"Savage" winds and a super-slippery course formed the backdrop for Sunday's British National Cyclo-Cross Championships in South Shields. Cameron Mason made it four in a row after a hard fought race, while fellow Scot Anna Flynn scored her first ever victory in the elite women's event, in what was only her third cyclo-cross race of the season.
After a morning of heavy rain on the Tyneside course, both men's and women's fields faced mud, strong winds and even some ice on the Gypsies Green course.
Seven Racing rider Mason, 25, called his victory "one of the trickiest" he'd ever had, after being pressured hard by Spectra Racing brothers Toby and Dan Barnes, as well as fighting a constant battle for grip that saw him adjust his pressures for more traction.
After an error by Toby Barnes on lap three, Mason managed to forge a scant 20-second gap. He would hold this till the finish, with the Spectra rider finishing runner up and Ben Askey making a late charge to take third place and the Under-23 men's title.
“It was really tricky, probably one of the trickiest wins I’ve had,” he said.
“Toby pushed me all the way, and I just couldn't stay on my bike for a couple of those laps. I spent a couple of laps trying to get lower tyre pressure too.
“But I put together a couple of good laps in a row and got the gap, but the gap came down towards the end because I was struggling to get round the off-camber sections.
“There were so many corners there wasn’t many places to get the power down and get a gap. I felt really strong on the open sections, but for most of the lap I was under real pressure so fair play to the other guys.
“The wind was savage, it was like a block headwind. But it’s a really cool venue with great crowds and organisation by South Shields Velo, and I had lots of family and friends here too which was good.”
Newly crowned Scottish champion Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing) declared herself "still in shock" after what was a comfortable victory in the elite women's event.
The 23-year-old Edinburgh rider was pushed hard by reigning junior champion Zoe Roche (Santini Cycling) in the early stages, but a mishap for the youngster left Flynn to power on alone, able to pick her own lines and ride her own race.
Five laps later she crossed the line 1-23 ahead of defending champion Xan Crees (OGT p/b USE) with Grace Inglis (Team HUP) third.
Flynn's victory capped a good day for Spectra Racing with team-mate Elena Day winning the Under-23 title race.
“I’m still in a bit of shock how well my ride went,” said Flynn. I got away on the first lap and from there once I had a gap I focused on riding the technical sections and managed to stay away.
“I feel like the technical stuff is my strength," she added, "but I was worried on some of the windy straights that Zoe was behind me and might be sitting on. But I focused on riding my own race once I’d got away.”
Flynn has been focussing on training for road racing in 2025, with her only cyclo-cross appearances being one Scottish Series round, the Scottish Championship and the National Championships in South Shields.
But she added: “Because I’ve been focusing on road racing more it’s meant I’ve come into these cross races quite fresh. I made a late change to mud tyres here which gave me confidence and an advantage and helped me enjoy the course.”
