Clayton-le-Dale's Katie takes top spot in cycling race

Over the Easter weekend Katie Lawson, from Clayton-le-Dale, travelled to Fife with her parents where she won the British Youth Circuit Series at Fife Cycle Park in Lochgelly.

The finish line (Image: Nick Smallshaw)

Katie has been competing in Cyclocross events since she was five years old and in 2018 rode her way to glory at the Great Harwood Showground when she took part in the North West Cyclocross Association series competition, aged just eight.

And in September 2021, aged 11, she won the Wessex Series event, and was then presented with the North West Series Trophy after winning the Rossendale Marl Pits event on September 25, before heading to Broughton Hall in Yorkshire to win the series event the following day.

Now 13, Katie, who competed in the under 14s section, faced strong competition from the Deeside team with some aggressive riding from fellow competitors Rose Lewis and Katie Robertson but cycled to victory in the last stage to win the event.

Katie races for glory in Fife (Image: Nick Smallshaw)

The Ribblesdale High School pupil said: “I was quite surprised as I didn’t really have any expectations for it.

“There were three stages for the race, and I was two seconds behind in the first stage then I got a time bonus in the next stage which brought me back up and there was 0.5 seconds between me and another girl, so it was whoever went over the line first and I won it.

“The next round of the nationals is next weekend at Oulton Park in Cheshire and that’s a single stage race so I’m looking forward to that.”

Katie races for glory in Fife (Image: Nick Smallshaw)

Dad Tim Lawson said his daughter has done brilliantly and considering she hurt her ankle before Christmas while ice skating, has done well to recover and get back into training and he is extremely proud of her.

Katie, who would like to take up cycling professionally providing she can meet the grade, will race in Cheshire this weekend and then Portsmouth the weekend after that.