A CYCLIST from the Shropshire-Powys border is celebrating after winning the gruelling Pan Celtic race.

Full-time coach and cyclist David Scott from Llansilin took on his third Pan Celtic race having ended second and fifth in the past.

The race has been described as the longest and hardest self supported bike race in the UK and generally covers between 1,300 and 1,500 miles.

Self supported means riders receive absolutely no help other than that which is available to all like bikes shops or hotels but you cannot get aid from friends and family.

David said: "I raced in a less than conventional way, opting for an ultra light set up compared to the majority of my competitors, carrying no more than a few spares and repairs, a spare GPS device, a tooth brush and tooth paste and the clothes on my back for the whole of the six day event.

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"I also stayed in hotels in each night, generally getting three or hours quality sleep.

"This meant I could ride harder and faster and avoid the darkest times during the night when progress is much slower. Most people do a mix of bivvy/sleeping outside with the occasional BnB but only sleep two hours at a time and try and keep moving as much as possible.

"Although my tactic requires more planning, and confidence in ones ability to reach each days destination I believed it to be much more efficient and pleasant way of racing."

The race begun with a 100 mile time trial round the Isle of Man with the Oswestry-based rider winning before an early morning ferry to Heysham where the main race began on Sunday and took riders through the Lake District, Scottish borders, Glasgow and visiting the isles of Mull and Skye before finally heading east across to Inverness.

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David said: "Along the the race i faced various challenges, I crashed twice, once on a wet cattle grid and a second time on Wednesday morning avoiding a sheep which jumped out into the road.

"This crash was particularly painful but thankfully the bike survived - unfortunately my phone did not which meant I had to do the final three days of the race with no communication which was extremely challenging to say the least. Amongst other things I was also bitten by a dog one morning.

David crossed the line in five days and 15 hours for a full two hour winning margin over his closest rival having only spent 33 hours of the previous five days not riding.

David was equally proud of several of his coached athletes who also finished the race.