SWSCP Road Race No. 1
Posted on: 2nd April 2012
Article by: Alan Denman
The second round of the South West Scotland Cycling Project race series took place on Saturday with the first road race of the year taking place around the stunning Loch ken circuit.
The event for 3rd & 4th category riders was massively oversubscribed ensuring a full field taking the start line.
With the race being just 52 miles, a fast race was always going to be on the cards. Junior riders Gavin Shuttleworth, Cameron Balfour, Ryan Fenwick and Ross Green were obviously in the mood for fun as they started the attacking from the off. Attempts to break clear were constant until 12 miles in Gavin and Ryan along with top local man Tommy Lockhart finally managed to break clear. The gap went out to just over 30 seconds and was looking more and more likely to increase it’s lead and stay away. But then the bunch kicked into life led primarily by junior Cameron Balfour, who could be seen stringing the bunch out in mad pursuit, as well as managing to stay looking as stylish as a Belgian winning Flanders!
Once the break was back, the attacks continued with Gavin Shuttleworth again the main protagonist. Gavin’s efforts were rewarded with the most aggressive rider prize. Try as some might it stayed together for a hectic bunch gallop.
Young Cameron Balfour led at the bottom of the last climb, but fired his bullets a bit to early and died like an excited soldier coming out of the trenches. The more experienced and patient Ewan Tighe from Scunthorpe Poly showed his class by getting the timing just right for a fine win.
The SWSCP would like to thank the Stewartry Wheelers for great organization, The regular convoy drivers and the NEG riders, who again provided excellent safety cover to ensure that the riders and public had a trouble free race.
Full race results can be found here.
