Gallagher’s first Scottish title good for confidence

Inverness mountain biker Yukka Gallagher feels that winning this month’s Scottish Cross Country title in a soggy Fort William will give her some much needed confidence as she adjusts to her first year in the youth, under 16, category.

Winning her first title was not without its difficulties. The 14 year old had still not shrugged off a nasty cough from the week before and the slippery course proved a tricky customer.

“On the day of the race I had a cough and felt rubbish,” she said. “I wasn't in the mood to race but I decided to give it a go and the aim was just to finish.

“It had rained overnight so the course was muddy the next day, which made it more interesting. I quite like it when it's wet because it makes you concentrate harder.

“On the first hill I got my chain jammed and couldn't get it out, so I ended up going back to last place but then I slowly made my way back up back to the main group and then to the front.

“I am in my first year as a youth so it’s good to have my first Scottish title. In a weird way I enjoyed it even though I was ill. And the course was very good fun.

“It just shows that if I can beat them when I’m ill, then when I'm feeling good and strong hopefully I can beat them by even more.”

Her first Scottish title is another sign that Gallagher has emerged from a difficult winter's training as an improved competitor. Since the autumn she has been part of Great Britain Cycling’s Olympic Talent programme. Last month she was selected by the Highland Institute of Sport, part of sportscotland’s area institute network which focuses on preparing Scotland’s best athletes to perform on the world stage by providing high performance expertise.

A fortnight ago she joined the Olympic Talent Team for a race in Belgium, an experience which raised her confidence levels after an early season in which she felt she had not fully done herself justice.

“Belgium was an amazing and totally different experience,” she said. “There were lots of riders in the race from other countries. There was no pressure on me because it was my first international, I rode how I felt and did my best. I came fourth in the youths and seventh in the juniors which I was really pleased with.

“Since I've moved up to youth I haven't been getting in many podiums as I'm at the younger end but winning the Scottish title has given me my confidence back again.”