James McCallum Training Update

James McCallum (Scotland)

15th of March, 2006; by Larry Hickmott

On the track training with Evan Oliphant on the Tuesday evening was Scotland's endurance rider, James McCallum. He's in Melbourne in to do the Points, Scratch and Road races. It will be his second Games after he competed in Manchester 2002 which he says was a totally different situation.

"I was still very young and excited and I never got to travel very far either as it was in Manchester. I'm a lot more up for these Games and the difference in that is day and night. I'm a lot better prepared this time and I think the Scottish team has a realistic chance to do well here."

His preparation has been helped by an extended stay away from the snow back home in Scotland. "Evan and I came over in mid December and from here it was straight to Tasmania and we did all the track carnivals. I got a little bit ill there, food poisoning, and then had to get on a ferry and carried on being sick for another 10 hours!"

"We then rode the support races for the Bay series which Evan (Oliphant) won overall which is pretty good because they weren't any easier than the other races. After that we were in New Zealand racing for three weeks and have just come back from Bendigo."

When I put it to him that it sounds like the Oz trip has been a real adventure, he replied "Its been great to come here and do this kind of preparation and we're so grateful we could get it because back home it's a nightmare with the snow and that."

Asked if he has adjusted to the heat of Australia after the freeze going on in Britain, he says "it hasn't been too bad and we're used to it now. Anything in the high 20's we're fine with but when it goes higher than that even the locals feel it which makes us feel a bit better."

One example of the high temperatures was the race in Bendigo recently where he says it was 40 degrees and the locals there were saying how hot it felt. As for nerves with the competition about to kick off, he explained "I'm lucky in that I've done it before and on the night of course the nerves will kick in. I've not even been thinking about the racing yet because I haven't been feeling great and last Friday was the first day I have felt good in a month so it's come at the right time."

James, like a few of the riders such as his teammate Marco Librizzi, has had to take time off work where back home in Scotland he works as a full time nurse doing the night shift. He says there have been many back home who he has to thank for supporting him in his preparation for the Games. "From my girlfriend, my mum and dad, and everyone who has helped support me to be here. Although you try and cover everything, there are always things you forget about and can't handle here. My parents for example have helped me cover my bills that have come up back home."

"I said a year ago I would come back and have a go at it after taking time off riding after the last time in Manchester. The head is now totally fresh and ready for it so I'm looking forward to it."

Good luck to James in his races at the Commonwealth Games where he'll be carrying the hopes of the Scottish along with Evan Oliphant in the Men's endurance events.