Cycling: Cycling Club IoM women's team to make debut

Manx team fielding two squads in Northumberland this weekend

Cycling Club Isle of Man's women's team will make its debut in national competition this weekend.

The Manx club is sending both a men's and women's team for a double-header in Northumberland on Sunday (17 September) with the female competitors involved in the Curlew Cup which will be followed by the men's racers contesting the Beaumont Trophy later that day.

In its inaugural outing, the CC IoM women's team will be represented by aspiring junior Isle of Man riders Ruby Oakes and Sophie Smith.

Oakes finished eighth in the Ras na mBan in Republic of Ireland earlier this month and in August claimed two bronze medals at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad & Tobago in the women's time trial and women's road race.

Meanwhile, Smith's latest success came only a few days ago as she secured the women's title in the Isle of Man Criterium Championships held in Jurby last Sunday (10 September) whilst she also took fourth place at the Hatherleigh Road Race earlier this year.

Elsewhere, CC IoM's squad to contest the Beaumont Trophy on Sunday will be Will Draper, Corrin Leeming and Mark Horsthuis.

They'd previously hoped to compete with a four-strong lineup, however UK-based rider Nick Cooper is now unavailable after suffering injuries in a training crash.

The Curlew Cup and Beaumont Trophy will be held at Stamfordham Village Hall.