British Champs Rider Bio - Tony Jones

Here's we've got Tony, another one of the guys from the Leslie Bikeshop - there are just so many of them! Tony competes in the Veteran category - don't let the name fool you, these are some of the most competitive racers of the day and are extremely fast! For a first timer at the British level events the Champs will be a great experience for Tony and make sure that you're part of that! Get along and cheer him on and support him - he's another one in the red, black and white of Leslie Bikeshop. He's going to do his team and the SXC proud and give it his all, and probably spend the rest of the day with a smile on his face - he's a really friendly guy at races. Give him a good cheer as he goes past!


GOOD LUCK TONY!!

Name: Tony Jones

Club/Team: Team Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique

Race Category: Veteran (auld whippits)

Bike: Specialized Stumpjumper Carbon 29er HT

Aim for the Cathkin National Champs: This is my 1st British Series Race race, low teen finish would be good!

Best result of 2013 so far: 12th at Forfar, 9th overall this SXC series.

Where/when was your first ever race: I took the plunge and did the Selkirk Mtb Marathon in 2009, hooked from then!

Favourite Scottish MTB trail: The Lomond Hills, my back garden and playground.

Best things about being a MTB'er: The crack! Just great being out with my mates on the trails, being in the Team.

Little known fact about yourself: Im actually only 21 lol.....well in my head.

British Champs Rider Bio - Tom Evans

Tom is a first year Under-23 rider having just made the big jump up from the Junior category. It's a tough category to find your feet in and Tom is certainly showing the guts and determination required to succeed in this tough field. He's racing in the Elite category in Scotland and Britain, tho will be taking on fellow young'uns at the British Championships when he sets off at 3pm on Sunday afternoon.

Good luck Tom - Smash it!!


Name: Tom Evans


Race category: Under 23 Male


Club/Team: Ben Wyvis Cycle Club/Dryburgh Cycles


Bike: Cannondale F29


Aim for the Cathkin National Champs: 1st place


Best result of 2013 so far:Not been a great year, 21st in British round 3


Where/when was your first ever race: Laggan near Aviemore in an SXC


Favourite Scottish MTB trail: Big old hike up Torridon!


Best things about being a MTB'er: Definitely Strava hunting


Little known fact about yourself: Im trying to be dairy free for no known reason

British Champs Rider Bio - The Gronkowski Family

 The winning habit is like Father, like Son in the Gronkowski family. Dad Ewan is passing on the nifty bike handling skills and speed to his son Gavin, with young daughter Eilidh taking part in the races too! This will be wee Gavin's first time competing on the British stage and we here all know that he will definitely be a shining star of the Under 8 category. Make sure you get in there early and get this kids autograph, he's gonna be a cycling superstar! Ewan is picking up some excellent results at the SXC series this year riding in the extremely distinctive bright orange and blue of the Mukyriderz - another one of the big Fife teams. Make sure you look out for them both and support them well in their races.

Good luck boys!!



Little lad Gavin...

Name: Gavin Gronkowski


Race category: Under 8


Club/Team: Mukyriderz


Bike: Islabike Beinn 24


Aim for the Cathkin National Champs: To get a medal!


Best result of 2013 so far: Winning at Abrichan and Drumlanrig


Where/when was your first ever race: 2011 SXC Kirroughtree


Favourite Scottish MTB trail: The Meedies at Loch Ore


Best things about being a MTB'er: Its great fun


Little known fact about yourself: Did my first cycle tour to Holland when I was 5 years old.


Dad Ewan...

Name: Ewan Gronkowski

Race category: Master
Club/Team: Mukyriderz
Bike: On One 29er Race
Aim for the Cathkin National Champs: Podium
Best result of 2013 so far: 1st at Abriachan
Where/when was your first ever race: 2009 SXC at Badaguish
Favourite Scottish MTB trail:
Best things about being a MTB'er: Getting out and seeing new places all the time.
Little known fact about yourself: Moving to Belgium next year, looking forward to seeing if they really are any good at 
Cyclocross.

British Champs Rider Bio - Ellie Park

We've a different sort of rider profile here.. At the start of the week we had it all set to be your standard rider bio, same as all the others. Then there was a high speed track race. A crash in front with no where to go but over the top. A clever tuck and roll saved the collar bone, but unfortunately her arm wasn't quite so lucky. 

So, here's a spectator profile of young Ellie Park, who will be cheering all her friends, and anyone else on the course for that matter!, with all the enthusiasm that she would put into her own racing.

Name: Ellie Park

Nickname: The one armed cheering bandit (for the next few weeks at least!)

Race Category: Juvenille

Club/Team: Glasgow Riderz

First race: Forfar SXC this year

Best result of 2013: 1st place at the SXC race at Cathkin Braes in only her 3rd ever MTB race

Favourite course: Usually road or track is where you'll find Ellie, tho she lives local to the Cathkin Braes course so had no doubt been sneaky training!

She'll be there cheering for you all over the weekend, so make sure you get along and join her in supporting the racers. And if you see Ellie (you'll recognise the one with her arm in a sling!) make sure you tell her to get well soon!

GET WELL SOON ELLIE from all here at SXC!

Top spot at Cathkin SXC

British Champs Rider Bio - The Superior-Brentjens Boys

They're the the Scottish duo who ride for the Superior Brentjens team and are supported by British Cycling. Many years ago they both started out at the SXC races as a wee lads slogging it out around the Sprogs race. A decade later and they are two of top male mountain bikers in Britain who regularly put on a fantastic show with consistently high results in the World Cup races. We here in Scotland are already so proud of them both and all their achievements, however we can't wait to see them racing in the Elite men's category, where the biggest names in British mountain biking will all be racing their hardest to get their hands on the Champions jersey. Both boys will be in the white, red and black kit of the team, make sure and cheer them on. They take part in the last race of the day which will kick off at 3pm at Cathkin Braes and will also complete the most laps of any race category over the whole weekend. 

Go on boys!! Good luck!


Name: Grant Ferguson 

Race category: Elite men 

Club/Team: Superior-Brentjens Racing Team

Bike: Superior 29er hard tail 

Aim for the National Champs: Perform my best 

Best result of 2013 so far: 1st place NPS round 2/3 Elite Men

First race (where/when): Not sure but I think it was a sprogs race at sidlaws or avimore in 2003?

Favourite Scottish MTB trail: I cant decide... my home trails at Glentess or Innerleithen are probably very high up the list.

Best things about being a MTB'er: Bring able to head out and get lost riding some great trails.

Little known fact about yourself: Nickname is the frog due to being tall and skinny with big feet.




Name : Kenta Gallagher

Race Category : Elite

Club/Team : Superior Brentjens MTB Team

Bike : 29er Prototype

Aim for the Cathkin National Champs : Have fun and do some jumpies!

Best result of 2013 so far : Win at the XCE World Cup in the Czech Republic

Favourite Scottish MTB trail : Laggan or local Inverness trails

Best things about being a MTB'er : Riding around the world on sweet trails in the middle of nowhere

Little known fact about yourself : I'm half Japanese and I don't like sea food. My mummy is not impressed at that fact!

Grant on the top spot of the Elite podium at the second round of the British XC Series in Cornwall,  closely followed by Kenta

British Champs Rider Bio - Ella Conolly

Ella is another member of our Northern contingent, part of Ben Wyvis CC, and like the rest of the northerners, often with many miles to travel simply to get to races. Ella doesn't let this stand in her way and is a cracking wee racer in the Youth category. She'll be riding at 9.30am at Cathkin on Sunday wearing the black kit of Ben Wyvis CC. Give her a massive cheer as she goes past and show her how we support our riders up her in Scotland!

GOOD LUCK ELLA!!



Name: Ella Conolly


Race category: Youth


Club: Ben Wyvis cycling club


Bike: Boardman team


Aim: top 5 and no pinch flats! 


Best result of 2013: 2nd at Abriachan SXC 


Favourite Scottish mtb trail: Balblair 


Where/when you started racing: 2011 SXC Comrie Croft


Little know fact about yourself: I'm very competitive 


Best thing about being a MTB'er: going downhill...FAST!

British Champs Rider Bio - Iain Paton

Iain is one of our rising stars who started out in the Youth category a while ago and has climbed through the ranks ever since. He's ridden with Team GB and has made an impact on an international level with some fantastic results at the Junior World Cups. He's also one of our best-travelled racers, coming all the way down from Golspie to the SXC and British Series events. Hard work and dedication is paying off for Iain and we, like him hope to see him finish the year in those blue, red and white hoops.

GOOD LUCK IAIN!!

Name: Iain Paton

Race category: Junior

Club/Team: Ben Wyvis CC/Dryburgh Cycles

Bike: Forme Winscar 29c

Aim for the Cathkin National Champs: Top step of the podium with a stripey Jersey!

Best result of 2013 so far: 20th place at the UCI world cup in Val di Sole, Italy. Also 1st at rounds 3 and 4 of the British Series.

Where/when was your first ever race: first "proper" race was the SXC at Learnie in 2009. Been hooked on it ever since.

Favourite Scottish MTB trail: I might be a bit bias but I am yet to find a trail that beats the Golspie Wildcat trails (which are luckily right on my doorstep) 

Best things about being a MTB'er: Spending loads of time outside and up big hills, plus you have an excuse to eat loads when you get back!

Little known fact about yourself: Although I haven't for a while, I can play the bagpipes!