Ellie Park, a prodigious young Scottish rider, has been selected to ride for Team Scotland in mountain biking. She will be the only female rider selected for Team Scotland for both Road Racing and Mountain Biking.
Ellie, 15, of East Kilbride, is already part of the British Cycling Olympic Development Apprentice Programme for Road and Track. She recently took gold and the national title at the Scottish Cycling National Youth Time Trial Championships held on the Southside of Glasgow.
This weekend, as part of the annual Inter-Regional Mountain Bike Championships at Hadleigh Park, Essex, Ellie will have her first opportunity to represent her home nation in MTB.
She will ride as part of two teams of eight riders representing Scotland North and Scotland South in the event that is open to British regional U16 Teams by invitation only.
Scottish Cycling’s MTB coach Paul Newnham has put the squad through their paces at a pre-event training day earlier this month and the team are now looking good for the competition this weekend.
The championships act as a focal point for the development of youth cycle racing within each of the regions of Great Britain, and allow young riders to come together and compete in a team environment.
For some, it will be the biggest sporting event they ever do, for others the first step on their path to becoming Olympic champions. For everyone it will be a unique experience and provide lifelong memories.
An experienced team will support the squad, including Steve Field of Stirling Bike Club, who has been appointed the team manager for the north team, and Miranda Balfour, of Peebles CC, who is leading the south team. Coaching the north team is Iain Grant and Scott Lindsay of Glasgow University is with the south team.
The full Team Scotland line up
Scottish Cycling North Girls
- Katie Allen
- Emily Field
- Anna Shackley
- Ellie Park
Scottish Cycling North Boys
- Tim Shoreman
- Conner Johnston
- Charlie Aldridge
- Tam Munro White
Scottish Cycling South Girls
- Anna Flynn
- Anna McGoram
- Polly Henderson
- Louisa Watt
Scottish Cycling South Boys
- Sean Flynn
- Cameron Mason
- Logan Dow
- Jamie Johnston
Richard Park, Ellie’s dad, said: “We are thrilled that Elllie will be part of Team Scotland and it is fantastic that she will be riding mountain bike and road racing. We also want to thank all of Ellie’s supporters and sponsors that make her racing possible.”
Ellie’s sponsors and supports include:
- Billy Bilsland Cycles
- Geebee Images
- The Fuel Locker
- Big Bobble Hats
- Allan Dalziel Chiropractor
- Glasgow Sport
- Hilton Grosvenor.