Roadclub ridersstar inPerth
Eleven members of East Kilbride Road Club competed in the Scottish Cycling Youth Tour of Scotland recently.
It is the most prestigious under-16 youth cycling event in the UK and riders took part in four stages over three days in rural Perthshire.
Stage one was a hilly course with a steep hill and a long sweeping descent with tight corners. Oran McConville from Strathaven Academy, started very strongly in the first stage of the boys’ race and, despite an early crash which split the field, managed a top ten finish.
In the girls’ race all of the riders finished safely. Imani Pereira James’ strong riding won her the blue leader’s jersey for top Scottish rider.
Stages two was held over a flattish course around Madderty, near Crieff.
All of the EK riders held their own.
Stage three consisted of laps of the same course: 16 for the boys and nine for the girls.
Oran McConville missed the winning move but was very active in the chasing bunch, using his strength and speed to help pull the escapees back.
There was a painful episode for Keira Chan, who was forced to retire due to an old injury that was causing her too much pain to continue.
Most of the EK girls rode strongly and finished in the main group, which finished as a mass sprint marred by a crash in the last kilometre which saw several fallers, including Imani who subsequently lost her Scottish leader’s jersey.
Stage four was a technical kermesse course around the grounds of Strathallan School.
In the boys’ race Oran was the victim of an early crash which saw him chasing for the duration of the stage but he caught and passed many strong riders.
In the girls’ race the pace was high and many riders were quickly distanced.
Imani finished strongly, just behind the winner. The revelation of this stage was Morven Yeoman, who rode up the brutal hill with the best riders in the UK and was awarded the Peter Clark Memorial Award for the most combative rider.
Another rider to pick out was Beth Moore, who rode her heart out and finished the race in the company of some strong riders.
For details of the club visit www.ekroadclub.co.uk. East Kilbride YC’s 2009 boys team received new kits from Stephen O’Boyle at Crocatile Wet Walls and Ceilings.
This is the second year the company have sponsored the team and provided full team kits for all the players.
The boys showed their new strips off after their first week playing five-a-sides at Ravenscraig Sports Facility.
For more information about the club see the EKYC Facebook page or contact alanacthomson_27@hotmail. com.