It came down to four very experienced riders with nothing much to choose between them. Ultimately, two championships were decided in the final sprint with Jamie Henderson finally claiming the title that had eluded him for a while now.

The Tom Anderson Memorial Road Race is always one of the most keenly awaited, and hotly contested, races of the season, especially as it also often comprises the Scottish National Veterans Road Race Championships.  Hosted by Falkirk BC on the testing Dunmore circuit, it covers seven laps of a course that includes long exposed straights, undulating and curving backroads and a short steep climb into Cowie, often the powder-keg point for a breakaway.

First time around and the bunch was pretty much complete as everyone took stock of the course, the conditions…and each other. Riders from Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique were looking particularly keen with defending champion Andy Bruce leading them through and past, but still able to give his customary wave.

Later on the same lap it was his teammate Franco Porco stretching his legs at the front as the race came along the wind-assisted section after leaving Cowie and making the left hand turn back towards the east.

Second time through and a group was trying to clip away on the climb. There were more than a few dangerous riders in this group and it was quickly brought back but in his classic style Kenny Riddle (Moray Firth CC) made the counter attack and we had a race on our hands. He was quickly joined by Jason Roberts (Pro Vision Scotland) and, alert to the danger posed by these very experienced riders, Andy Bruce and Jamie Henderson (Spokes RT) surged across the gap…and the dye was cast for the rest of the race.

Each time around the lead group of four were further ahead, aided in part by teammates back in the bunch. Not exactly riding interference, the Leslie Bikeshop guys and Greg Brown from Pro Vision weren’t pushing on and nobody else appeared willing to take up the reins and organise a concerted chase.

As the wind whistled through the power lines overhead, eerie but strangely musical, it was becoming obvious that the winner would come from this quartet…but which one?

Getting ready for our last pass on the circuit before relocating to the finish line on the run back towards Stenhousemuir, we had the first major upset…and it wasn’t the sudden downpour. Looking through the trees we saw the leading riders come into view…but they were one short, and it was the Pro Vision rider who was missing. Jason Roberts had punctured and although the Service vehicle was on him and had the wheel changed in a time that would have made the Mercedes F1 team envious, he was left chasing 30 seconds down.

He had the bit between his teeth and, while his former companions weren’t putting the hammer down, they couldn’t afford to soft pedal. Chasing for almost a lap at full gas he made the join as they hit the climb for the last time. He later told us that he knew he could never outsprint the others and his plan had been to attack on this last ascent. With his legs blown from the chase this could no longer happen and when the riders approached the finish he had to accept a grandstand view of the final dash for the line.

They were all experienced guys and it was Kenny Riddle who took it up, leading out for the line. Putting all his past track experience to good use Jamie Henderson came off his wheel and moved across the road as he put in a massive effort. Also coming off Riddle’s wheel, Andy Bruce made his dash but Henderson had them all beaten and had his arms in the air, teeth gritted in satisfaction at taking this title which he’s been after for a while now. Andy Bruce edged Kenny Riddle for second, and silver, but the Moray Firth rider had 3^rd overall and the V50 Championship win, with Roberts finishing in fourth to take bronze in the V40s.

And then it was the turn of the bunch with Dominic Hines (Veloclub Edinburgh) easily besting the opposition. Everyone else came across the line behind the VC Edinburgh rider with little to choose between many of them.

Back to the rugby club HQ at Grangemouth for tea and cakes and the prize-giving. The V40 and V50 Championship podiums were announced, with Sandy Wallack picking up the V60 prize. 

All in all, another successful running of the Tom Anderson Memorial and the new finish line location produced a different kind of sprint from previous years, Jamie Henderson running out a worthy and well-deserved winner.

Results

1	Jamie	Henderson	Spokes Racing Team	3rd
2	Andrew	Bruce	Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique	2nd
3	Kenneth	Riddle	Moray Firth Cycling Club	2nd
4	Jason	Roberts	Pro Vision Scotland	2nd
5	Alan	Griffiths	VC Astar Anderside	4th
6	Hamish	MacLean	Musselburgh RCC	3rd
7	Alasdair	Watt	Musselburgh RCC	3rd
8	David	Blockley	RT 23	3rd
9	Graham	Moore	Stirling Bike Club	3rd
10	Derek	Smith	Perth United Cycling Club	3rd
11	John	Kermode	Un-Attached	3rd
12	Robbie	Brown	Velocity 44 RT	3rd
13	Ross	Crook	Edinburgh RC	2nd
14	Gregg	OMalley	Glasgow Couriers	3rd
15	Andrew	Matheson	Musselburgh RCC	3rd
16	David	Dalziel	Glasgow Nightingale CC	3rd
17	David	Reed	Granite City RT	3rd
18	Andrew	Kitchin	Edinburgh RC	3rd
19	Alan	Lamont	Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique	3rd
20	Mark	Skilling	Carrick Cycle Club	3rd
21	Alan	Maxwell	Pedal Power RT	3rd
22	Robert	Cowie	Aberdeen Wheelers cycling club	3rd
23	Paul	Rennie	www.Dooleys-Cycles.co.uk	3rd
24	Derek	McMillan	St Christophers CC	3rd
25	Ian	Archibald	Johnstone Wheelers Cycling Club	3rd
26	Gary	McCrae	Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique	3rd
27	George	Roberts	Icarus Racing	3rd
28	Stephen	Lumsden	Pedal Power RT	3rd
29	Paul	Welsh	Glasgow Ivy CC	3rd
30	Andrew	Brierley	Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique	3rd
31	Jamie	Kennedy	GTR	2nd
32	Chris	Stewart	www.Dooleys-Cycles.co.uk	3rd
33	Michael	Robinson	Midlothian Velo Sportif	3rd
34	Craig	Barron	Synergy Cycles	3rd
35	Malcolm	Dunlop	Veloclub Edinburgh	3rd
36	Franco	Porco	Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique	3rd
37	Adam	Syme	Musselburgh RCC	4th
38	Craig	Gilmour	Falkirk Bicycle Club	4th