Elite racers Jenson Young and Sophie Wright – along with 24 age group riders – made history this past weekend by becoming British Gravel Champions under British Cycling’s new national championship format, with both riders taking victory at Ae Forest in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

The Lloyds National Gravel Championships marked the first time British Cycling has officially awarded national gravel titles. The 86-kilometre elite races were held on a course combining fast forest roads, gravel tracks and technical off-road sections, with age group championships also contested across the weekend.

Wright won the women’s championship in 03:09:26, finishing 2 minutes 34 seconds ahead of Elizabeth Hermolle. Grace Inglis was third in 03:12:01, just one second behind Hermolle. Wright’s victory was particularly notable after she suffered two broken ribs in a training crash only six weeks before the championships.

Young completed a memorable weekend by adding the elite men’s gravel title to the British Gravel time-trial championship he won on Saturday. He covered the course in 02:38:32, beating Toby Barnes by 1 minute 38 seconds and Jack Rootkin-Gray by 2 minutes 09 seconds.

The results gave the Ribble Outliers team both British national championship elite gravel titles, as well wins in the innovative gravel time-trial championships.

ELITE RESULTS

Women

  1. Sophie Wright — 03:09:26
  2. Elizabeth Hermolle — 03:12:00 — 2 minutes 34 seconds
  3. Grace Inglis — 03:12:01 — 2 minutes 35 seconds

Men

  1. Jenson Young — 02:38:32
  2. Toby Barnes — 02:40:10 — 1 minute 38 seconds
  3. Jack Rootkin-Gray — 02:40:41 — 2 minutes 09 seconds

AGE-GROUP CHAMPIONS

Junior Women — Ava Luce
Junior Men — Aaron Cocker

Women 19–34 — Rebecca Saunderson
Women 40–44 — Joanne Clay
Women 45–49 — Helen Jackson
Women 50–54 — Elise Sherwell
Women 55–59 — Virginia Roberts
Women 60–64 — Jo-Anne Perry
Women 65–69 — Lesley Wilkinson

Men 19–34 — Matthew O’Donnell
Men 35–39 — Richard Jones
Men 40–44 — Giles Drake
Men 45–49 — James Parker
Men 50–54 — Chris McNamara
Men 55–59 — Nicholas Craig
Men 60–64 — Roy Chamberlain
Men 65–69 — Paul Caton
Men 70+ — David Robinson

U12 Girls — Sophie Tomb
U12 Boys — Finn Revell
U14 Girls — Elizabeth Whall
U14 Boys — Angus Dowens
U16 Girls — Emie Smith
U16 Boys — Gregor McNaught

View Full British Gravel Championship results HERE

Photo Credit: Outside Events

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