The Scottish National 50 Mile Time Trial Championships took place on Sunday 21st July, at Invergordon. The event was the Skelly Cup, with Julian Foot heading up a team of volunteers from Ross Shire Roads CC and the Scottish Cycling North clubs.
The day started out with barely a breath of wind, contrary to the ominous weather forecasts from earlier in the week. As the riders headed out on course, the breeze picked up with a Westerly wind making the outward leg tougher. A welcome tailwind on the way back to the finish, but a tactical challenge for riders wanting to leave their all out on the course.
A 50 Mile Time Trial is tough all the way around, with riders pushing their physical and mental capacity for the distance. Almost fifty riders took to the start line, with seventeen riders completing the course in under two hours – including the Women’s winner, Catriona MacGillivray.
In the Women’s Championship, it as a RT23 lockout on the podium. Catriona MacGillivray, having recently broken Andrea Pogson’s 50 Mile Time Trial record, which had stood for almost 20 years, took the gold medal and the title in convincing fashion. Her time of 1:58:00 sealed the victory, but did not quite better her record-breaking time of 1:57:27 set in June. She was joined on the podium by team mates Amanda Tweedie (2:06:42) and Pamela Craig (2:10:45), who narrowly edged out local rider Laura Nicolson who took 4th place in a time of 2:10:51. The team prize, naturally, went to RT23, who broke the Scottish Women’s 50 Mile Time Trial Team record.
In the Men’s competition, it was ultimately decided by last three riders on the road. Another local rider, James Millar (Moray Firth CC), finished in his starting position, third in a time of 1:48:55. It came down to the final two riders, Iain Macleod (Aberdeen Wheelers) catching James, his two-minute man, to set a time of 1:45:38. Last man off, Alan Thomson (RT23), couldn’t reduce the deficit, and had to settle for the silver medal for his time of 1:48:04. All three of the men on the podium finished almost 4 minutes ahead of their nearest rivals. The RT23 team of Alan Thomson, Alasdair Munro and Peter Ettles matched the women’s result to make it a double gold team day for RT 23.
Luckily for the riders, the rain started when everyone was back at the hall for podiums and celebrations!
Many thanks to Julian and his team of volunteers from the club – the next Time Trial Championship will return to the Highlands for the 100 Mile on the 4th of August.
