I am a 19 year old bike racer, riding for Cycling Team Tomacc, a Belgian team based in the Belgian town of Poperinge. I left school at 18 and took up part-time work at Geoffrey Butler Cycles in Croydon to help fund the bike racing lifestyle. Although I live in South East London, I was actually born in Falkirk, Scotland and have a Scottish family background.
I was on the British Talent Team for a couple of years, taking part in a number of training camps and races abroad, with expert coaching and advice, providing me with some great opportunities. In my last year as a youth (ages 14-16) I had achieved a top 10 on the road, a top 5 on the mountain bike and a 2nd place at cyclo-cross at National level, these results made me realize that I was better than I gave myself credit for and more hard work would, in time, bring more results. From then on, I have continued to progress each year and I believe I can only continue to do so, as I learn the trade of being a top level bike racer.
I have spent the last couple of years representing Scotland in races home and abroad on the road as a Junior (ages 16-18) with experience gained in France, Basque Country (Spain) and plenty in Belgium. I have also represented Great Britain at the European Championships in cyclo-cross, however, illness and bad form made it a hard task for me to get selected for World-Cups and the World Championships but thats part of being a bike racer, and I just had to take it in my stride and focus on the future. I still achieved a win and two third places in the National Trophy series which is by far my best cyclo-cross season to date and finished off the series in third overall.
In 2011, I spent most of the road season away from home; racing and training in the Basque Country, Scotland and Belgium. During the season I achieved three top 10 places in Junior National Series races, a couple of top 10's and a podium in the Basque Country, top 10's in Belgium and a top 15 at the Youth Commonwealth Games. A decent year, but I had hoped for better results in the latter part of the season. All good experience though which I can take forward and learn from for the future.
In 2012, I had 3 solid months of racing experience in the Basque Country. I was riding for Ibaigane Opel, an amateur team based in Igorre. I was racing at least once a week against ex pros and the strongest teams in Spain, which really brought me on in so many ways, I didn't think I would gain so much from the experience, but I did and I am so eager to start racing and get some results for myself on the continent in 2013, bring it on!
I will try to keep my blog updated whenever I can, so have a look around and check back soon!
Enjoy!
