Mull in December plays host to the final two rounds of the Scottish Cyclocross series and also the Santacross World Champs. This year a record number attended from the north east, for a weekend of mud, sweat and festive wardrobe malfunctions.

With fierce storms battering the country the day before travelling, the ferries luckily all ran and a motley crew of 14 hit the island on the Friday night. The riders who made it over were Steve Boyd with Emma, Mark & Polly Tandy, Ian Wilson & Shelley Farrar, Greg Quinn with wife Emma & young Cherry, Kev Harper, Rachel Chalmers, Ian Brown, Mona Petrie and Tim Mackley.

We had rented two modern cottages side by side and only 5 miles from the event. Soon the Earl Grey tea was in full flow and everyone was being 'entertained' by Shelley with her side kick dancing Santa. The storms of the day before, although gone, were not forgotten, as a power cut hit the cottages and the candles were brought out. The snow then started to fall but no one noticed as talk of who would be most likely to win the coveted 'Kitten Trophy - for most pathetic rider' started!

Saturday and race #1 arrived. The event is held at Glengorm Castle, on the north tip of Mull, above Tobermoray. The snow had largely melted but the soft ground promised an excellent test of skill in the mucky conditions. The most likely suspects for the Kitten Trophy lost no time in making their mark. Wilson got a puncture on the start line but wheel swapping with 5 secs before the gun saw him away with no delay. Brown, keen to be a first time holder, made an impressive case by sliding out on a flat part of the course and busting his mech and hanger, meow! Mackley tried the classic 'ride off the course at full speed and smash into a tree' approach, wrecking the tree and his nose. With other notable candidates, Chalmers falling off and wondering if she could get away with 'staying down' and Greg Quinn for negotiating the zigzags slower than an asthmatic tortoise, the competition was wide open…

Later that night with the power now fully restored, homemade pizza's & macaroni cheese were furnished from the kitchen. It's amazing how 60 mins of hard racing makes you feel like you've biked 100 miles but we all certainly ate as such. Plates cleared away and with everyone half tipsy on a single glass of wine, the kitten debate heated up!! Boydie defended his position after a manoeuvre through the finish right on the bell, to gain a sly extra lap, and so despite strong competition the award was finally given to Greg for his all-round kitten technique... purr.

Onto Sunday and the Santacross World Champs! The race course from Saturday is reversed and the majority of riders (including top elites) dress up in Santa outfits. It's no laughing matter to be overtaken by a rider dressed in a full Santa suit with matching beard!!

Everyone put in great rides with massive smiles on the finish. Key mentions of the day go to Ian Wilson taking 19th vet position and getting his first series points. Kev Harper had a fantastic ride to finish 8th, the highest place man of us all. Rachel Chalmers in her first year on a cross bike produced a really gutsy ride, running through the zigzags and was strong right to the finish. Tim Mackley finished 9th to give him the points he needed to come 11th in the series Senior category. Top ride of the day though had to go to Mona Petrie for storming through, laying waste to many Santa's and finishing 2nd woman. This also gave Mona the points she needed to secure 3rd place in the Scottish series.

A great weekend and good end to the race season for everyone. Next event is the Strathpuffer in early Jan where the club has a record 4 team's entered so watch out for that report.

For a load more pictures from the weekend, including the Santa costumes, click [HERE].

Tim Mackley