“Utterly fearless and inspiring” how 11-year-old Moray schoolgirl Izzy Blackman is described on the UK enduro mountain biking scene after impressing at her latest event.
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
An 11-year-old Moray schoolgirl is continuing to impress on the national enduro mountain biking scene.
Alves primary pupil Izzy Blackman finished second in the under-16 section of her latest gruelling PMBA (Pennine Mountain Bike Association) Enduro event at a world class biking venue in Kirroughtree Forest, near Newton Stewart.
The route which Izzy took on was 35km long, involved over 1000 metres of climbs and brought her through seven time stages in some of the muddiest conditions.
She was the youngest rider to take on the full loop, with race organisers rating her as a name for the future in her sport, describing Izzy as “utterly fearless and utterly inspiring”.
Izzy’s female race was won by seasoned racer and PMBA ambassador rider Polly Henderson, with Izzy taking on the same route and only beaten by one fellow under-16 competitor.
She started racing in a dirt crit series at the age of six, progressing to take part in the Highland Hardlines and Aberdeen enduro series on her Hope academy bike. She now competes for Wolfpax Riders, based at Laggan.
Four days after her 11th birthday, Izzy took part in one of the toughest mountain bike events in the UK, the Graithwait and Grizedale Epic and completed the course in second place.
Her Wolfpax club races all over Scotland and Izzy also takes part in Forres Cycling Club sessions.
She is currently the Scottish short course downhill champion.
