Scotland’s First BMX Track and Event – Whithaugh Park, April 12, 1981
Scotland’s First BMX Track and Event – Whithaugh Park, April 12, 1981
Whithaugh Park was designed and built by Mongoose’s Malcolm Jarvis, the Jarvis family,
and a small crew. In just one week of construction, the track was completed and ready for Scotland’s first official BMX race — a UKBMX National event — held on April 12, 1981.
Malcolm Jarvis said: “We started construction on Monday and ran a mainstream televised international event by the weekend. Five dawn-to-dusk days flat out for a few of us.”
Both BMX News and Official BMX covered the race. Only a small number of racers made the trip north, including Andy Ruffell and the Mongoose Team, Steven Gratton, Gary Fenwick, Mike Chilvers, and other already established names in UKBMX.
Weekend wins came from Julian Jarvis, Alistair Green, Sean Day, Anthony Woodcock, and Steve Gratton. Two Trophy Dash races were also held — one for riders under 13, and another for riders 14 and over.
Understandably, the turnout of Scottish riders was small. A final race at the end of the weekend was held especially for Scottish riders, and it was won by Stu Leishman, who had also placed second in the 15s class. Mark Ligget finished second, and Brian Hay came third.
Results:
5–9: Julian Jarvis (Mongoose), Simon Ratchford (Mongoose), Sam Jarvis (Mongoose)
11–13: Alistair Green (Wheelways), Leslie Windle, Russ Jarvis (Mongoose)
14: Sean Day (Mongoose), Steven Frizzel, Steven Taylor
15: Anthony Woodcock (Mongoose), Stuart Leishman, Carsten Madsen
16+: Steve Gratton (Wheelways), Mike Chilvers (Mongoose), Geoff Barraclough (Wheelways)
Scottish Riders Race: Stuart Leishman, Mark Ligget, Brian Hay
In just one week, the first official BMX track in Scotland was constructed, and the first-ever BMX race in Scotland (a UKBMX National) was officially in the books — BMX racing in Scotland was off and running!
Photo (Bill Lawless from BMX News): 16+ winner Steve Gratton out front at Whithaugh Park during Scotland’s first-ever BMX race.
