Kids ride free at Doonbank Trofee ‘fun-ride’
As part of their annual Scottish Superquaich Cyclocross event, Ayr Burners Cycling are encouraging local children to participate this Sunday (9th December) as part of a ‘fun-ride’. The free event will take place before the ‘Doonbank Trofee’ racing gets under way, and gives kids the chance to try part of the course and soak up the event atmosphere at Rozelle Park.
Cyclocross is a winter cycling discipline with riders completing circuits of a course involving varied surfaces and obstacles that can be quicker to run. The ‘fun-ride’ gives children a chance to try this over an 800metre course involving woodland trails, a closed-road finishing straight, and a grass section to link it up. All children under 12 will have twenty minutes to ride as many, or as few, circuits as they want to, with a big cheer guaranteed each time they cross the finish line.
Flames Robin and Kenneth
Last year local four-year-olds Kenneth Dixon and Robin Johnson were among 30 youngsters that took on the challenge – both grinning from ear to ear despite the wet conditions. Excitement has been building for Ayr Burners’ youth section ‘the Flames’, with the Doonbank Trofee the final event of a busy summer. Registration for the event opens at 10:00 with the fun-ride starting at 10:45. All children must be registered by a responsible adult, and everyone will receive a goody-bag on finishing.
For the fourth year in a row the Doonbank Trofee has completely sold-out, with more than 300 riders expected to participate. Many of the top names in cyclocross will return to Rozelle, including newly crowned Scottish Champion Gary Macdonald, and elite mountain bike rider Isla Short. The first of five rounds of the Superquaich series, riders will be hoping to pick up early points.
There will be strong local interest too, as the top male and female rider from South West Scotland will be crowned regional champion. Junior rider Harry McGarvie, riding for Ayr Burners Cycling, has a strong chance of the title following his recent win in South Shields.
Harry McGarvie is a favourite for the Scottish Cycling South West Championships
Local development group Ayr Burners Cycling host the event, as part of their aims to attract cyclists to South Ayrshire and promote cycling opportunities for local people. A team of volunteers will transform scenic Rozelle Park into a top-class cyclocross venue that typically attracts over 200 spectators. Thanks to long-time sponsors QTS Group, and popular Troon cycle shop ‘BikePost’ a fantastic range of prizes are on offer for the top male and female riders.
The action kicks off at 10:45 with the Under 12 fun ride, while the main Superquaich elite race starts at 13:30.
Visit www.ayrburners.org for more, or download the event handbook here
