Last weekend saw the start of the Scottish Downhill series, here’s a video and report from Ronan Taylor.

The ’09 SDA series got off to a flying and surprisingly sunny start at the weekend at Pitfichie in Aberdeenshire. Unusually, you had to push up, but most people seemed to cope fine. The weather was brilliant: it’s not often you see dusty, sunburnt riders at a UK downhill race. The dry conditions meant the track was riding very fast. James Shirley of the Highline racing team won the slalom event that was held on the Saturday night. It’s amazing how much fun can be had with a field, some poles and your bike.

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Ben Cathro (2nd), Fergus Lamb (1st) and Joe Barnes (3rd) on the Elite podium.

The winners of each category of the downhill were:

JUVENILE: GEORGE GANNICOTT
YOUTH: SAM FLOCKHART
JUNIOR: ARRAN GANNICOTT
SENIOR: TONY SOUMALIS
MASTERS: JOHN YOUNG
WOMEN: BEX REILLY
MASTER: ZAC HUBERY
VETERAN: PAUL FRENCH
EXPERT: BEN HALL
ELITE: FERGUS LAMB

Grass slalom, Pitfichie

Photos:Kenny Taylor

SDA Round 1 Pitfichie in Scotland won by Fergus Lamb, with Ben Cathro and Joe Barnes in second and third