Veteran Aberdeen rider Mike Spalding (Deeside Thistle) claimed the overall title at the Grampian Grand Prix on Saturday (21 August). Narrowly beating Aberdeen and District Champion Veli-Matti Raikkonen (Granite City Racing Team) after a countback on their prologue time trial results. Based at the Grampian Transport Museum, the North Easts main closed circuit event saw Spalding winning the prologue time trial and the first 20 lap circuit race. Raikkonen took the second circuit race with 17 year old Inverurie rider Callum Smith (Deeside Thistle) living up to his pre race billing by claiming third overall.

British Masters track champion Fiona Duncan (Ythan CC) cruised to the womens title with Aberdeen Wheelers 16 year old Danny Ewing winning the junior title. Greg Quinn (Deeside Thistle) took his maiden win in the support category with his clubmate Joe Fee in second and a tie for third between Ross-shires Gavin Clark and Ythan CC veteran Graham Ward.

However, the stars of the day were the youth riders who put on a fantastic day of racing in warm and sunny conditions. Forres CC had a great day with Lewis Lyall and Emma Finlayson claiming victory in their respective age groups whilst Christopher Haslam scored a debut win in his first ever race in the U10 category.

The only disappointments were two crashes involving John Hunter of Ythan CC and Bob Cowie of Aberdeen Wheelers. John suffered a major mechanical failure just after he had finished his prologue ride which caused him to land heavily on the track.

Expert medical treatment was provided to the Grampian Grand Prix by Braemar Mountain Rescue's Phil Glennie and he quickly ensured that John was comfortable until an ambulance arrived.  Phil is also an Ythan member and invaluable to the safety of our races. Thankfully, John is now home after receiving treatment for a broken collar bone at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and to his credit his prologue time was good enough to retain 11th place.
John is one of Ythans most enthusiastic members and is frequently seen at time trials across the country, we all wish him a speedy recovery and return to our races and club runs.

Bob Cowie lived up to is reputation within North East cycling history and dominated the first circuit race, attacking non stop from the start until a mecahnical failure on the final corner caused him to fall. Bob suffered minor cuts and bruises but to the detriment of the later races he wasn't able to continue. Likewise we wish Bob a quick return to competition as he provides a great example to the younger riders in the area.

The event closed with podium presentations to the medal winners from the Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce, MP for Gordon who is a keen supporter of the event and there was also a major milestone for local youth cycling club, Grampian Tigers who received there British Cycling Go Race accreditation from Scottish Cycling President Alasdair MacLennan.





Veli-Matti Raikkonen outsprints overall winner Mike Spalding and Callum Smith to win Stage 2 of the Grampian Grand Prix



ADCA stalwart Boab Gibson sends off Colin Allanach of Ythan CC for his prologue TT



Grampian Transport Museum and the hills of Donside provide a breathtaking racing location



The top 3 riders battle it out with 17 year old Callum Smith leading Veli-Matti Raikkonen and overall winner Mike Spalding



Forres CC rider Lewis Lyall secures a classy win in the U16 category



Riders enjoy their own pit area for warming up and relaxing



Above: The youngest champion was Christopher Haslam



Greg Quinn of Deeside Thistle makes his winning break in Stage 2 and secures the overall support title

The winners podium



Support podium

Aberdeen and District Road Race Champion Veli-Matti Raikkonen (Granite City RT) receives his silver medal from the Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP



Ladies podium

U16 podium

Under 14 Podium

Under 10's Podium




The SC President presents Grampian Tigers with their Go Ride accreditation

The newly formed Ythan QL youth team

PROLOGUE TT

1) Mike Spalding DTCC 36.3
2) Callum Smith DTCC 36.7
3) Bob Cowie AWCC 36.9
4) Veli-Matti Raikkonen GCRT 37.1
5) Norman Skene GCRT 38.7
6) Callum Finlayson ForresCC 38.9
7) Keith Robertson GCRT 39.3
8) Craig Cameron AWCC 39.8
9) Neil Kininmonth DTCC 40.2
10) John Hunter YCC 40.3
11) John Dougan YCC 40.5
12) Daniel Ewing AWCC 40.8
13) Fiona Duncan YCC 41.2
14) Nick Thom YCC 41.7
15) Gavin Clark RRCC 41.6
16) Bill Mackie YCC 41.7
17) Graham Ward YCC 42.0
18) Gregg Quinn DTCC 42.2
19) Sean Monaghan GCRT 42.4
20) Joe Fee DTCC 42.6
21) Colin Allanach YCC 43.5
22) Sara Young Unattached 43.7
23) Alisdair McGill DTCC 44.0
24) Mike Giles YCC 44.0
25) Mark Bate DTCC 44.4
26) Steve Walton 45.0
27) Brendan McCabe AWCC 45.3
28) Ellen Thornell 55.1

GROUP A

Stage 1

1) Mike Spalding DTCC 12 Points
2) Veli-Matti Raikkonnen GCRT 10 Points
3) Keith Roberton GCRT 8 Points
4) Callum Smith DTCC 6 Points
5) Sean Monaghan GCRT 4 Points
6) Norman Skene GCRT 2 Points
7) John Dougan YCC 1 Point
8) Callum Finlayson Forres CC 1 Point
9) Fiona Duncan YCC 1 Point
10) Craig Cameron YCC 1 Point
11) Neil Kininmonth DTCC 1 Point

Stage 2

1) Veli-Matti Raikkonen GCRT 12pts
2) Mike Spalding DTCC 10pts
3) Callum Smith DTCC 8pts
4) Sean Monaghan GCRT 6pts
5) Keith Robertson GCRT 4pts
6) Norman Skene GCRT 2pts
7) Callum Finlayson FCC 1pt
8) John Dougan YCC 1pt
9) Fiona Duncan YCC 1pt
10) Craig Cameron AWCC 1pt
11) Neil Kininmonth DTCC 1pt

Overall

1) Mike Spalding DTCC 22 Pts Grampian Grand Prix Trophy and Gold Medal
2) Veli-Matti Raikkonen GCRT 22pts Silver Medal
3) Callum Smith DTCC 14pts
4) Keith Robertson GCRT 12pts 1st Vet
5) Sean Monaghan GCRT 10pts 2nd Vet
6) Norman Skene GCRT 4pts 3rd Vet
Callum Finlayson YCC 2pts
John Dougan YCC 2pts
Fiona Duncan YCC 2pts First Lady
Craig Cameron AWCC 2pts
Neil Kininmonth DTCC 2pts

GROUP B

Stage 1

1) Gavin Clark RRCC 12pts
2) Graham Ward YCC 10pts
3) Greg Quinn DTCC 8pts
4) Joe Fee DTCC 6pts
5) Sara Young Unattached 4pts
6) Mark Bate DTCC 2pts
7) Bill Mackie YCC 1pt
8) Nick Thom YCC 1pt
9) Mike Giles YCC 1pt
10) Brendan McCabe AWCC 1pt
11) Alisdair McGill DTCC 1pt
12) Colin Allanach YCC 1pt
13) Stephen Walton DTCC 1pt
DNF Ellen Thornell 1pt

Stage 2

1) Greg Quinn DTCC 12 pts
2) Joe Fee 10pts
3) Sara Young Unattached 8pts
4) Brendan McCabe AWCC 6pts
5) Graham Ward YCC 4pts
6) Gavin Clark RRCC 2pts
7) Bill Mackie YCC 1pt
8) Colin Allanach YCC 1pt
9) Steve Walton DTCC 1pt
10) Mark Bate DTCC 1pt
11) Mike Giles DTCC 1pt
12) Alisdair McGill DTCC 1pt
13) Nick Thom YCC 1pt
DNF Ellen Thornell 1pt

Overall

1) Greg Quinn DTCC 20pts
2) Joe Fee DTCC 16pts
3e) Gavin Clark RRCC
Graham Ward YCC 14pts
5) Sara Young Unattached 12pts 2nd Lady
6) Brendan McCabe AWCC 7pts
Colin Allanach YCC
Steve Walton DTCC
Bill Mackie YCC
Mark Bate DTCC
Mike Giles YCC
Alisdair McGill DTCC
Nick Thom YCC
Ellen Thornell DTCC 3rd Lady All 2pts

Juniors

Daniel Ewing AWCC

Youths A/B

1) Lewis Lyall- Forres CC
2) Zak Loney- Ythan QL
3) Liam Monaghan - Ythan QL

Youths C/D

1) Emma Finlayson - Forres CC
2) Laurie Cunningham- Ythan QL
3) Fraser Kininmonth- Grampian Tigers

Youths U10

1) Christopher Haslam- Unattached
2) Harry Spalding- Grampian Tigers
3) Euan Kininmonth- Grampian Tigers