Questions had been asked: would the Course and Competition records be bettered on a day that had beautiful sunshine and light winds in the Fife village of Freuchie? As it happened, one was smashed but Jason Mac’s record of 18:47 still stands, although for how much longer is anyone’s guess with the current crop of riders.
To The Start Line
It was the event that almost didn’t happen…several times over. Finding an organiser for this year’s Scottish National 10-mile time trial championship was proving difficult until the very experienced Mhairi Laffoley and her Fife Century RC colleagues stepped up to the challenge. Then we had a clash with the Sharon Argue Memorial Road Race, a Scottish National Series event, but the organisers worked together with Scottish Cycling to alter the start times to make sure riders could do both races.
As you would expect from Mhairi, all consultations had been made with the council to ensure that there would be no roadworks so it was a heart-stopping moment when the marshals reported that temporary traffic lights were being put out right at the start. An overnight emergency meant urgent repairs but a quick plea to the cycling-friendly Scottish Water contractors and they said they would work at super-speed like their overtime depended on it. The start was put back by one hour and the women were underway.
First away from the starter was the Rock and Road Cycles tandem of Laura Cluxton and she was followed in close succession by Christina McKenzie (Stirling Bike Club) and Ellie Park (Team 22) as per the start sheet. It was the next rider through Mireille Captieux (Dooleys Cycles RT) who would set the early benchmark and make up for the disappointment of her puncture at The Meldons. A time of 23:23 would see her take 4th place and claim the team prize along with her later-starting teammate Lynsey Curran in an overall 46:16. She was pushed all the way by Pamela Craig (RC Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) who finished in 23:53, just one second ahead of RT23’s Amanda Tweedie. Between these two and the Dooley’s rider was Genevieve Whitson (Isorex Cycling Team) in a 23:44, many of the women separated by small margins of time.
With some of the seeded riders not starting, it came down to the last three on the sheet. Running in order, RT23’s Catriona MacGillivray passed us first and came home in 23:34. Next to come by was the Olympic TT winner Lynsey Curran (Dooleys RT) but by the finish she was 19 seconds down on the rider from Oban.
Last up was Neah Evans (Storey Racing) and this type of course suits her. As she powered up the small rise she never missed a beat and by the finish she had recorded a time of 22:18 to take the race and the title by 16 seconds.
Junior Aspirations
Also contested was the junior championships. The race went to Jenny Holl (Team Jaden) who took the Gold medal in a time of 24:14. Georgia Mansfield (RT23) and Ellie Park came in second and third. Eilidh Shaw (Stirling Bike Club) took the Youth A prize but won't contest for a championship medal until the Youth TT Championships later in the year.
In the Junior men, Alexander McRae (Pro Vision Scotland), got the better of Alasdair Munro (RT23) and came home in a time of 22:11.
Gusting Conditions
Onto the men’s race and the still conditions of the earlier starters were beginning to change. A number of riders reported a difficult headwind on the leg out to the Melville Lodges Roundabout and although the strength came and went, the wind was definitely freshening.
The run down to Heatherhall Woods suffered some unexpected traffic as there was a meet on at the equestrian centre but although some slower moving horse boxes were about, most riders escaped being blocked although some were brought to a halt at the right hand turn, a severe warning having been issued about cutting the corner.
The Air Ambulance also passed overhead and we found out later that there had been an accident on a main road away from the course so more traffic than usual was diverting by. First rider to come past at this two/thirds part of the course was Martin Lawson (Dundee Thistle) followed by Iain Binning (Stirling Bike Club), both riders having caught Dave Kirton (Kennoway RC).
The first really fast rider was Jamie Davidson (Aberdeen Wheelers) who came home in a time of 20:46 to put himself into pole position. He would have to wait for another hour and a half before he would see his time bettered by Steven Lawley (Metaltek Kuota RT) and some of the other seeded riders.
Racers flashed by and a whole glut of riders ended up separated by no more than seconds at most but the only other rider at this point to get under 21 minutes was Douglas Watson of Icarus Racing in 20:53
And so it came down to the favourites…and the question of whether or not the course record would go. There had been a bit of chitchat on social media that the Competition Record might also be under threat. Steven Lawley took the marker down to 20:24 and this earned him the Bronze medal position. Then we had, quite possibly, the most bizarre incident of the race: as Kyle Gordon (RT23) passed the nature reserve, a duck that fancied itself as a pheasant, flew out of the verge and into his wheel, hard enough to bend the valve stem with the duck lying dazed at the edge of the road. We’re happy to report that 20 seconds later it shook itself down, pretended nothing had happened, and crossed the road, albeit with a slight limp.
Kyle Gordon returned a time of 20:28 and it’s just possible that duck cost him the 4 seconds he needed for a medal. Kenny Armstrong (Carrick Cycling Club) came by and finished in 20:42 to take 6th overall. Now the attention turned to the last three riders. In an attempt to shed weight and to get more aero Jon Entwistle (GTR) had removed his wedding ring and he was turning that big 60-tooth chainring smoothly. He finished 12 seconds ahead of Steven Lawley to top the leader board but it was short lived as John Archibald (Pro Vision Scotland) lived up to his promise and took the standard below 20 minutes, finishing in a time of 19:29. A winning margin of 41 seconds over such a short course shows just how talented he is and it was announced that he’d bettered the course record by about 50 seconds. Defending Champion Chris Smart (GTR) could do nothing about the men running ahead of him and finished in the same time as Kyle Gordon.
With a number of the women not hanging around as they had to be in Limeriggs it was a slightly lopsided podium with Neah Evans and Lynsey Curran receiving their prizes and medals from Jock Shaw and Tom Bishop. With a number of clubs not putting up a full compliment of riders, the Men’s Team award went to Pro Vision Scotland with John Archibald, David Griffiths and Richard McDonald in 1:1:48.
There will be other opportunities to better the 10-mile record but the attention now will be turning to the middle distances and we’ll be back to bring you the results of the 25-Mile TT Championship from Forfar.
Women’s and Junior’s Results:
|
41 |
Neah Evans |
Storey Racing |
F |
0:22:18 |
|||
|
37 |
Catriona MacGillivray |
RT23 |
F |
0:22:34 |
|||
|
39 |
Lynsey Curran |
www-dooleycycles.com |
F |
0:22:53 |
|||
|
5 |
Mireille Captieux |
www-dooleycycles.com |
F |
0:23:23 |
|||
|
25 |
Andrea Pogson |
Gala CC |
FV |
0:23:34 |
|||
|
15 |
Genevieve Whitson |
Isorex Cycling Team |
F |
0:23:44 |
|||
|
6 |
Pamela Craig |
RC Cumbernauld & Kilsyth |
F |
0:23:53 |
|||
|
10 |
Amanda Tweedie |
RT23 |
F |
0:23:54 |
|||
|
8 |
Aileen Clyde |
Fullarton Wheelers |
F |
0:23:55 |
|||
|
2 |
Laura Cluxton |
Rock & Road Cycles |
F |
0:24:07 |
|||
|
30 |
Christine McLean |
Shetland Wheelers |
FV |
0:24:12 |
|||
|
21 |
Kirsty Anderson |
Billy Bilsland Cycles |
F |
0:24:16 |
|||
|
31 |
Emily Middleditch |
Deeside Thistle |
FV |
0:24:41 |
|||
|
26 |
Catherine Logan |
Fullarton Wheelers |
F |
0:24:44 |
|||
|
7 |
Janet Erskine |
Unattached |
FV |
0:24:53 |
|||
|
29 |
Lulu Bartlett |
The Racers |
F |
0:25:06 |
|||
|
27 |
Sonya Drummond |
Dundee Thistle |
FV |
0:25:20 |
|||
|
3 |
Christina McKenzie |
Stirling Bike Club |
F |
0:25:27 |
|||
|
23 |
Anna Fairweather |
Spokes RT |
F |
0:25:47 |
|||
|
24 |
Natalie Hunter |
Fullarton Wheelers |
F |
0:26:02 |
|||
|
19 |
Amanda Wagstaffe |
East Sutherland Wheelers |
FV |
0:26:30 |
|||
|
17 |
Jane Emslie |
Edinburgh Road Club |
F |
0:27:20 |
|||
|
16 |
Megan McLean |
Shetland Wheelers |
F |
0:27:36 |
|||
|
9 |
Kirsteen Ellis |
Kinross CC |
FV |
0:27:45 |
|||
|
22 |
Mary Morgan |
Dunfermline CC |
FV |
0:30:07 |
|||
|
14 |
Jenny Holl |
Team Jadan-Wldtite |
JF |
0:24:14 |
|||
|
12 |
Georgia Mansfield |
RT23 |
JF |
0:24:53 |
|||
|
4 |
Ellie Park |
Team 22 |
JF |
0:25:42 |
|||
|
13 |
Eilidh Shaw |
Stirling Bike Club |
YF |
0:27:45 |
|||
|
50 |
Alexander McRae |
Pro Vision Scotland |
JM |
0:22:11 |
|||
|
52 |
Alasdair Munro |
RT23 |
JM |
0:22:45 |
|||
|
54 |
Calum Shackley |
Glasgow Cycle Team |
JM |
0:23:05 |
|||
|
47 |
Kyle Cartmell |
RT23 |
YM |
0:23:20 |
|||
|
46 |
Ross Thomson |
Dunfermline CC |
JM |
0:23:29 |
|||
|
45 |
Robbie Rae |
Lomond Roads Cc |
JM |
0:23:59 |
|||
Men’s Results:
|
1 |
118 |
John Archibald |
Pro Vision Scotland |
S |
00:19:29 |
||
|
2 |
116 |
Jon Entwistle |
GTR |
V |
00:20:12 |
||
|
3 |
104 |
Steven Lawley |
Metaltek Kuota RT |
S |
00:20:24 |
||
|
4 |
108 |
Kyle Gordon |
RT23 |
S |
00:20:28 |
||
|
5 |
120 |
Chris Smart |
GTR |
S |
00:20:28 |
||
|
6 |
114 |
Kenny Armstrong |
Carrick Cycling Club |
S |
00:20:42 |
||
|
7 |
106 |
David Griffiths |
Pro Vision Scotland |
S |
00:20:45 |
||
|
8 |
48 |
Jamie Davidson |
Aberdeen Wheelers |
S |
00:20:46 |
||
|
9 |
60 |
Douglas Watson |
Icarus Racing |
V |
00:20:53 |
||
|
10 |
112 |
Alan Thomson |
RT23 |
S |
00:21:04 |
||
|
11 |
67 |
Andy Bruce |
Leslie Bike Shop |
V |
00:21:10 |
||
|
12 |
90 |
Liam Beaty |
Hawick CC |
S |
00:21:15 |
||
|
13 |
85 |
Gavin Shirley |
Dooley Cycles RT |
S |
00:21:19 |
||
|
14 |
10 |
Andy Underwood |
COG Velo |
S |
00:21:20 |
||
|
15 |
31 |
Jamie Henderson |
Spokes RT |
V |
00:21:24 |
||
|
16 |
74 |
Mathew Cockerell |
Aberdeen Wheelers |
S |
00:21:24 |
||
|
17 |
65 |
Ewen MacGillivray |
RT23 |
S |
00:21:25 |
||
|
18 |
80 |
Darren Kean |
Fullarton Wheelers |
S |
00:21:29 |
||
|
19 |
73 |
Richard McDonald |
Pro Vision Scotland |
S |
00:21:34 |
||
|
20 |
62 |
Kyle Johnston |
Pro Vision Scotland |
S |
00:21:37 |
||
|
21 |
95 |
Lewis Duff |
GTR |
V |
00:21:37 |
||
|
22 |
55 |
Peter Ettles |
RT23 |
V |
00:21:39 |
||
|
23 |
42 |
Andrew Scott |
Musselburgh RCC |
S |
00:21:44 |
||
|
24 |
45 |
Jordan Stronach |
Ythan CC |
S |
00:21:45 |
||
|
25 |
70 |
Mark Skilling |
Carrick Cycling Club |
V |
00:21:46 |
||
|
26 |
102 |
Jim Cusick |
Dooley Cycles RT |
V |
00:21:47 |
||
|
27 |
25 |
Joe McMillan |
Synergy Cycles |
S |
00:21:51 |
||
|
28 |
81 |
Morgan Anderson |
Kelso Wheelers |
S |
00:21:51 |
||
|
29 |
79 |
Michael Cheney |
Deeside Thistle |
V |
00:21:52 |
||
|
30 |
35 |
Jason Roberts |
Pro Vision Scotland |
V |
00:21:53 |
||
|
31 |
98 |
Dean Cunningham |
Moray Firth CC |
S |
00:21:59 |
||
|
32 |
15 |
Angus Wilson |
Dundee Thistle |
V |
00:22:01 |
||
|
33 |
91 |
David Burgher |
Kelso Wheelers |
V |
00:22:02 |
||
|
34 |
100 |
Alan Holmes |
GTR |
V |
00:22:02 |
||
|
35 |
87 |
Michael Curran |
Ayr Roads CC |
S |
00:22:03 |
||
|
36 |
27 |
Nick McCue |
West Lothian Clarion |
S |
00:22:05 |
||
|
37 |
57 |
Graham Smith |
Law Wheelers |
V |
00:22:11 |
||
|
38 |
32 |
Brian Muir |
Royal Albert CC |
V |
00:22:12 |
||
|
39 |
17 |
Jason Fogarty |
Edinburgh Road Club |
S |
00:22:19 |
||
|
40 |
47 |
Steven Nutley |
RT23 |
V |
00:22:21 |
||
|
41 |
40 |
Gordon Murdoch |
Icarus Racing |
V |
00:22:22 |
||
|
42 |
72 |
Gordon Graham |
Fullarton Wheelers |
V |
00:22:23 |
||
|
43 |
78 |
Brian Yates |
Carrick Cycling Club |
S |
00:22:23 |
||
|
44 |
30 |
Steve Davidson |
Synergy Cycles |
V |
00:22:27 |
||
|
45 |
22 |
Duncan Buchanan |
Fife Century Road Club |
V |
00:22:31 |
||
|
46 |
92 |
Colin Duncan |
Elgin CC |
V |
00:22:31 |
||
|
47 |
33 |
Ian Dobbie |
West Lothian Clarion |
V |
00:22:34 |
||
|
48 |
49 |
Ian Anderson |
Walkers CC |
V |
00:22:34 |
||
|
49 |
9 |
Kieran Kirk |
Saints Ciclista |
S |
00:22:36 |
||
|
50 |
99 |
Danny Hedley |
RT23 |
S |
00:22:37 |
||
|
51 |
23 |
Paul Davis |
Musselburgh RCC |
S |
00:22:42 |
||
|
52 |
7 |
Ian King |
Velocity 44 |
V |
00:22:43 |
||
|
53 |
54 |
Colin Stevenson |
Kelso Wheelers |
S |
00:22:47 |
||
|
54 |
37 |
Ian Archibald |
Johnstone Wheelers |
V |
00:22:48 |
||
|
55 |
64 |
William Bavidge |
Unattached |
V |
00:22:50 |
||
|
56 |
97 |
Sean Quinn |
Law Wheelers |
V |
00:22:54 |
||
|
57 |
71 |
Gordon Dick |
Lomond Roads |
V |
00:22:57 |
||
|
58 |
18 |
Paul Keoghan |
Royal Albert CC |
V |
00:23:01 |
||
|
59 |
61 |
Alastair McGibbon |
Ayr Roads CC |
S |
00:23:01 |
||
|
60 |
24 |
Frank Anderson |
SVTTA |
V |
00:23:02 |
||
|
61 |
11 |
Eoghan Maguire |
Edinburgh Road Club |
S |
00:23:05 |
||
|
62 |
26 |
Colin Knott |
Pedal Power |
V |
00:23:08 |
||
|
63 |
52 |
Graham Barclay |
Leslie Bike Shop |
V |
00:23:09 |
||
|
64 |
83 |
Mark Dryburgh |
Ross-shire Roads CC |
V |
00:23:09 |
||
|
65 |
66 |
Derek Skinner |
Fullarton Wheelers |
V |
00:23:19 |
||
|
66 |
44 |
Graham Jones |
Edinburgh Road Club |
V |
00:23:21 |
||
|
67 |
89 |
Kevin Lackie |
RT23 |
V |
00:23:22 |
||
|
68 |
12 |
James Hall |
Rock & Road Cycles |
V |
00:23:29 |
||
|
69 |
68 |
Joe Hands |
Velo Club Vitesse |
S |
00:23:33 |
||
|
70 |
76 |
Warren Crombie |
Musselburgh RCC |
V |
00:23:33 |
||
|
71 |
5 |
Jim Petrie |
Dundee Wheelers |
V |
00:23:39 |
||
|
72 |
58 |
Jonny May |
Edinburgh Road Club |
V |
00:23:39 |
||
|
73 |
63 |
Jimmy Storrar |
Velocity 44 |
S |
00:23:39 |
||
|
74 |
84 |
Michael Spalding |
Granite City |
V |
00:23:40 |
||
|
75 |
94 |
Michael Allen |
Fullarton Wheelers |
V |
00:23:42 |
||
|
76 |
38 |
Scott Glasgow |
Glasgow Nightingale |
V |
00:23:43 |
||
|
77 |
13 |
Nick Yeats |
Musselburgh RCC |
V |
00:23:54 |
||
|
78 |
53 |
Brian Cameron |
Lomond Roads |
V |
00:23:56 |
||
|
79 |
69 |
Steven Malaney |
Glasgow Couriers |
V |
00:24:07 |
||
|
80 |
28 |
Frederick Connor |
VC Glasgow South |
V |
00:24:16 |
||
|
81 |
41 |
Iain Drummond |
West Lothian Clarion |
V |
00:24:18 |
||
|
82 |
34 |
Alastair MacMillan |
Musselburgh RCC |
V |
00:24:23 |
||
|
83 |
88 |
Michael Gordon |
Moray Firth CC |
V |
00:24:32 |
||
|
84 |
51 |
Neil McLeod |
SVTTA |
V |
00:24:49 |
||
|
85 |
43 |
Andy Duncan |
Ythan CC |
V |
00:24:54 |
||
|
86 |
3 |
Iain Binning |
Stirling Bike Club |
V |
00:25:00 |
||
|
87 |
19 |
Andrew Stewart |
Dunfermline CC |
V |
00:25:10 |
||
|
88 |
4 |
Edd Shackley |
Glasgow Ivy CC |
V |
00:25:19 |
||
|
89 |
8 |
James Wrapson |
Team Right Move Windows |
V |
00:25:24 |
||
|
90 |
2 |
Martin Lawson |
Dundee Thistle |
V |
00:25:36 |
||
|
91 |
21 |
Ron Mill |
Leslie Bike Shop |
V |
00:25:41 |
||
|
92 |
14 |
Dave Conacher |
Saints Ciclista |
S |
00:26:00 |
||
|
93 |
96 |
Steven Grier |
Loudon CC |
V |
00:26:04 |
||
|
94 |
29 |
Steven Smith |
Royal Albert CC |
V |
00:27:20 |
||
|
95 |
16 |
George Skinner |
SVTTA |
V |
00:27:27 |
||
|
96 |
1 |
Dave Kirton |
Kennoway RC |
V |
00:28:52 |
||
|
97 |
46 |
Stephen Payton |
Ross-shire Roads CC |
V |
00:31:43 |
||
