PEEBLESSHIRE riders reached the podium at the second round of the Scottish Cross Country (SXC) MTB series near Dunoon.

This was a new venue for the SXCs and expectations were high, with Cowal Mountain Bike Club having put a huge amount of work into the trails. Travelling included a short ferry ride from Gourock but this did not put off the many Peebles Cycling Club riders who ventured across the sea to try the new course.

The adult and over 14s course was long at 7km, and was a true tester.

It featured some challenging single track climbs, over 200m per lap and natural, technical and twisting sections through the trees and on the clear-fell hill. Two river crossings in between added to the challenge.

While practice day on Saturday offered lots of sunshine and beautiful dry trails, heavy rain overnight meant the course had changed a lot with now plenty of mud, slippery roots and one of the river crossing too fast flowing to be rideable.

But the testing course didn't prevent Lucy Grant claiming the Elite Women's race.

And Crawford Carrick-Anderson claimed silver in the Male Vets race with fellow PCC rider Roy Richardson coming home in 17th.

Organizers arrived on Sunday morning to find part of the under 12s course submerged under 6 inches of water, having to improvise a new course against the clock, the newly diverted course just as exciting for the youngsters.

Anna McGorum and Megan Wilkinson rode excellent races in the Youth Girls to finish first and third respectively.

In the Youth Girls race Anna McGorum also reached the podium by finishing third, with team-mate Emily Wilkinson crossing the line in sixth.

Despite inclement weather, numbers were strong across all categories, with exciting racing throughout the day.

PCC racers battled the tough conditions of the day to put a good show.

Corran Carrick-Anderson led home the PCC riders in the Juvenile Boys race by finishing second. Jonte Willins was fourth, Calum Johnson fifth, Callum Thornley finished seventh, Russell Brown was 11th and Thomas Richardson came home in 13th. In the Under 8s Girls race Daisy Wilkinson was just outside the podium places in fourth.

And in the Under 12s, Ruby Thornley finished in fourth, and in the boys Ruaridh Johnson was sixth.

Anna and Elena McGorum and Corran Carrick-Anderson are sponsored by ClubSport Tweeddale.