Championships
You'd be forgiven for thinking, you were in Belgium...the HUPcc British Cyclo-Cross National Championships, organised by Fraser Johnston's team at Falkirk Junior Bike Club - absolutely went off! HUP Competition Cycling from Peebles were proud to headline sponsor the biggest CX race of the year, running for the first time in Scotland. What a weekend...
Callendar House was the backdrop, a UNESCO World Heritage site with its section of the Antonine wall, which competitors would soon be scaling, in a bid to claim a Champs jersey. All the action was filmed by the BBC sport cameras for iPlayer coverage and live streamed on Youtube by British Cycling, with 100K+ fans watching online.
A dry week before, meant unseasonally dry weather for a January in Scotland, but don't be fooled - it was still treacherously slippy in places. The course at Falkirk always presents a challange, no matter how skilled the rider. It proved popular with the spectators, who turned out in big numbers for the Elite races on the Saturday. Frites, cowbells and great commentary makes for a quality atmosphere in Scotland, in the shadow of the Highlands!
One rider we thought could do well was Grace Inglis from Innerleithan in the Elite women, training with expert coach Paul from Ride Strong Performance, also based in Peebles. We built her bike, a 48cm HUP evo on HUP TD35 hand-built carbon wheels (all UCI approved) on the Wednesday before the race, with her first ride on the Thursday. After bikefit adjustments on Friday - it was straight into the race on Saturday morning. Locals knew this XC rider was quick...
Despite being gridded at the back, she smashed through the pack on her 7.3kg Aluminium HUP evo (mechanical brakes!), slugging-it out with the top names in the sport (on bikes 3x the cost) before finishing 3rd and a Bronze medal. What a ride! The team was so pleased to see Grace at the sharp-end, maybe with a front row seeding next time...
Rhu Fulton on his HUP evo SL has had an incredible season, already crowned the National Trophy series U14 winner, the Scottish Cyclocross U14 series winner and the Scottish Champ. So he was pleased to finish 3rd in the U14's, despite a nasty crash injuring his hand. We're proud of this young sportsman with impeccible manners, well done Rhu!
Freya Mowbray was another who's had a fantastic season on her HUP evo on the Scottish series and National trophy series (including her first podium on the Derby Trophy series round) so it was great to see her finish the sesson on a high with 3rd in the U16 girls race. We love her smiles at every race, regardless of the result, she's living her best life!
Ruan Vorster, fresh from his successful UCI races over Kerst periode in Belgium had yet another storming race, from the back of the grid in 48th, to a superb 11th by the finish in the Juniors - no mean feat in a field of that quality, but he was on his UCI approved HUP evo! He did it against the world's best in Belgium, repeating it against the UK's best in Scotland.
Big well done to all the riders on HUP wheels (...still saving up for the full bike!) including Alfie Amey (3rd Junior Men) and Jody Mills (3rd U16 Boys) plus Corran Carrick-Anderson (1st U23 Men) who looked decidedly quicker than most up The Wall, maybe down to those HUP titanium studs Dad Crawfy just fitted the night before? Who knows, just saying...
Thank you to everyone who had a chat and entered our Guess the Weight competition, 7.26kg was the weight of our 52cm Aluminium HUP evo, the winner of the frameset is Georgina Bark, please email us on the website now. As 6 entires (from approx 200) correctly guessed the weight, Georgina was picked at random from the bowl. We're also giving a £25 HUPcc voucher to the 5 other correct entrants, for being so accurate with guesses! They are: Noah White, Scott Kidd, Ollie Carter, Andy Collins & Emma Campbell - please email us on the website now too!
It was great to jump on the Podium to present to the kids from Falkirk Junior Bike Club with new HUP bikes for the clubs use, helping to encourage the next generation of Cameron Masons and Anna Kays! What it's all about, enjoy FJBC!
Well done to all the HUP bike riders racing: Harrision Hendy, Tasha Reddy, Paul O'Brien, Ben Allan, Henry O'Brien & Paul Hendy - plus all the youngsters in the support races over the hill, which we didn't get a chance to see in action.
Big thanks to everyone involved in making this year's Champs, simply the best, from the HUPcc squad: Linette, Pat, Nic & Katie plus @cjm_visuals on the videography and @innesgrahamphoto on the photography.
