VeloResults didn’t manage to get to every big race in Scotland in 2008, but we didn't do too badly.  

The great Jason MacIntyre.

But before we look at where we were and who did what, I want to mention one sad day in January. Jason Macintyre: the year started in tragic fashion when we lost ‘our hero,’ as Bob Taylor called him; if you’re like me, you’ll be missing him.

Gifford Super Six
The new series was sent off with a flourish in this superbly-well organised race. The Pedal Power boys showed that they meant business, by forcing the race pattern early, and placing five riders in the top ten. Gary Hand put time into everyone and soloed across the line, followed by Gordon Murdoch and Ross Creber - who showed good form from the start of the year to the end.

Gary Hand and Gordon Murdoch.

The Girvan
We only managed the last stage, this year – Ed had to decide between Girvan and Milan – San Remo (in a Saunier team car); it was a tough choice! Kristian House was a classy last stage winner and it was only that terrier toughness of Russell Downing’s that saved the GC from slipping to the swarthy Rapha man. As James McCallum said of the Downing brothers; “If you were in a fight with them you’d have to shoot them, they never give in!”

Russell Downing - showing the strain.

Wanlockhead Super Six
Gary Hand reckoned "It'll be hard for someone to win who's not in Pedal Power!" but in the event Dooley's Arthur Doyle survived the pot-holes, crashes and attacks to take the win ahead of Phil Brown and Micky Mallen. Best Pedal Power was 9th, but ride of the day went to Dean Martin - in his first year as a junior and only just coming back from a broken collar bone - finishing on the wheel of round one winner Gary Hand to take the Junior prize.

Arthur Doyle.

Greenacres Super Six
Gordon Murdoch was in full ‘Beast’ form for that one, but Arthur Doyle made it a good race to watch. We liked the ‘Hell’ section and the crashes were spectacular – no injuries, so it’s OK to joke.

Gordon gets up the climbs ok for a big guy.

The 10 Champs
It was Arthur again, on the Kippen Flats, winning despite an illness the week prior – if he’d been in full effect, it would have been below the magic 20 minutes.

Arthur nearly on the boil.

Giro d'Italia
We spent a week working at the Giro - and what a week: a finish at the top of the Alpe di Pampeago where Simoni took the race by the scruff of it's neck 5 years ago; the next stage had no less that 6 serious climbs including the Passo Fedaia where it's the first time a stage finished at the summit. These were followed the by an outrageous mountain time trial with nothing but uphill; a couple of "easier" days, and the second last stage was an awesome 224-kilometre run over the Passo Gavia, the very steep Passo del Mortirolo and the infamous Aprica, before arriving in Tirano and a time trial. Contador stamped his class all over this race.

Dave Millar.

Leven Super Six
Callum Wilkinson (thebicycleworks.com) lead on his own for a third of the race, but professional Evan Oliphant (Plowman Craven) outsprinted consistent Ross Creber (SIS– Trek) on the quiet country lane towards Cupar, the two of them had escaped the field on the 3rd - and last - ascent of the difficult, draggy Prime Hill towards Largo Ward.

Evan Oliphant and James McCallum.

The 25 Champs
The ‘pusher off’ dropped Mark Atkinson at the start of the 10; but he got his own back in the 25. The ‘tester’s tester’ gave a demonstration of brute strength on the dual carriageways south of Aberdeen to take the Blue Riband of time trials.

Mark Atkinson.

 The 50 Champs
Mark again, on the windswept tarmac around the Cromarty Firth, with a nice performance from Jonathan Copp for silver – then the long drive home down the A9!  

And again.

Lang Whang Super Six
On a summer's day more akin to October, with a strong wind bringing the rain in at 45 degrees and the temperature barely above zero, two riders jumped the race-winning break and shared the work equally to the finish. The more experienced Gordon Murdoch pulled away from Michael Nicolson to win and increase his lead in the overall series.

Gordon enjoys another win.

Le Tour de France
We were lucky to be able to work on the last half of this year's race, and saw Sastre take command on L'Alpe D'Huez, possibly not the game plan that CSC had envisaged. On the way we travelled with the race into Italy and back; saw Oscar Pereiro crash out; interviewed loads of riders and photographed tons of bikes; gawped as the race went over the Bonnet-Restefond and hurtled down the other side to Jausiers trying to keep up with the autobus; we followed the Lampre team - pushing an injured Cunego at 30mph - for 100 miles!; spent a stage on an official race motorbike; watched riders in the time trial from our car right behind them; and travelled into Paris in the publicity caravan!

Final Stage winner Steegmans, cruising and caught by "our Adam" the day before in the TT.

National Road Race Champs
Back in the old country again, the scenery was just as great, the sun came out and the organisation was good - Pedal Power tried hard; but that Oliphant character has world champion’s legs – they’re hard to beat at the end!

Evan controls the race.

The Team Time Trial Champs
Arthur was the man of the moment, spending one heck of a lot of time at the front of the victorious Dooley’s squadra; despite loosing Graeme McGarrity ‘early doors,’ – but was Graeme saving it for the vets road race, the next day?

Dooley's Cycles take the TTT.

The Vets' Road Race
McGarrity may have been saving himself, but John Kermode still beat him in the sprint; that was no surprise, the Dundee taxi driver had been third in the National senior road race champs.

John Kermode leads the bunch.

The 100 Champs
It was at Invergordon – again – and we couldn’t make it; but managed a chat with Jim Cusick after the event, he was a pub in Evanton. Next year we're going to try and do more pub-based interviews!

Jim Cusick.

East Saltoun East District Champs Super Six
Those Pedal Power boys were just too strong for everyone – Gaza and Gogza finished it off with a classy two-up on a freezing day in East Lothian.

Gaza and Gogza.

The 12 Champs
Third placed Steve Beech has ridden two Milk Races and ten 12 hour races, so when he tells you that this year's Scottish '12' was the hardest one he's ever ridden, he knows what he's talking about. Winner Carlos Riise agreed:"It was a hard windy day, not sure if I've recovered yet. Though I was surprised with my distance, I guess I must have gotten the position right on the day." His distance of 268 miles, putting Kenny Kentley into silver, would certainly verify that.

Carlos Riise.

La Vuelta a España
Cycling fans were waiting 6 years for the controversial climb of El Angliru to be included in the Vuelta: a climb that, after having appeared only three times before was already a living part of cycling history. Contador added his name to the list of previous winners: José María Jiménez, Gilberto Simoni and Roberto Heras, the only three riders to have won on the Asturian climb so far, and we were there to watch the action, but first there were mechanics to annoy.

Sastre leads Leipheimer on the Angrilu.

The Criterium Champs
Once again, the Pedal Power team showed their strength by dominating a championship - this time their Kevin Barclay beating team-mate and fellow-escapee Scott Macrae into second, with Dooley's Paul Rennie third in a cold and wet dash around Glasgow Green.

The Pedal Power boys rip it up.

The Trossachs
There’s no better race, a real classic, we love it. ‘Man of the season,’ Arthur was too strong for everyone; and the sun was shining – perfect.

Arthur Doyle gives it laldy with a couple of miles to go.

The Hill Climb Champs
We’ve whinged enough about the organisation, so let’s be positive – it was good to see Ben Abrahams ‘doing the biz;' let’s hope for more of the same from him in ’09.

Ben Abrahams.

The ‘Cross Champs
Scotland’s newest pro ran away with it on a well designed course – but jings! it was cold!

Ross Creber.

We can't finish without saluting Sir Chris Hoy, winner of, well everything he entered this year really, including those three fantastic Olympic titles, following three World Championships, and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year topped off with a Knighthood. Chapeau neebz!

Chapeau!

We hope you’ve enjoyed our rantings this year; we’re going to try to give you a bit more next year, meanwhile – ‘We hope 2009 is all you want it to be, for you and yours.’

The slim mountain biker was head and shoulders above the rest; a gutsy ride from Greig Walker (Edinburgh RC) gave him the silver medal ahead of junior, Kenta Gallacher (Team 777) who took bronze. 

The course was well designed, mostly fast grass and single track through the woods with two climbs, one a rideable grass zig-zag and one a muddy flight of log-fronted steps; run by all, except the winner's brother, Hamish whose mountain bike skills saw him ride where the rest ran - or walked.

As you were.

 A further couple of laps and, Creber and Wardell were clear of the other two and already it looked very unlikely that anyone but Creber would win, his face displaying little emotion as he lead Wardell across the frosted grass and leaves.

Creber drew the duo further and further ahead and then he was clear, Wardell simply unable to match the man in the blue and pink skinsuit's speed across the grass.

Creber's lead grew steadily, but despite the fact that the win looked certain from around quarter distance, the urgency never left his riding. There was no indecision as he chose his lines and sliced past lapped riders.

Wardell's silver looked safe until around ten minutes to go, when his rear mech hanger broke and he had to shoulder the bike and run, a spell on a machine several sizes too small saw him get to his spare bike.

Looking very fit for this time of year.

Behind, Walker had dropped his young rival Gallacher; the sight of Wardell's blue Sandy Wallace skinsuit was the spur he needed and in the closing stages he passed an exhausted Wardell to put himself in the silver slot.

Kenta shows great promise.

Gallacher too passed Wardell and launched a charge, which if it had come just a little earlier, might have given him the silver.

...whilst Rab shoulders it...

Creber was oblivious to the drama behind and cruised to the title, albeit he had his own crisis in the closing stages, when a high speed tangle with a lapped rider saw him hit the frozen grass, hard.

Walker was satisfied with silver and a delighted Gallacher took bronze.

Rab Wardell suffered mechanical and judicial problems, and after sitting in second place for 95% of the race, was left with nothing.

Rab Wardell suffered mechanical and judicial problems, and after sitting in second place for 95% of the race, was left with nothing.

A dejected Wardell dismounted in the finishing straight and walked across the line, no doubt to express his frustration at loosing a medal.

And just when he thought it couldn't get any worse - they disqualified him for an illegal bike change!

It just goes to show that even turning your unlucky race number 13 upside down, to try and break the curse, doesn't work - as Mr. Wardell can testify.

What they said

The Creber brothers' bike handling skills owe a lot to their MTB background.

VeloResults opened by asking if Ross Creber - now that he's a pro - had sorted out his win bonus with PC management before the race?

"We only get win bonuses if we win National standard races. I haven't been riding cross this winter, so I was only gridded in the third row. I managed to get to the front by the first corner though.

"The plan was just to take it steady for the first 20 minutes and then go - that's how it worked out. Although, I got a bit of a shake when I crashed. It's nice to get the win in my new colours but I don't think I'll be doing any more crosses this winter.

"I'm going skiing then it's our first training camp. The team has new management this year and new sponsors - it's going to be a good year."

Chatting to Greig Walker.

VeloResults editor, Martin Williamson tracked down silver medallist Greig Walker (above):

"My main thing is MTB racing, but I've been doing some cyclo-cross races recently as well, so I knew how crucial the start was going to be. I know that if you aren't in the front group from the off, you really have your work cut out, so I made a big effort from the gun and got a good start from the second row, and was in the first 6 riders pretty quickly.

"On the first lap it split behind us, and before we started the second lap there were four of us away. It was hard for me to start so fast, as I'm not really a "quick" rider, but I have good endurance and I just plugged away. I wasn't sure exactly where I was placed in the race as there was lots of lapped riders - I thought Kenta and I were in the top 6, but with a couple of laps to go I started to get shouts from the spectators that a medal was "on". I'm very pleased to get a silver in this race, to go with my silver in the MTB cross-country race."

Most of the riders had to run up the steps.

Third placed Kenta Gallacher was happy with bronze:

"Greig was really strong and when he dropped me I eased a little, then I could see I was catching him again and rode hard. Initially I didn't know that I'd passed Rab.

"I was second in the Peebles cross recently, won the Glenrothes one and was eighth last week, despite breaking my seat pin. The road? No - I don't lilke it, I'm a mountain biker!"

Results

1 Ross Creber S PLOWMAN CRAVEN 00:59:33 - GOLD
2 Greig Walker S EDINBURGH ROAD CLUB 01:01:39 - SILVER
3 Kenta Gallagher J 777 RACING 01:01:43 - BRONZE & 1ST JUN
4 Paul McInally S ROCK AND ROAD CYCLES 01:01:52
5 Ian Nimmo V SQUADRA PORCINI/WHEELS/MONO 01:03:18
6 Hamish Creber J SANDY WALLACE CYCLES 01:03:18 - 2ND JUN

@ 1 Lap
7 Neil Dryden S THEBICYCLEWORKS.COM
8 Dan Whitehead S UNATTACHED
9 David Lines S PEDAL POWER/ENDURA RACE TEAM
10 James Melville V GLASGOW UNITED CC - 1ST VET
11 Tom MacDonald S LOMOND ROADS CC
12 Steve Nicholson V DUNFERMLINE CC- 2ND VET
13 Alister Dow V THEBICYCLEWORKS.COM - 3RD VET

@ 2 Laps
14 Stephen Sheridan S IVY CC
15 Ewan Clark J DRUMLANRIG/RIKS BIKE SHED - 3RD JUN
16 Andrew Leith J DISCOVERY JUNIOR CC/SPOKES
17 Neil Scott V ANGUS BIKE CHAIN
18 Michael Nally V DUNFERMLINE CC
19 Matthew Cutler CUTLER S GLASGOW IVY
20 Tim Darlow S EDINBURGH ROAD CLUB
21 Gordon Bathgate S SQUARE WHEELS
22 Jon Ashcroft S UNATTACHED
23 Anja McDonald W VELO CLUB MOULIN - 1ST LADY
24 Gordon Dickson S UNATTACHED
25 Graham Gauld S UNATTACHED
26 Jonathan Meredith S TELLY SEVALAS PLAYERS CLUB
27 Drew Thomson S WALKERS CYCLE CLUB
28 Eileen Roe W SWIFT RACING - 2ND LADY
29 Finlay Young J VELO ECOSSE

@ 3 Laps
30 Simon Muir S THEBICYCLEWORKS.COM
31 Gordon Durnam S BELLAHOUSTON ROAD RUNNERS
32 Sandy Wallace V SANDY WALLACE CYCLES
33 Jonathon Herbert S UNATTACHED
34 Maddy Robinson W EDINBURGH ROAD CLUB - 3RD LADY
35 Scott Russell V WALKERS CYCLE CLUB
36 Kevin Sabiston V VC AZZURI
37 Clare Whitehood W GLEN MUICK XER
38 Rob Gray S UNATTACHED
39 Martin Mulholland V JOHNSTONE WHEELERS

@ 4 Laps
40 Chris Marquis S TELLY SEVALAS PLAYERS CLUB
41 Andrew Taylor V DRUMLANRIG/RIKS BIKE SHED
41 Howard Perkins V UNATTACHED
42 Fraser Merry V UNATTACHED
44 Jac Strachan W VELO CLUB MOULIN
45 Joe Sutherland J DISCOVERY JUNIOR CC/SPOKES

@ 5 Laps
46 Julie Nimmo W WALKERS CYCLE CLUB
47 Sarah Mitchell J JOHNSTONE WHEELERS

@ 6 Laps
48 Anna Harris W ANGUS BIKE CHAIN
49 Janette Hazlett W IVY CC

@ 8 Laps
50 Fiona Walker W WALKERS CYCLE CLUB

DISQ Rab Wardell S SANDY WALLACE CYCLES 01:02:12
DNF John McCallum S VELO CLUB MOULIN
DNF James Smith J DISCOVERY JUNIOR CC/SPOKES
DNF Kenny Kentley V VELO ECOSSE/MONTPELIERS
DNF Hamish MacLean V THEBICYCLEWORKS.COM
DNS Paul Murray S GLASGOW UNITED CC
DNS David Martin S PERTH CITY CYCLES
DNS John McLagen S PERTH CITY CYCLES
DNS Norman Gillan S SQUADRA PORCINI/WHEELS/MONO
DNS Andrew Wardman S VELO CLUB MOULIN
DNS Martin Steele S VELO CLUB MOULIN
DNS Edd Shackley V IVY CC
DNS Mari Todd W SQUARE WHEELS

Dan Whitehead.

Ian Nimmo.

Finlay Young.

David Lines.

Jonathan Meredith.

Abrahams left hot favourite Arthur Doyle (Dooleys) with only a silver medal, with perennial Jim Cusick (Glasgow Couriers) grabbing the bronze.

Ben giving it stick.

The organisers wisely changed the venue for the event in the light of farming and logging operations transforming the original climb – a contour scything brute up to Middle Third farm – into a Belgian cyclo-cross venue, thick with mud.

Instead, substituting the ‘Dunning Glen’ climb; as we used to know it back in the days when I did my winter training over these roads. Whilst not as savage as the original venue, it was longer and no cake-walk, especially with a brisk wind gusting down it.

Lovely countryside.

We took up position with perhaps two miles covered and half-a-mile still to go and started the watch on first rider, Stuart Moran (Perth United), we didn’t have to wait long on the first of the favourites – Jim Cusick, off number three and looking good, having caught and dropped his minute man, Finlay Young (equipe Velo Ecosse-Montpeliers).

Finlay Young.

The inexplicable lack of seeding was a disappointment, it looked very much as if the organiser had simply written the entrants on the start sheet as he received them, instead of waiting until the closing date then framing the field on current form.

Jim Cusick.

Cusick was number three, former champion and Tour of Taiwan winner Alex Coutts (Giant Asia) was off 11, winner Abrahams was off 18 and hot favourite Doyle was off 27.

Seeding makes the race more exciting for the spectators, with the event building to a proper finale; the favourite should go off last.

It also means that the top riders – who have earned the right to seeding by previous performances – are in a position to receive time checks on their rivals.

A quick look at the result of the Tour de Trossachs Dukes Pass hill prime results would have pointed the way to how the tail end of the field should be arranged.

Dave Martin.

Short distance specialist and ten mile championship medallist, Dave Martin (thebicycleworks) looked good, but was down on Cusick, as was Trossachs contender Jonathan Copp (Sandy Wallace).

Jonathan Copp.

Patrick Galbraith.

At this point our usually reasonably accurate amateur time keeping went ‘aglae,’ what we hadn’t noticed was that whilst number 10 followed 9 on the start sheet, there was actually a four minute gap between them; start time for 9 was 13:12, but for 10 it was 13:16 – why?

And why not start number one at 13:01, instead of 13:04 so the number matches the minute?

It was too complicated for us, I’m afraid and we had to rely on purely visual ‘feel’ from then on.

Alex Coutts, getting back into training - in October.

Alex Coutts seemed to be going well, but we would learn later that he had cycled to the event from his home in Burntisland – and was cycling back, too.

He had thought that his season was ending with his Tour of Taiwan win and he’s been off the bike since, but Giant management announced to him that he has the Japan Cup to ride at the end of October, then a ten day stage race in China a couple of weeks later.

The day before The Trossachs he began cycling from Burntisland to Aberlady and back - to work with his dad’s painting business - every day in order to get the form back; he finished not far away today, but missed a medal.

Ben warms down.

Abrahams rode well in the Trossachs and looked good on the climb today as sponsor, Gregor Russell hollered at his man – just beside my ear!

Arthur Doyle.

Arthur Doyle looked strong, but the remaining 20-odd starters were an anti-climax, all the medals had gone – although we didn’t know quite where because of the confusion with the starting order.

Final moan – couldn’t the times have been sent by text message from the top, in batches of five? In this way the results board could have been marked up on-going and the hour-plus wait for times at the end avoided.

Ray Wilson.

Stuart Moran of the host club Perth United won the Dundee Centre prize and Sandy Wallace Cycles won the team prize, with Jonathan, Wilson & McBride.

Happy Ben.

Winner Ben used to write for cyclingnews.com in Australia and is more used to asking the questions than answering them;

“It’s not at all the result I expected; I looked at the hill prime results from The Trossachs and expected Arthur (Doyle) to win. I’ve been going ok in training, I’ve been out a lot with Evan Oliphant and James McCallum; that’s the thing about living in Edinburgh, there are loads of good guys to go out training with.

"I’ve had a lot of fourth places this year, so it’s good to win, it’s got to the stage where friends text me after a race and say; ‘4th again?’

"I’ve been doing a lot of training on my time trial bike - although I rode my road bike today – I even rode the TT bike down to Newcastle from Edinburgh to see my girlfriend.”

Jim goes touring.

Arthur Doyle had bolted by the time the results were read and we only managed a few words with Jim Cusick before he pedalled off;

“you can’t waste a trip to a beautiful part of Scotland like this, we’re off for a run round Braco and Glen Eagles!”

Maybe that’s why he wins so many medals?

Sorry about the moans, but if someone doesn’t mention it, how will it get any better?

The Glasgow Grand Prix took advantage of the closed circuit and the watching crowds, with two events following immediately after the ToB departure. 

- Reported by Lewis Oliphant -

The two Scottish ToB riders, David Millar and Evan Oliphant, showed off some of Robert Miller’s Tour de France jerseys, due to be auctioned later at the Braveheart Fund dinner.

The second event of the morning incorporated the Scottish Criterium Championships, and was open to Elite,1st,2nd and 3rd Category, along with Juniors and VE-3 riders. It included the West of Scotland CA Senior criterium championships as well, and was run over one hour plus five laps.

25 riders lined up at the start of the Glasgow GP, and the race was fast and furious right from the gun. Although the bunch was strung out from the end of the neutralised lap, two riders, Scott Macrae (pedalpower.org.uk / Endura RT) and Paul Rennie (Dooleys RT), managed to go clear towards the end of the lap two.

Kevin Barclay (pedalpower.org.uk / Endura RT) soon joined them, and these three riders then worked well together, establishing a 15-second lead over the peloton after only six laps.

The wet surface saw several riders requiring their permitted "two laps out" for wheel changes following punctures.

Riders about to start the Scottish Criterium Championship.

Around 40 minutes into the race the sun began to peak through the clouds and the three breakaway riders had the tail-end of the peloton in sight.

Aided by the ever-diminishing number of riders in the bunch, the break soon make the junction to claim their lap.

The medals were now certain to be shared between Barclay, Macrae and Rennie.

Despite some strong riding from Rennie's team-mate Graham McGarrity, the Dooleys RT pair could not match the strength - and numbers - of the pedalpower.org.uk team; Barclay and Macrae escaped the peloton again to claim the top two spots.

The winning break - Macrae leads Rennie and Barclay.

Results

1st Kevin Barclay (pedalpower.org.uk / Endura RT)
2nd Scott Macrae (pedalpower.org.uk / Endura RT)
3rd Paul Rennie (Dooleys RT)

1st Junior: Robert Hassan (Rockhard Racing)
1st Cat 2: Stephen Russell (EK road club)
1st Cat 3: Barry McGurk (Team Icarus)

Sprint primes
(1) Scott Macrae (pedalpower.org.uk / Endura RT)
(2+3) Kevin Barclay (pedalpower.org.uk / Endura RT)

West of Scotland CA Championship
1st Paul Rennie (Dooleys RT)
2nd Stephen Russell (East Kilbride Road Club)
3rd Graham McGarrity (Dooleys RT)

Earlier the support race for 4/V4/W/J had been held over 40 minutes plus 5 laps.

The results for this race were:

Overall
1st Graeme Cockburn (Glasgow Nightingale)
2nd Jeremy Greengrass (Glasgow Nightingale)
3rd Calum McLean (Rock and Road Cycles)

1st Youth: Gary Brown (Glasgow Nightingale)
1st Junior: Calum McLean (Rock and Road Cycles)
1st Veteran: Graeme Cockburn (Glasgow Nightingale)

Sprint primes
(1) Andy Turnbull (Falkirk BC)
(2) Calum McLean (Rock and Road Cycles)

He's also held the Scottish record, with 275.258 miles - set in the Glasgow 12 in 1991, until Joe Wilson updated it; that distance is however, still the Scottish vets record.  

Steve Beech.

We asked him why he's still riding 12's - and winning bronze medals with 246 miles - at 58 years-of-age?

"Because I'm mad! 

"I had a spell away from racing, 2001 to 2005 and when I came back, I joined Sandy Wallace. Joe Wilson and Ian Black were both riding the 12, so I rode too, for the team. 

"This year, Joe didn't ride (club sponsor, Sandy Wallace tells us that Joe and the team are considering an assault on the British 12 in 2009) nor did Ian - he's had bad saddle sores all year - but I felt good in the 100 and decided to ride, to support the event, I wouldn't like to see it disappear. 

"I was 10 minutes down on Ken Kentley at one stage, but came back at him late in the day. 

"At the end, the margin between us wasn't much more than a mile; but to get that back I would have needed to know the position with an hour to go. It's difficult to work out who's doing what in the North 12; in order to keep the field together, they have riders miss legs. 

"That makes it difficult to keep tabs and it also means that some riders aren't having to do tough head wind legs. 

"Chris Adamson (Musselburgh), rode well (4th), he wasn't far behind me, but he benefited from missing a tough leg."

In second place was Velo Ecosse man Ken Kentley;

"I was hoping for a medal, so I'm happy with 248 and silver. After six hours I couldn't eat, I felt terrible and just wanted to get to the finish.

"I could only take liquids, not even gels. The Invergordon course isn't a bad course, but it was very windy - the leg back to Inverness was tough, it was a block head wind. At least it was dry and mild."

Carlos Riise.

For one reason or another, we didn't manage to catch up with the winner, Shetland's perennial Carlos Riise (above), the winner on 268.17 miles; but we did get an email from him;

"It was a hard windy day, not sure if I've recovered yet. Though I was surprised with my distance, I guess I must have gotten the position right on the day.

Christine Mclean.

"A bigger surprise was Christine Mclean's win, no specific training or long runs other than competing in a few 50's and 100's. That and her other gold SCU and CTT Vets medals has certainly given her a season to be proud of."

Just like the man to play down his own achievment.

With Joe Wilson, Jim Cusick and Ian Black all giving the 12 a "by" the Shetand man has the Scottish BAR in the bag too.

Result

1 Carlos Riise Shetland Wheelers 268.17 miles
2 Kenny Kentley Team Velo Ecosse 248.06
3 Steve Beech Sandy Wallace Cycles 246.86

4 Christopher Adamson Musselburgh R.C.C. 244.54
5 Euan Ritchie Angus Bike Chain 238.91
6 Stephen Blom Glasgow Couriers 235.46
7 Dave Millard Angus Bike Chain 226.21
8 Christine McLean Shetland Wheelers 225.86 miles
9 Louisa Edmonston Edinburgh R.C. 225.48
10 Alan Rose Deeside Thistle C.C. 223.54
11 Ian Wilson Deeside Thistle C.C. 215.64
12 John Anderson Glasgow Couriers 213.44
13 Peter McLean Elgin C.C. 212.03
14 Peter Crawley Deeside Thistle C.C. 211.82
15 Shelley Farrar Deeside Thistle C.C. 207.97
16 Ivan Laughton Deeside Thistle C.C. 202.92
17 Linda Reid Deeside Thistle C.C. 202.39
18 Keith Rowson Deeside Thistle C.C. 201.95
19 Sandy Whyman Deeside Thistle C.C. 201.80
20 Allan McCourt Deeside Thistle C.C. 192.94
21 Dave Kilshaw Deeside Thistle C.C. 191.67
22 Stephen Darling Deeside Thistle C.C. 189.76
23 Eric Malcolm Deeside Thistle C.C. 139.08

DNF Doug Haig Deeside Thistle C.C.
DNF Gary Reid Elgin C.C.
DNS Ken Ross Cromarty Firth C.C.
DNS Bobby Gilmour Glasgow Nightingale C.C.
DNS Barry Duncan Edinburgh R.C.
DNS Charlene Hamilton Deeside Thistle C.C.
DNS Al Sutton Elgin C.C.
DNS Ian Black Sandy Wallace Cycles
DNS Colin Sim Deeside Thistle C.C.
DNS Philip Duncan Deeside Thistle C.C.

Handicap
1 Stephen Blom 280.81
2 Peter McLean 278.02
3 Alan Rose 271.80

Vet on Standard
1 Christopher Adamson 27.85
2 Euan Ritchie 22.22
3 Linda Reid 11.74

Championship Women
Gold - Christine McLean
Silver - Louisa Edmonston
Bronze - Shelley Farrar

Championship Team
Deeside Thistle C.C.651.00
Alan Rose, Ian Wilson, Peter Crawley

Championship Team Women
Deeside Thistle C.C. 410.36
Shelley Farrar, Linda Reid

Stevie Macintosh from the Granite City took bronze, with his club mate Al Watt in fourth spot.

The bunch rolls out of the neutralised zone.

VeloResults  couldn’t make it to Alford, but under strict instructions from Isobel Smith not to ignore her race, we enlisted Scottish 100 champion, Jim Cusick to do our race reporting for us from the heart of the peloton;

Jim.

"Lap one started pretty sedately but I put a bit of a ‘dig’ in going up the big climb - that split it a bit; there was a re-groupment and going in to lap two there were around 16 of us left.

"On the climb on lap two, Martin Coopland from Falkirk attacked and took away John (Kermode), Graham (McGarrity) and two guys from the Granite City – Stevie Macintosh and Alistair Watt.

"My legs were still a bit dead from the TTT, but I thought we’d get them back – we had a strong group, with the likes of Andy Mathieson (Musselburgh) and Stuart McGregor (Velo Ecosse) still there.

"But apparently they worked really well together and we just couldn’t get them back. I think Graham led it out, but John got round him – he was pretty much the favourite and he’s a fast finisher, so it wasn’t a surprise.”

John Kermode was understandably delighted to have won again;

John.

"I was away in a move of nine on the first lap, but it came back, then on the second lap, Martin Coopland went up the climb like a rocket.

"Me, Graeme and the two Granite City lads got with him and we all worked really well, there was hardly any missing of spells and I think we took it to a couple of minutes.

"The last two or three miles there was a bit of cat and mouse and with the strong headwind I started to worry about the bunch coming back up to us.

"Martin Coopland put in a couple of digs in the last few miles and those were really painful to close down. Graeme jumped first, just before me, at the yellow flag, but I managed to get round him again, just before the line. But like I said, delighted!”

Lap 1 and John is already prominent.

Graeme McGarrity was philosophical in defeat;

Graeme.

"I did everything right today and I actually thought I was going to get it, but John got round me just 10 metres from the line.

"That’s my third consecutive second place in the Vets, so I’m a bit pee-ed off! It was a hard race today with the wind and Martin just ripped up that climb to cause the split.

"I rode a cagey race today, I could see John was nervous and I was letting him close down the jumps that were coming at the end – I knew that they weren’t going anywhere, so I could see he was twitchy.

"I went at the yellow flag and I thought I would get the better of him, but he got on me and round me.”

To add to his woes, I had to ask about his early exit from yesterday’s 60 kilometre TTT;

"It was originally to be Sean Gray who had the spot, but the thinking was that he would have the speed but maybe wouldn’t last the distance. On my warm up, I was following the Bicycle Works guys and they were doing 22 mph into the wind, I thought; ‘fine!’ But we were riding a lot faster than that, I was letting the speed drop, Gary was accelerating through to lift back to race speed, which meant I was sprinting to get back on after every spell.

"With the benefit of hindsight, I should have just sat on until it settled down; I think I would have been fine on the second lap. We did a try out down at Westferry and I had no problems, Arthur is very strong, but he’s smooth and big, so his is a good wheel to be on. Anyway, it’s not been a great weekend for me!”

Around 3 miles to go and it's the same riders in the same order.

With thanks to Jim, John and Graeme for taking the time to ring us and give us their stories.

Was that OK, Isobel?

Result

1 John Kermode Dundee Thistle 2.47.51
2 Graham Mcgarrity Dooleys st
3 Steve McIntosh Granite City RT st

4 A.Watt Granite City RT st
5 M.Copland Falkirk BC @ 10sec
6 T.Anderson Falkirk BC @2.13
7 C.Thomson VC Astar st
8 A.Mathieson Musselburgh st
9 S.McGregor Velo Ecosse st
10 T.Worthington Nightingale st
11 J.Cusick Couriers st
12 P.Mcdonald Johnstone Wh @5.36
13 K.Thomson Dunfermline st
14 P.Ettles Forres @8.8
15 I Willcox unatt st
16 G.Findlater 1st50+ Elgin @8.45
17 G.Barclay Leslie Bikes st
18 B.Cowie Ab Wheelers st
19 R.Reidy Leslie Bikes @8.48
20 A.Syme unatt st
21 D.Warwick DTCC @8.51
22 R.Kennedy Nightingale @9.04
23 A.McAllister Ayr RC @14.24
24 D.Lang Glasgow Wh @21.40
25 G.Walsh S.Wallace @23.02
26 C.Fisher Nightingale @35.37
27 M.Findlay Edinburgh RC st
28 A.Smith Rutland CC @35.40
29 J.Daly Johnstone Wh st
30 K.Wylie Falkirk BC @35.44
31 N.Howarth DTCC @35.59
32 C.Cowie DTCC @36.05

DNS no’s 8,25,28,29,30,33,
DNF no’s 5, 7, 18, 27, 31,56,57,60, 61,62

My thanks to all who helped on the day . The commissaries and their drivers, service , lead cars,marshals, first aid and the refreshment pair.
Also to Malcolm for doing the start sheets and Neil Howarth for his continual support.  (Isobel)

Stewart McGregor leads the 3rd group on the road.

Scottish ten mile champion and freshly crowned European Masters pursuit champion, Arthur Doyle did much of the work in ensuring the title stayed with Bob Taylor’s band; ably backed by man who knows more about team trialling than most, former British Champion in the discipline, Dave Gibson.

Dooley's took it out today.

Roadmen turned testers for the day, Pedal Power took silver.

And it was that man Cusick again; still with the form that took him to the 100 title, leading Glasgow Couriers to the bronze.

Dave, in for the long haul.

Dave Chapman was marshalling at the ‘turn’ where the teams banked left to head back to the finish line along the long, mostly flat straights to Forfar, wind assisted after their battle into a chilly south easterly ripping in off the North Sea.

My trendy Copenhagen six day t-shirt was quickly covered by a North Face jacket – Scotland in Summer time, it’s wonderful!

Down to three early.

Behind us, two huge combines were performing their own brand of synchronised effort as they stripped the big fields of their precious grain.
The course is good for the event, long straights, not too technical and at the quieter end of the scale as far as traffic count goes.

First Lap

Some of the early squads hadn’t been doing their homework and for an amateur photographer like me, the big gaps between the wheels made it hard to get them all in the shot – where’s Danny McClure when you need him?

Dave Meek told me that pioneering Scottish pro, John Kennedy used to say; ‘there’s only one thing that’s worse than feeling bad on a bike, and that’s looking bad on a bike!’

There were quiet a few teams that would have had Kennedy shaking his head, apart from the gaps between the wheels, there were squads wearing four different versions of the same club jersey and some with bare skin on display at the small of the back – un-cool!

Looks hard, doesn't it.

But perhaps the most graphic illustration of the need to practice for these events was the way the teams cornered; the best checked behind, ran wide to the white line in line astern, then clipped the apex, accelerating out of the bend with little momentum lost.

Some of the others spread out in ‘blanket finish’ style, took four different lines through the curve then roared abuse at each other as they tried to re-group as the road straightened out – a good laugh for Dave and I, but not doing any favours for them with the time keepers at the line.

Dooley's let a gap open.

The first squad Dave put the watch on was Edinburgh Road Club ‘A’ but TheBicycleWorks were behind them and 90 seconds up – their cornering was good, as you’d expect from a team lead by Scottish criterium champion, Andrew Davies.

PedalPower keep it tight.

Pedal Power’s road pedigree showed as they flew round the bend without missing a beat, a minute up on Andrew’s squad.

Velo Ecosse dig in.

Velo Ecosse was still well in the hunt at this stage, only seven seconds down on Pedal Power.

Jim leads the team.

Jim Cusick led his men neatly into the left hander as they took the top spot, 10 seconds up on Pedal Power.

Chris Adamson and the Musselburgh squad.

With the lesser teams there was plenty of time between the squad coming into view and taking up my Graham Watson position, but with the faster squads, there was less time to get across the road – Dooleys ‘A’ went from the horizon to being right beside us fastest of all; the watch confirmed it, eight seconds up on the Couriers.

Watch the tractor boys.

At this stage it was a tight race, we made it only 25 seconds covering the first four teams.

The early starting teams were now on their second lap and on a couple of occasions two teams arrived at the bend simultaneously, this made for good viewing and listening – it was just a pity there were only the two of us there to enjoy the fun.

Ok, this wasn't actually how they were...

A ‘four-up’ came past on old mopeds, but ignoring Dave’s direction to take the left hander; there must have been a vintage rally on the go, because not long after, an Isetta bubble car gurgled past – or was it Gerry McDaid, incognito?

Gerry, Gerry!

Second Lap

Lap two and the air was warmer, but still moving strongly from the sea, it was quieter now too, the combines had stripped the big field and moved on.

Like a lot of teams, TheBicycleWorks were down to three.

There were only three BicycleWorkers this time round – making it hard for themselves.

Pedal Power were still complete though and looking good, 1-49 up on Andrew’s team.

PedalPower just before going down to three.

Velo Ecosse were down to three riders and well down on time; but Ben Abrahams would explain to me after the finish that Garry Brown had crashed not long after passing us on lap one.

Velo Ecosse lost a man through a crash.

The Couriers were still at full strength and appearing to be having a clubby run type ‘blether’ as they negotiated the bend, they were 1-25 up on TheBicycleWorks but 24 seconds down on Gary Hand’s Pedal Powerers.

Steady Arthur!

Dooleys had only three men but were over a minute up on Gary’s Gang; Arthur wasn’t messing, no down shift for the bend – just levering a ‘biggy’ out of the turn.

Glasgow Nightingale finished four men.

As Dave headed off to see if he could remember where he’d left his fellow marshal - somewhere in the Strathmore scenery; I scuttled away to pass the last teams on the road and take a few pics.

Stevie Blom.

Stevie Blom from the Couriers and Kevin Barclay from Pedal Power hadn’t been able to answer the demands made on legs tired from slogging into a head wind, to go up the gears and find 30 mph plus speeds with the tail wind. Both gave me a nod as they made their solitary ways back to the finish – been there boys, a long time ago, but I remember how it felt.

Arthur was rampant for Dooleys, carving long, long spells on the fast straights to Forfar as Gary and Davie tucked ever lower, behind him. Bob Taylor doesn’t like Arthur’s ’96 GT with its exposed welds and bottom bracket ‘fairing;’ it’s not as sleek as those Cervlos but I like that ‘industrial’ styling and it seemed to be working just fine on Saturday. (perhaps a spray job wouldn’t go amiss though, Arthur!)

Velo Ecosse keep the speed on.

Jim Cusick was performing a similar role for the Couriers, whilst Velo Ecosse just looked weary.

At the finish, Dave’s time keeping was proved spot on; Dooleys had taken it with 1-22-39, Pedal Power were second with 1-23-48 and The Couriers were in bronze position with 1-24-18 whilst TheBicycleWorks were back in fourth with 1-25-35.

The sun was shining by now; that always makes life easier for getting quotes.

Jim Cusick last spoke to me by mobile phone from a pub in Evanton, but here’s what he had to say today:

“It seemed as if that wind was rising, that second lap was brutal. We lost Stevie Blom on the last tail wind section, but he‘d given his best and couldn’t have done any more; his form has been a wee bit up and down this year.

"Alan Thomson was riding with a cracked wrist he crashed in the National road race at Hawick, so that’s not ideal either. We rode four or five practice sessions, but we’re happy enough to be in the medals today.”

Gary Hand told us the story for Pedal Power:

“The plan was not to start too fast and then wind it up on the second lap.
Everyone rode well, they gave 100% but it’s not our discipline, especially when you’re riding against guys like Arthur, who generate so much power.

"We lost Kevin on one of those long fast straights back to the finish, he did one last long hard turn, then swung off. We’re happy with the silver, today though.”

Dave Gibson scores highly for mentioning - in front of several people - that we were in the Modena team together back in the 80’s when we won the 100 kilometres TTT three times on the trot; thanks Dave! Dave was in the winning Modena team six times he thinks, but has also won it with Glenmarnock, and Dooleys, of course – not to mention a win in the British championship as part of the Scotland squad.

“It was supposed to be a steady start, but we were a bit erratic, ironically it settled down after we lost Graeme.

"We thought Graeme would be good with his road experience, but it didn’t work out – it may have been smoother, but it’s much harder when there are only three of you because you’re spending a lot less time on the wheel.

"We’d decided that Arthur would do long spells and he really was super strong today.”

And the big question; “was Graeme the fox ‘saving it’ for the Vets road race on Sunday?” VeloResults  will have the answer, rest assured!

VeloResults didn’t make it to the 100; ten days at le Tour; back for four days then off to Hawick on Saturday for a full shift at the road race champs – Cromarty would have been pushing Marlene’s angelic patience beyond the pale.

But the wonders of modern technology enable us to bring you Jim’s words; all the way from a colourful sounding pub in Evanton (maybe we should start doing our interviews in hostelries?)

Looking relaxed and comfy.

Your first 100 title, Jim?

"Yes, I took silver, a few years ago, but it wasn’t a great field. This time I beat Carlos (multi 100 champ, Riise) by 10 seconds. It was strange, because we both rode in the exact opposite style to how we usually do.

Carlos usually starts conservatively and often his second 50 is faster than his first; but today he took off from the start and was 80 seconds up on me at half distance, I thought he was going for the Scottish record.

Usually I start fast then tend to ‘blow,’ but at 75 miles I felt good; I was able to eat, which I can’t usually and I really gave it my best over the last 25 miles.

I just came back at him and I had it back to two seconds at five miles; as soon as I crossed the line, Carlos came over, congratulated me and told me I’d won by 10 seconds: 3-54-41 to 3-54-51. Joe Wilson (Sandy Wallace) was third, but he was back on a 3-57-odd."

Conditions?

"It was a good morning, warm with just a drift from the south west – definitely good conditions."

That's a good aero position for long distances.

Was the 100 a big target?

"Not really, I’m off for a week’s touring now and thought I might as well ride it because I was here. I stay with my friends, the Longbottom family when I’m in the North, and get well looked after, so it’s always a pleasure to be up here, but no, I wasn’t targeting it at all."

I believe the team slipped away?

"Davie Millar rode a stormer, a 4-06, but Stevie Blom had a lot of trouble with cramp – he was actually off the bike. If Stevie had done the ride he was capable of, then I think we’d have got it; as it was, Sandy Wallace won it. Ian Black did a 4-01 today, but I think he was expecting better."

And the ’12?’

"Definitely not, not after the state I was in after I rode my last one – I think they are so hard on you that they most shorten your life!"

What’s the programme for the next few weeks?

"I’m riding the Ian Longbottom Memorial 25 up here, next weekend and then it’s the TTT at Forfar. But first I have my week of touring – and by the way, I’m still grinning like a Cheshire cat!"

He deserved to!

With many thanks to Jim for taking the time to talk to VeloResults , when there were much better alternatives on offer.

Happy that's over!

Result

1 James Cusick Glasgow Couriers/Bennett DevV 3 54 41
2 Carlos Riise Shetland Wheelers V 3 54 51
3Joe Wilson Sandy Wallace Cycles S 3 57 51
4 Peter Alexander Moray Firth CC S 4 00 42
5 Ian Black Sandy Wallace Cycles V 4 01 47
6 David Millar Glasgow Couriers/Bennett Dev V 4 06 07
7 Kenny Kentley Velo Ecosse V 4 08 35
8 James Hall Sandy Wallace Cycles V 4 15 21
9 Chris Adamson Musselburgh Roads V 4 16 56
10 Steve Beech Sandy Wallace Cycles V 4 18 41
11 Stephen Blom Glasgow Couriers/Bennett Dev S 4 21 57
12 Christine McLean Shetland Wheelers FV4 23 10
(Scottish Female Vets record)
13 John Sturgeon Classic Walls CRT V 4 25 25
14 Fiona Duncan Ythan CC F 4 32 13
15 John Gordon Glas Couriers/Bennett Dev V 4 40 47
16 Ian Sinclair Deeside Thistle V 4 45 39
17 Alasdair Washington Caithness CC V 4 46 19
18 Derek Stewart Deeside Thistle V 4 52 20
19 Ivan Laughton Deeside Thistle V 4 54 04
20 Hector Nicolson Moray Firth CC V 4 56 51
21 Stewart Mitchell Dundee Wheelers CC V 5 03 02
22 Peter McLean Elgin CC V 5 13 22
23 Bobby Gilmour Glasgow Nightingale Cc S 5 16 02
24 George Grant Forres CC V 5 24 20

Alex Hay Glas Couriers/Bennett Dev V DNF
Barry Duncan Edinburgh RC V DNF
Colin Sim Deeside Thistle V DNF
Al Sutton Elgin CC V DNF
Craig McGowan Law Wheelers S DNF
Norman Skene Granite City RC V DNF

Team
Sandy Wallace Cycles Wilson, Black, Hall 12 14 59

The words of Plowman Craven professional Evan Oliphant after successfully defending the Scottish road race title on a deceptively tough course over 81 miles of the beautiful rolling Borders country around historic Hawick.

Oliphant kept his powder dry (copyright Dave Duffield) until late in the day and was just too quick for Pedal Power's Gary Hand - the only man who could live with the Sea Otter winner when things got really serious, half way around the last lap. 

Scottish veterans road race champion, John Kermode of Dundee Thistle Road Club took the bronze from Hand's team mate, Scott Macrae and up and coming Glasgow Wheeler (Billy Bilsland and Robert Millar's club) Michael Nicholson - the survivors of the five man final break of the day.

Evan wins comfortably.

Oliphant really had to win, he's a full time professional in a predominantly amateur field, damned with faint praise if he wins and eternally damned if he doesn't.

But his win was business-like and with no caveats, as silver medallist Hand said; "Evan did more than enough work coming into the finish, no complaints."

If the organisers had cared to, all that would have been required to choose the winner before the race would have been to look at the rider's legs - Oliphant's tanned, sculpted calves, etched veins and slab-like thighs would have won, hands down before a pedal was turned!

Lots of water here!

The monsoon which had fallen for much of the morning had eased, by the time the 54 starters from 60 entries began to roll out of Hawick.

The Border's town's glory days - when fast flowing upland rivers powered fabric mills - are behind it, but the river alongside the start was certainly flowing wide and deep enough.

Rain threatened early doors.

The circuit was a compressed loop, out - wind assisted - on the smooth main road along the valley floor then back into the strengthening wind on the spine of a ridge.

Early action.

Off the main road, there were technical sections aplenty with snaps, corners, bad surfaces, tricky descents and a long drag which didn't look hard - until the final couple of ascents of nine.

It was this drag which defined the race and where Hand and Macrae played the 'one-two' game with Oliphant on the last lap.

Oliphant responded to every jump and when he put in his own jump after countering a move by Hand, the race was as good as over.

The three behind didn't have the strength or will to repond, albeit Macrae tried to get across to his team mate.

However, the look on his face told the story of legs that couldn't handle what the head was telling them to do.

Evan deserved the win - he worked just as hard as anyone else.

Crashes took out a number of race favourites; Rob Wardell (Sandy Wallace) Paul Coats (Pedal Power) and all three Velo Ecosse riders - Ben Abrahams, Phil Brown and Stuart McGregor came down or were delayed by crashes.

Kermode was among a break of six which went clear on lap two but was reeled in by lap four.

The next four laps saw a race which ebbed and flowed but didn't take on a decisive shape.

The winning break.

It wasn't until the penultimate lap that the definitive group formed; this time there was no chase, just groups of riders battling to the finish - the wind and technical, unforgiving nature of the circuit having done it's job to perfection.

PedalPower wonder how they could have stopped Evan.

We grabbed the medallists before they could escape to the luxury of the showers.

John Kermode - 3rd.

John Kermode:

"It was a good race, I was in the early break, but there were still too many good riders back in the bunch.

"The middle part of the race saw groups coming and going and I'm just glad I found myself in the right move.

"On the last lap, when the Pedal Powers were attacking, one-two, I didn't have the legs to go with them, so I'm happy to get the medal."

Gary's face says "silver ain't good enough".

Gary Hand:

"I'm pleased to get a medal, but we came here to win. Despite us having different combinations in the break, Evan was always there and too strong. In the final break we kept putting in 'digs' to try and get the others to work, eventually they got the message and began to go through.

"It was our goal today to arrive at the finish without Evan, but like I said, he was too strong. With 500 to go I thought that maybe I could get him, but he judged it perfectly."

Evan's happy.

Evan Oliphant:

"I knew that early moves weren't going to succeed and there was a lot of coming and going of moves. I didn't panic because I knew that I could make up 45 seconds on that hill.

"I was trying to wait on my team mate, James McCallum to get up to me, but the Pedal Powers were jumping around a lot and I had to cover them. When I was away with Gary at the death he wasn't doing much work, but I was confident I would win."

Yorkshire, and the pies?

"James and I were riding the British criterium championships, in Hull last night. We were working hard for our team mate, Tony Gibb but he ended up with the bronze. After that we had to drive here, we didn't arrive until 1.00 am and the only food we could get from the motorway services on the way up, was pies!

"Now we're headed straight back to Yorkshire for the East Yorkshire classic; still, I'll get the mechanic to clean my bike and a proper massage, tonight!"

The pros and cons of pro life!

"Given my record of bad luck in 50's, when I heard that the course had been changed, I expected to end up in the Cromarty Firth at the turn, checking out the dolphins!"

But Mark Atkinson successfully avoided that fate to take his third Scottish 50 title; leading Sandy Wallace team mates, second placed Jonathan Copp and fifth placed Ian Black, to take a double championship win on a bright but cool and windy Sunday morning on the A9 near Invergordon.  

Mark Atkinson.

Copp's ride for silver was out of the top drawer and it was only Atkinson's ability to drag the last vestiges of energy from deep inside himself that kept the title safe from his team mate.

Jonathan pushed his team-mate hard today, but had to settle for second.

In third place was defending champion, perenial Jim Cusick; unfortunately his Glasgow Courier's bid for the team foundered when Chris Smart - author of rapid rides in the 10 and 25 championships - was a non starter due to a bad cold.

Jim Cusick, third place today, but no chance of the team prize.

There were a few spots of rain as the first riders hauled up from the start at Invergordon to the main A9, for the long headwind grind to the Ardullie roundabout at the end of the Cromarty Bridge.

VeloResults set up shop on the A9 a couple of miles into the race and started the watch.

Stevie Blom.

In the absence of number 20 Smart, first favourite was his team mate, Stevie Blom with his trade mark, "peching like a dug" breathing method.

Ian Black.

Ian Black (30) was the first man whose tyres were making the right noise as he powered past.

Number 35, Dave Gibson, was a 'no-show' maybe it was because his fellow Dooleys greyhounds, Arthur Doyle and Gary Robson didn't fancy 50 miles 'alone and unpaced' and there was slim chance of a team medal.

Ray Wilson.

Black's roadman team mate, Ray Wilson was focused and several seconds up on his northern club mate - it was early days though.

Jonathan Copp.

Jonathan Copp was next up, a tad down on Black and Wilson as the wind speed accelerated, but it was already apparent that barring disaster, the team medals were going to Inverkeithing.

Carlos has surely been on holiday recently - it just wasn't possible to get a tan like that in Shetland when I lived there! - Editor

The ladies were coming back from the turn by now, flying with the tail wind.

Jessica looked focused at this point.

Reigning champion Cusick pedalled past looking smooth having already caught Caithness stalwart, Al Washington - on a shiny new Cervelo - for a minute.

Jim Cusick

Steve Beech (Sandy Wallace) was a top roadman when I started cycling in the early 70's and he's still out there - I wonder what happened to all those Russians you rode against in the Milk Race, Steve?

Steve Beech.

Last man, Atkinson was already up on all comers and the pain was there to see on his face.

The early starters from the men's race were now whistling past at what was around half distance.

Ian Black was compact and on top of the job as he made full use of that tail wind.

Chris Adamson (Musselburgh Roads).

There we're big gaps in the field before Ray Wilson came past, 10 seconds up on Black, but the third SWC man, Copp was going even quicker; 1-15 up on Wilson. Copp was doing a good job - Riise was a minute down, Cusick 30 seconds down and only Atkinson was up - 30 seconds.

Instead of the dog leg along the old A9 back to Invergordon - omitted because of road planing work - the course was extended east, out past the Nigg roundabout.

The Dornoch Firth from the Fearn Peninsula.

Into the beautiful Pict heartland of the Fearn Peninsula, but the road surface wasn't beautiful - like a 'shed roof' according to the new champion - nor was the extended slog back into the stiffening wind. Those long fast, swooping 11 and 12 tooth stretches were now brutal tests of will.

With around five to go; all of it into the teeth of the westerly, Black was still slogging purposefully - he'd caught and dropped Stevie Blom for five minutes.

Ray Wilson pedalled past with a nod, but the lack of a helmet on his head explained that he'd thrown in the towel.

Copp was flying; Riise hadn't found a rabbit in the hat; Cusick was smooth but off the pace and Atkinson was hurting. The Fort William man wasn't giving us any lessons in style, he was just pummeling a 'big one' into the wind; he was getting it round, but the sweat streaming from his nose and gritted teeth were self explanatory.

At the line, my amateur time keeping looked about right - Atkinson 1-50-45, Copp 1-52-02, Cusick 1-53-21, Riise 1-54-07, Black 1-54-09.

What they said

Jonathan Copp.

Jonathan Copp

Jonathan was satisfied with his ride:

"I've come on a lot since the 10, I was disappointed there. In the 25 I was happy with my ride, even though there wasn't a medal, but I'm very pleased today.

"I haven't raced so much this year, this is only my fifth or sixth event. It was very fast with the tail wind today, I was in 53 x 11 and thinking that I could have done with 55 x 11, but I suppose that would have meant I'd have burned up a lot of extra energy which is needed for the head wind section. I've been trying to replicate race efort in training, now I'll have to try and get some miles in for the 100.

"It was good to win the team today, that was one of the reasons I joined Sandy Wallace, so it's nice to get my first time trial team medal. I'm really looking forward to the TTT, it'll be hard fought, with us, Dooleys, Pedal Power and The Couriers all in the frame."

Talking of The Couriers, Jim Cusick had;

"..no complaints, it was a tough shift, I was ready for that stretch of rough road out at Nigg, I know it from the 12, but that finish stretch was very hard. It's just a pity Chris Smart has the cold or I think we could have been in contention for the team. It was a well organised championship and like I said - no complaints."

Mark Atkinson.

 Mark Atkinson

Mark was happy too;

"I've not really done the training to do a 50 justice, so I'm just pleased to have won. I've been doing up to a max of one-and-a-half hours training, but you have to try and strike a balance, I have a full time job where I work overtime and I've got a young family to think about too.

"This is my first 50 for 13 months, the last one I rode was in Fife, at the start of last year. I've had a lot of misfortunes in 50's but I've always regarded them as my speciality, so I'm happy with the win. I hadn't seen that new bit of road out to Hill of Fearn before, it was very rough.

"On a day like today, with that surface and the wind, time doesn't matter, it's just down to doing the job and winning. My time today is actually the same as my 50 split when I broke the 100 record here, a couple of years ago. I won't be doing the 100 this year, not when I see the state I'm in today, at the finish of a 50!"

VeloResults tip for the 100? Copp.

VeloResults correctly tipped the top three, but got the order wrong. We had Mark down to win ahead of Dooley's duo, Arthur Doyle and Gary Robson, but a personal best 52:46 by Robson gave him the silver by nine seconds from Doyle.

New 25 Mile TT Champ Mark Atkinson (Sandy Wallace Cycles).

It was cool and breezy as the top seeded last ten starters rolled south on the A90 from the start at Fordoun. There was a lot of north in the wind, which as well as making for cool air, meant that most starters had to contend with a tough cross wind.

Gary Robson (Dooley's Cycles), aero and concentrated, rides to second place.

Robson was first of the favourites to go, off 98 and setting the mark for the others to chase. He was certainly looking the part as he sliced past us at around five miles into the course.

Jock Shaw. A master at work.

We had the very real honour of having Jock Shaw, SC president as our guest in the car for the day - this kept the swearing to a mimimum and meant I couldn't get my usual action pics from the car, but it did mean we had very accurate time checks.

Joe Wilson (Sandy Wallace Cycles).

Two minutes behind came Joe Wilson, already down on Robson and destined for an eventual 55:25 - well shy of what's required in these super-fast days.

Jonathan Copp rides his Planet-X bike to 5th place, and second team.

Jonathan Copp (Sandy Wallace) was on top of the job and would stop the watch with an eventual equal fifth 53:26.

Arthur Doyle (Dooley's Cycles). They're compression tights.

Arthur Doyle was next and he just didn't look like he was going, as Jock Shaw said; "In the 10 he had a beautiful smooth action, but it wasn't there today." He was wearing compression tights; "I knew I wasn't going to be at my best today, so I treated it as training," he would tell us later.

Dave Gibson (Dooley's Cycles).

Mr Consistency - 'Davie Gee' was on his way to backing Robson and Doyle to the team award, his final 53:41 was a quality ride.

Chris Smart (Glasgow Couriers).

Glasgow Courier's much improved Chris Smart would stop the clock with 53:13 for fourth place, and the wind speed was rising as he flashed past on his Bianchi.

Carlos Riise (Shetland Wheelers).

A few years ago, this would have been a day for Carlos Riise (Shetland), but not today.

Hugh Jamieson (Dooley's Cycles).

Hugh Jamieson (Dooleys) was flying with the tail wind, but his 55:59 wouldn't get him in the winning team.

David McGraw (Arctic).

Artic Premier's David McGaw was looking the part on his De Rosa but was down on the leaders.

There was just one man to come - Atkinson; there are no half measures from the Fort William man, he gives 100% effort and even at this stage, it looked like the race was between him and Robson.

On the tough return leg, the gaps opened up and some of the lesser lights were down to what looked like 50 revs per minute.

One of the rides of the day has to be Glasgow Courier's veteran Davie Miller's 56:54 - wow!

Jim Cusick (Glasgow Couriers).

Jim Cusick looked well on top of the job, keeping the gears down and pedalling into the chilly breeze; he was bronze medallist last year but was half a minute away from that slot today with his 53:26.

Atkinson was chewing up the tar between himself and McGaw and looking every inch the winner as a rain squall blew across from the Grampians.

The finishing straight was a heart breaker, long, dragging and into the wind - custom made for Atkinson and that poor tortured Orbea.

The Champion.

Back at the strip, Isobel Smith's organisation meant that we didn't have to wait long for the final results and it was time to collar the medallists.

Arthur:

"I didn't expect to win today, I'm changing jobs and things have been hectic so I haven't been training as I would like. In addtion I've got a bad saddle sore - I could hardly sit on the bike today."

Gary:

"I have to be happy, I was getting a bit excited towards the end, when I knew I'd beaten Arthur, but we didn't have Mark's splits at that stage. I had a bad crash in training the other week, I've just about recovered from it, but I lost a lot of skin. It was a tough morning, faster on the way out, a cross/taily, I was 24 minutes dead at half distance, so the return leg was a lot harder. It seemed to be mostly uphill on the way back - but maybe that was just the wind and the distance catching up with me. They're trying to rope me in to riding the 50, but it's not really my thing.
My next target is the age related in the British Time Trial championship."

Mark:

"I drove the course before the race this morning, I wanted to check out the turn. I used Dave McGaw as my marker, I wanted to put time into him early. It was a tough morning and I used gears lower than I usually would, I tried to keep the revs going into that wind. It's a cracking course, suited to my riding style, very few gear changes are required - it'll be fast on the right day."

Both Gary and Mark mentioned Jason MacIntyre in their medal speeches - a nice touch lads.

Results

1 M. Atkinson Sandy Wallace 52.15
2 G.Robson Dooley’s Cycles 52.46
3 A.Doyle Dooley’s Cycles 52.55

4 C.Smart Glasgow Couriers 53.13
5 J.Copp Sandy Wallace 53.26
6 J.Cusick Glasgow Couriers 53.26
7 D.Gibson Dooley’s Cycles 53.41
8 C.Riise Shetland Wheelers 53.43
9 D.McGaw Artic Premier RT 53.52
10 R.Wilson Sandy Wallace 54.54

11 I.Black Sandy Wallace 55.15
12 J.Wilson Sandy Wallace 55.25
13 J.Hall Sandy Wallace 55.46
14 H.Jamieson Dooley’s Cycles 55.59
15 B.Duncan Edinburgh RC 56.24
16 G.Graham Fullerton Wh 56.38
17 D.Millar Glasgow Couriers 56.54
18 A.Torrance Dooley’s Cycles 57.10
19 S.Blom Glasgow Couriers 57.12
20 N.Skene Granite City RT 57.49

21 K.Lackie Forres Cc 58.23
22 H.Hamilton Fullerton Wh 58.41
23 A.Rowat Musselburgh RC 59.00
24 J.May Edinburgh RC 59.01
25 S.Monaghan DTCC 59.02
26 S.McIntosh Granite City RT 59.11
27 D.Timmins Musselburgh RC 59.22
28 E.Ritchie Angus Bike Chain 59.25
29 R.Sewell Hounslow Wh 59.27
30 O.Del Corto Edinburgh RC 59.28

31 S.Beech Sandy Wallace 59.31
32 D.McLellan Fullerton Wh 59.35
33 D.Harter Forres 59.44
34 K.Philpot Elgin CC 59.51
35 G.Shirley Nevis Cycles 59.53
36 G.Luce Elgin CC 1.00.10
37 N.Laing Edinburgh RC 1.00.11
38 I.Anderson Dundee Wheelers 1.00.12
39 B.Taylor Dooley’s Cycles 1.00.12
40 A.Solway Kennoway Rc 1.00.35

41 N.Anderson DTCC 1.00.43
42 D.Gillies Elgin CC 1.00.46
43 D.Wards Fullerton Wh 1.00.57
44 D.Morris DTCC 1.01.01
45 J.Blunsdon DTCC 1.01.21
46 W.Bunyan Dunfermline CC 1.01.33
47 G.Jones Edinburgh RC 1.02.03
48 M.Pearson RAF CC 1.02.12
49 I.Watson Aberdeen Wh 1.02.18
50 C.Sim DTCC 1.02.26

51 L.Billingham Perth United 1.03.11
52 N.Muir Edinburgh RC 1.03.18
53 L.Cowie Aberdeen Wh 1.03.27
54 K.Tait Edinburgh RC 1.03.36
55 A.McGill DTCC 1.03.37
56 A.Washington Caithness CC 1.03.44
57 S.Walton DTCC 1.03.53
58 D.Gunn Forres 1.03.57
59 F.Young Velo Ecosse 1.04.44
60 C.Jones DTCC 1.04.44

61 F.Toms Nevis Cycles RT 1.05.34
62 R.Clark DTCC 1.05.37
63 I.Sinclair DTCC 1.06.04
64 H.Aitchison Forres 1.06.28
65 S.Mitchell Dundee Wh 1.07.28
66 P.Clark DTCC 1.08.23
67 B.McCabe Aberdeen Wh 1.09.22
68 B.Byth DTCC 1.09.25
69 D.Stewart DTCC 1.09.59
70 A.Speed Fife Century RC 1.10.02

71 P.Winter Ythan 1.10.04
72 G.Grant Forres CC 1.11.14
73 T.Cummings Kirkcaldy&Dis 1.11.23
74 I.Edwards DTCC 1.14.12
75 P.Ettles Forres CC DNF
76 K.Ross Cromarty Firth DNS
77 K.Aksnes Glasgow Wh DNS
78 A.Duncan Ythan DNS
79 I.Brown DTCC DNS
80 J.Millar Dooley’s Cycles DNS

81 A.Whyman DTCC DNS
82 D.McLardie Dooley’s Cycles DNS
83 A.Dow Sandy Wallace DNS
84 P.Black Edinburgh RC DNS
85 G.Walsh Sandy Wallace DNS

Teams
1 Dooley’s Cycles RT: Robson, Doyle, D.Gibson
2 Sandy Wallace Cycles: Atkinson,Copp.Wilson
3 Glasgow Couriers: Smart, Cusick,Millar

Handicap
1 N Laing Edinburgh RC 46.07
2 I.Edwards DTCC 48.06

Vets on Standard
1 D.Stewart Deeside Thistle 22.08
2 D.Millar Glasgow Couriers 20.51

Under 18
1 L.Cowie Aberdeen Wheelers 1.03.27

Ladies
1 J.Wilson-Young Edinburgh RC 58.58
2 C.McLean Shetland Wh 1.00.02
3 V.Hunter Perth United 1.01.57
4 F.Duncan Ythan 1.02.12
5 J.Nicholson DTCC 1.06.38
6 P.Rother Edinburgh RC 1.08.02
7 J.Lang Edinburgh RC 1.08.39
8 C.Middleton Ythan 1.09.48
9 M.Anderson DTCC 1.10.49
10 L.Chillingsworth DTCC 1.11.37
11 E.Thornell Tri Changing 1.11.50
12 R.Jackson Forres 1.13.52
13 Y.Davidson Ythan 1.25.24

Teams
1 Edinburgh RC - J. Wilson-Young, P.Rother
2 Ythan - F.Duncan/Middleton

Reigning champion, Jason Macintyre was snatched from us before we saw the very best of him; we miss you, Jason.

Sunday morning's championship is organised by Isobel Smith on the rolling dual carriageways of the A90 near Strathcathro Services between Dundee and Aberdeen. The start is near Fordoun, just a mile or two from Arbuthnott - Lewis Grassick Gibbon country.

It's wide and fast on the right day, but brutally exposed if the wind blows - which it tends to do a lot on Scotland's East Coast.

The forecast for Sunday is unsettled, with lower tempertures predicted.

On paper, it should be recently crowned 10 champion, Arthur Doyle (Dooleys) off number 102 who takes the 40 K crown.

Doyle was fourth last year and is much improved for 2008; his equalling of Graeme Obree's 20-13 in winning the Scottish 10 champs on the Kippen Flats, last month speaks for itself; and that was despite illness in the week leading into the event.

In recent weeks he's "blown a gasket" in road races, according to one of our spies.

Loss of form, or over-load to super-compensate; ready for the Blue Riband of the time trialling world? We'll find out on Sunday!

Mark Atkinson (Sandy Wallace) is a repeat medallist in the '25'.

Down in an unaccustomed eighth that morning with 20.47, was Mark Atkinson (Sandy Wallace) but what the time doesn't reveal is that he had to pick himself up off the tar as he awaited his start.

For the past two seasons, Atkinson has been silver medallist in the 25 with efforts that would normally have been good enough to win - had it not been for Fort William's other flyer.

He's a past champion at the distance and a man who can torture himself like few others in training and in competition.

Atkinson will not allow Doyle an easy morning on Sunday. He also has the advantage of being last off at 116, so if his helpers are switched on, he'll know exactly what he has to do to win.

Gary Robson (Dooleys).

Gary Robson (Dooleys) took silver in the 10 and has produced some stunning 25 mile performances in training. It will be hard for him to beat Doyle and Atkinson, but he won't be far away.

With medal favourites Doyle and Robson, it's difficult to see Dooleys missing out on the team; super consistent Dave Gibson was fifth last year and should be the man to back them to a repeat of their 10 team win.

Should Dooleys falter, then Sandy Wallace with Atkinson, Copp, Wilson, Black and Dow will be ready to pounce.

Jim Cusick (Glasgow Couriers).

Talking of consistency, last year's 25 bronze medallist, Jim Cusick (Glasgow Couriers) off 110, shows no sign of slowing down and it would be no surprise to see him take a medal.

Joe Wilson (Sandy Wallace).

Joe Wilson (Sandy Wallace) at 100 is a man who might, or might not produce the goods, although his best days all seem to be at longer distances, recently.

Peter Ettles (Forres) could be a long shot, he's been doing some quick times lately.

But if I have to come right out, for me it's Mark, Arthur and Gary - in that order; but remember, I said Kloden would win the Tour!

See you Sunday.

Start Sheet

1 Y.Davidson Ythan 8.01 29.00 Lady Vet 1.13.49
2 M.ThissenSmith DTCC 8.02 20.12 Lady Vet 1.10.45
3 R.Jackson Unattached 8.03 21.18 Lady Jun
4 P.Rother Edinburgh RC 8.04 18.07 Lady Vet 1.15.29
5 L.Chillingsworth DTCC 8.05 19.39 Lady
6 J.Lang Edinburgh RC 8.06 16.43 Lady Vet 1.12.43
7 C.Middleton Ythan 8.07 17.09 Lady Vet 1.14.22
8 M.Anderson DTCC 8.08 17.59 Lady Vet 1.15.29
9 F.Duncan Ythan 8.09 13.53 Lady

10 C.McLean Shetland Wh 8.10 11.02 Lady Vet 1.13.49
11 E.Thornell Tri Changing 8.11 16.59 Lady Vet 1.10.04
12 V.Hunter Perth United 8.12 10.05 Lady Vet 1.12.11
13 A.Haggerty Dooleys Cyc 8.13 13.43 Lady
14 J.Nicholson DTCC 8.14 15.58 Lady Vet 1.17.45
15 J.Wilson-Young Edinburgh RC 8.15 8.23 Lady
16
17
18
19

20
21 I.Edwards DTCC 8.21 26.06 Vet 1.14.55
22 P.Winter Ythan 8.22 19.14 Vet 1.15.29
23 K.Ross Cromarty Firth 8.23 21.43 Vet 1.21.53
24
25 P.Clark DTCC 8.25 15.27 Vet 1.11.39
26 T.Cummings Kirkcaldy&Dis 8.26 16.39 Vet 1.17.11
27 K.Aksnes Glasgow Wh 8.27 16.29 Sen
28 B.Byth DTCC 8.28 18.50 Vet 1.21.17
29 S.Mitchell Dundee Wh 8.29 16.38 Vet 1.21.17

30 G.Grant Forres Cc 8.30 16.58 Vet 1.17.45
31 L.Cowie Aberdeen Wh 8.31 14.39 Junior
32
33 I.Sinclair DTCC 8.33 14.50 Vet 1.11.39
34 F.Toms Nevis Cycles RT 8.34 14.16 Vet 1.20.41
35 S.Monaghan DTCC 8.35 6.51 Vet 1.06.00
36 B.Duncan Edinburgh RC 8.36 8.22 Vet 1.08.31
37 A.Duncan Ythan 8.37 9.42 Sen
38 H.Aitchison Forres 8.38 11.55 Vet 1.13.16
39 A.McGill DTCC 8.39 14.13 Sen

40 I.Anderson Dundee Wheelers 8.40 6.58 Vet 1.08.00
41 D.Timmins Musselburgh RC 8.41 8.07 Sen
42 H.Hamilton Fullerton Wh 8.42 9.33 Sen
43 D.Gillies Elgin CC 8.43 11.35 Vet 1.13.49
44 A.Speed Fife Century RC 8.44 14.12 Vet !.08.00
45 D.McLellan Fullerton Wh 8.45 6.58 Sen
46 O.Del Corto Edinburgh RC 8.46 8.00 Sen
47 K.Tait Edinburgh RC 8.47 9.33 Vet 1.09.02
48 I.Brown DTCC 8.48 12.41 Sen
49 R.Clark DTCC 8.49 14.09 Sen

50 A.Torrance Dooley’s Cycles 8.50 6.43 Vet 1.08.31
51 A.Rowat Musselburgh RC 8.51 7.52 Sen
52 A.Solway Kennoway Rc 8.52 9.22 Vet 1.14.55
53 W.Bunyan Dunfermline CC 8.53 11.10 Vet 1.11.39
54 N.Laing Edinburgh RC 8.54 14.04 Sen
55 D.Millar Glasgow Couriers 8.55 6.34 Vet 1.17.45
56 J.May Edinburgh RC 8.56 7.29 Vet 1.07.00
57 J.Millar Dooley’s Cycles 8.57 12.41 Sen
58 A.Whyman DTCC 8.58 11.03 Vet 1.09.33
59 F.Young Velo Ecosse 8.59 13.17 Youth A

60 N.Skene Granite City RT 9.00 5.33 Vet 1.12.11
61 D.McLardie Dooley’s Cycles 9.01 7.32 Sen
62 G.Shirley West Highland W 9.02 7.02 Sen
63 D.Harter Forres 9.03 10.57 Vet 1.08.31
64 I.Watson Aberdeen Wh 9.04 13.09 Sen
65 G.Graham Fullerton Wh 9.05 5.30 Vet 1.06.00
66 S.McIntosh Granite City RT 9.06 7.16 Vet 1.08.00
67 G.Luce Elgin CC 9.07 9.11 Sen
68 D.Morris DTCC 9.08 10.25 Vet 1.12.11
69 C.Jones DTCC 9.09 13.05 Vet 1.11.07

70 A.Dow Sandy Wallace 9.10 4.47 Sen
71 K.Philpot Elgin CC 9.11 7.13 Vet 1.07.30
72 D.Stewart DTCC 9.12 9.02 Vet 1.23.07
73 D.Gunn Forres 9.13 10.23 Jun
74 C.Sim DTCC 9.14 12.46 Vet 1.09.02
75 J.Hall Sandy Wallace 9.15 4.44 Vet 1.06.00
76 P.Black Edinburgh RC 9.16 7.04 Sen
77 G.Walsh Sandy Wallace 9.17 8.53 Vet 1.08.31
78 D.Wards Fullerton Wh 9.18 10.22 Sen
79 B.McCabe Aberdeen Wh 9.19 12.45 Vet 1.08.00

80 I.Black Sandy Wallace 9.20 4.28 Vet 1.08.31
81 B.Taylor Dooley’s Cycles 9.21 7.00 Vet 1.18.20
82 G.Jones Edinburgh RC 9.22 8.50 Vet 1.07.30
83 S.Walton DTCC 9.23 10.18 Vet 1.15.29
84 A.Washington Caithness CC 9.24 12.37 Vet 1.23.07
85 R.Wilson Sandy Wallace 9.25 4.10 Sen
86 R.Sewell Hounslow Wh 9.26 5.52 Vet 1.16,37
87 K.Lackie Forres Cc 9.27 8.34 Vet 1.08.31
88 N.Muir Edinburgh Rc 9.28 9.54 Vet 1.16.37
89 M.Pearson RAF CC 9.29 12.37 Sen

90 P.Ettles Forres CC 9.30 4.06 Vet 1.08.00
91 S.Beech Sandy Wallace 9.31 6.33 Vet 1.15.29
92 J.Blunsdon DTCC 9.32 8.24 Sen
93 N.Anderson DTCC 9.33 9.50 Vet 1.08.31
94 L.Billingham Perth United 9.34 11.59 Sen
95 S.Blom Glasgow Couriers 9.35 3.43 Sen
96 E.Ritchie Angus Bike Chain 9.36 Vet 1.08.31
97
98 G.Robson Dooley’s Cycles 9.38 3.41 Sen
99

100 J.Wilson Sandy Wallace 9.40 3.18 Sen
101
102 J.Copp Sandy Wallace 9.42 3.06 Sen
101
102 A.Doyle Dooley’s Cycles 9.42 3.01 Sen
103
104 D.Gibson Dooley’s Cycles 9.44 2.49 Vet 1.09.02
105
106 C.Smart Glasgow Couriers 9,46 2.47 Sen
107
108 C.Riise Shetland Wheelers 9.48 2.41 Vet 1.07.30
109

110 J.Cusick Glasgow Couriers 9.50 2.32 Vet 1.07.30
111
112 H.Jamieson Dooley’s Cycles 9.52 1.47 Vet 1.07.30
113
114 D.McGaw Artic Premier RT 9.54 1.47 Sen
115
116 M. Atkinson Sandy Wallace 9.56 1.50 Sen

Arthur Doyle.

Dave Martin (the bicycleworks) finally has a piece of silver to show for all that ten mile talent he’s demonstrated over the last few years, his 20-24 was just three seconds too quick for the bronze medal winners – yes, that’s plural.

Gary Robson.

Scottish Cycling will have to splash out and buy two bronzes. Arthur’s team mate, Gary Robson now has an individual medal to add to his clutch of short distance team medals, but the watch couldn’t separate him from Edinburgh Road Club’s Ken Russell – maybe they’ll have to cut the medal in half?

Joe Wilson.

It was sunny, mild and with just a light breeze off the East when we arrived at the Kippen roundabout turn in time to see Jonathan Copp show off his new Sandy Wallace colours, he’s been a medallist at this distance before, but not today.

I had a flash back at this stage; the last time I saw this roundabout, I was hanging on to Callum Macgregor’s back wheel during a gentleman’s time trial a few years ago – what was I thinking about?

There were already quick times on the board, Ken Russell’s bronze came off number 15 and Glasgow Couriers’ hill climb star Chris Smart had done 20-48 off number ten.

The weather and traffic flow didn’t vary much over the last hour, although it was warmer for the last starters, so there was probably little advantage to be gained from field placing on this beautiful morning.

Gary Hand.

Roadman, Gary Hand (Pedal Power) was trying his hand at clock bashing but wasn’t going to trouble the specialists.

Ever green Dave Gibson was another rider that fooled us with a change of colours, we’re so used to seeing him in the Modena colours, but he’s a Dooleys man too now.

Dave Gibson.

Dave’s road background showed as he changed down into the roundabout and was away quickly and cleanly, unlike many of the ‘pure’ testers who laboured mega gears out of the turn, taking an age to gain momentum.

A lovely Mark 1 3.0 litre Ford Capri passed shortly after Davie, en route a classic car rally, the gurgle of the V6 took me back to when I had my 2.8 injection and . . . oh, sorry!

Hugh Jamieson is another of the Dooleys time trial tribe and he was looking much happier than the last time I saw him – hirpling round the moors above Paisley in the Super Six.

The wonderfully named ‘D. Caesar’ from the bicycleworks wasn’t going to win, but his suntan was superb.

Gordon Murdoch.

Gordon Murdoch (Pedal Power), winner of that moor land Super Six I just mentioned had ‘turned tester for a day,’ no tri-bars, just clip-ons but looked strong, well up on minute man and former 12 hour champ, Norman Skene (Granite City)

Silver medallist, Dave Martin was obviously flying, off 105, too quick for me to get a snap – sorry Dave, I’ll keep a good eye out for you in the 25.

Meanwhile, the marshals were offering sound encouragement to riders; “pit some effort into it man!”

His companion marshal did observe however; “Christ! He’s breithin’ oot his erse awreadiz!’

Jonathon Copp.

Phil Brown was another road man giving the ‘alone and unpaced’ game a try and was well up on minute man, Callum Ritchie (Musselburgh).

Callum Ritchie.

The days of sticking a pair of 28’s with silks on your road bike for a big time trial have long gone; the quality (and value) of the kit on show never ceases to amaze me, even those who look like they are riding a slow-mo demonstration of a time trial are mounted on the latest carbon creations.

Carlos Riise.

As the sun drove the temperature up a few degrees, big ten mile names from the recent past appeared, Carlos Riise (Shetland) and Chris Isats (Berwick), but it wasn’t to be their day.

Chris Isats.

Nor was it to be Sean Gray of Dooley’s day, albeit he was up on Isats.

Sean Gray.

Arthur showed the benefit of all that road racing he’s been doing as he whistled round the turn, lost very little momentum and was away again, dart lke, pedalling a lower gear than we might have seen him turn last season.

Next on the card was the only man who I thought could beat Arthur – Mark Atkinson (Sandy Wallace) but an incident at the start which left him sprawled on the road, meant that he didn't appear on cue and had to restart from last position in the field for his long 20 minute ride, as he said; “not the best preparation to try and win a championship!”

Joe Wilson (Sandy Wallace) isn’t at his best over ten miles and his 21 wasn’t in the frame.

Jim Cusick.

Jim Cusick (Glasgow Couriers), two minutes ahead of Joe on the road was in the 20 minute bracket though, and his form is shaping nicely for a defence of his 50 title later in the year.

Mark Atkinson.

All that remained was for a scraped and bruised Mark Atkinson to finish, and the 2008 '10' Champs had been won and lost.

What they said

Gary Robson was understandably pleased with his medal;

“It’s a personal best in Scotland for me, so I have to be happy. I did a 19-54 for third place on the Levens (Cumbria) course last Saturday night, so I knew I had form. I thought I’d be about 20 seconds behind Arthur today, so as I said, I can’t be unhappy.”

Dave Martin had never been interviewed before, I had to explain to him that it’s one of the burdens that come with success;

“I’m pleased with the ride, it’s only my third race of the year. I did the East Pursuit last week and recorded 5-02 for second place, so I knew I was going OK. I had a good winter of training and spent a spell in Belgium with John Anderson whilst the Spring Classics were on; we did a lot of kilometres there. In previous years I’ve tried to be pretty scientific with training, but this year I’ve just being going out and smashing myself! I felt good at the finish today, I was absolutely drained; I just couldn’t have done anymore.”

Arthur Doyle: I put it to Arthur, that given the ‘quickness’ of the day, we might have expected him to dip into the magical 19 minute realm;

“I know what you mean, but I haven’t been well, I feel washed out today. My wife and kids have had a bug and it’s affected me too, I’m over the moon to have won given the circumstances. I felt there was a tail wind out, so I held a little in reserve for the finish and tried to lift towards the end, but I was struggling. My next target will be the Super Six at the start of June, I’ve been enjoying riding them and they’ve definitely helped my time trialling.”

Arthur rode his Cervelo with a 56 ring and 11-up cassette on Continental Podiums to win the title.

Result

1 A. DOYLE DOOLEYS CYCLES R.T. S 20:13
2 D. MARTIN THE BICYCLE WORKS S 20:24
3 K. RUSSELL EDINBURGH R.C. V 20:27
= G. ROBSON DOOLEYS CYCLES R.T. S 20:27

5 D. McGAW ARCTIC PREMIER R.T. S 20:37
6 J. CUSICK GLASGOW COURIERS V 20:42
7 C. ROBERTSON VELO ECOSSE S 20:46
8 M. ATKINSON SANDY WALLACE CYCLES S 20:47
9 C. SMART GLASGOW COURIERS S 20:48
10 C. RIISE SHETLAND WHEELERS V 20:57
11 D. GIBSON DOOLEYS CYCLES R.T. V 21:01
12 J. MILLAR DOOLEYS CYCLES R.T. S 21:08
13 I. BLACK SANDY WALLACE CYCLES V 21:12
14 G. MURDOCH PEDAL POWER R.T. S 21:13
15 J. COPP SANDY WALLACE CYCLES S 21:16
= J. WILSON SANDY WALLACE CYCLES S 21:16
17 B. McGURK TEAM ICARUS S 21:17
18 P. ETTLES FORRES C.C. V 21:20
19 P. BROWN VELO ECOSSE S 21:21
20 S. GOLDSWORTHY VELO ECOSSE S 21:24
21 C. ISATS BERWICK WHEELERS S 21:27
22 D. BLACK CLACHNACUDDIN C.C. S 21:33
23 S. GRAY DOOLEYS CYCLES R.T. S 21:37
24 S. BLUM GLASGOW COURIERS S 21:38
25 G. BROWN VELO ECOSSE V 21:39
26 A. DOW SANDY WALLACE CYCLES S 21:40
27 M. SUMMERS DUNFERMLINE C.C. S 21:44
= H. JAMIESON DOOLEYS CYCLES R.T. V 21:44
29 J. HALL SANDY WALLACE CYCLES V 21:52
30 G. MACFARLANE JOHNSTONE WHEELERS S 21:59
31 G. COCKBURN NIGHTINGALE C.C. V 22:00
32 K. RAESIDE INVERCLYDE VELO V 22:02
= B. DUNCAN EDINBURGH R.C. V 22:02
34 A. TAYLOR MUSSELBURGH R.C.C. V 22:03
35 A. McILROY EDINBURGH R.C. S 22:05
36 P. McINALLY EAST KILBRIDE R.C. S 22:07
= G. HAND PEDAL POWER R.T. S 22:07
38 P. BLACK EDINBURGH R.C. S 22:09
= D. CAESAR THE BICYCLE WORKS S 22:09
40 I. SIM GLASGOW COURIERS S 22:13
41 C. RITCHIE MUSSELBURGH R.C.C. V 22:15
42 G. GRAHAM FULLARTON WHEELERS V 22:20
43 K. SMITH GLASGOW WHEELERS S 22:23
44 I. MANSON JOHNSTONE WHEELERS V 22:24
= N. SKENE GRANITE CITY R.T. V 22:24
46 K. LACKIE FORRES C.C. V 22:32
47 P. COLLINS DRUMMOND-DATASAFE S 22:34
48 S. McCRAE PEDAL POWER R.T. S 22:40
49 J. MCCRORY GLASGOW UNITED C.C. S 22:43
50 D. SCALLY GLASGOW COURIERS S 22:44
51 A. ROWAT MUSSELBURGH R.C.C. V 22:45
52 C. MACKENZIE EDINBURGH R.C. V 22:46
53 M. HENNON INVERCLYDE VELO S 22:48
54 S. MONAGHAN DEESIDE THISTLE C.C. V 22:49
55 D. McLARDIE DOOLEYS CYCLES R.T. S 22:52
56 N. MILTON AUCHENCROW THISTLE V 22:54
57 J. McPAUL INVERCLYDE VELO V 22:58
58 K. DARLING KELSO WHEELERS V 23:06
59 D. MILLAR GLASGOW COURIERS V 23:08
= D. PRITCHARD KELSO WHEELERS V 23:08
61 D. TIMMINS MUSSELBURGH R.C.C. S 23:10
= A. SOLWAY KENNOWAY ROAD CLUB V 23:10
63 G. JONES EDINBURGH R.C. V 23:11
64 H. ARMSTRONG BERWICK WHEELERS S 23:12
65 G. McCARTER INVERCLYDE VELO V 23:13
66 J. GREENGRASS NIGHTINGALE C.C. V 23:16
67 D. SMITH AUCHENCROW THISTLE V 23:19
68 J. GILLIES LAW WHEELERS V 23:22
69 A. TORRANCE DOOLEYS CYCLES R.T. V 23:24
= G. SMALL EAST KILBRIDE R.C. V 23:24
70 B. AITON EAST KILBRIDE R.C. V 23:24
72 O. DEL CORTO EDINBURGH R.C. S 23:26
73 A. MOONEY AYR ROADS C.C. S 23:27
74 D. ROBINSON INVERCLYDE VELO V 23:29
75 A. COOK CLASSIC WALLS CRT S 23:32
76 S. BEECH SANDY WALLACE CYCLES V 23:33
77 C. ADAMS DRUMMOND-DATASAFE V 23:34
78 J. DALY JOHNSTONE WHEELERS V 23:35
79 N. LAING EDINBURGH R.C. S 23:43
80 D. MURPHY NIGHTINGALE C.C. V 23:49
81 M. BAUGH STIRLING BIKE CLUB S 23:52
= M. SYMINGTON GLASGOW WHEELERS S 23:52
82 K. ROSS BERWICK WHEELERS S 23:52
84 B. TAYLOR DOOLEYS CYCLES R.T. V 23:55
= S. WALLACE SANDY WALLACE CYCLES V 23:55
86 E. EASSON GLASGOW WHEELERS V 23:58
87 C. McGOWAN LAW WHEELERS S 23:59
88 C. SIM DEESIDE THISTLE C.C. V 24:00
89 K. TAIT EDINBURGH R.C. V 24:05
90 B. BROWN VELO ECOSSE V 24:06
91 A. HOLMS INVERCLYDE VELO V 24:07
92 R. YEOMANS GLASGOW WHEELERS S 24:10
93 D. ALLAN EDINBURGH R.C. V 24:12
94 J. CONNAGHAN EDINBURGH R.C. V 24:20
95 P. SMITH GLASGOW WHEELERS S 24:21
96 N. MUIR EDINBURGH R.C. V 24:23
97 P. GAREZE LOMOND ROADS S 24:25
98 M. KANE PEDAL POWER R.T. V 24:33
99 D. KIRKHAM MUSSELBURGH R.C.C. V 24:38
100 R. ARMSTRONG DEESIDE THISTLE C.C. S 24:44
= A. DUNCAN YTHAN C.C. S 24:44
102 W. GUNN FORRES C.C. V 24:59
103 C. RUSSELL EDINBURGH R.C. V 25:03
104 F. TOMS NEVIS CYCLES R.T. V 25:12
105 K. McLUSKEY TEAM ICARUS S 25:16
106 G. JOHNSTON CLASSIC WALLS R.T. V 25:20
107 R. COOPER LAW WHEELERS V 25:44
108 M. OGDEN STIRLING BIKE CLUB S 25:47
109 H. AITCHISON FORRES C.C. V 25:59
110 A. SPEED FIFE CENTURY R.C. V 26:02
111 J. KENNAH LAW WHEELERS V 26:04
112 S. MITCHELL DUNDEE WHEELERS V 26:40
113 M. DEVLIN ST. CHRISTOPHERS CC V 27:16
114 T. CUMMINGS KIRKCALDY & DIST.CC V 27:54
115 G. ADAM SVTTA V 31:40

A. SINCLAIR EDINBURGH R.C. V DNF
I. BLACK SANDY WALLACE CYCLES V DNS
F. MORRIS G.S. METRO V DNS
B. GILMOUR NIGHTINGALE C.C. V DNS
A. HAY GLASGOW COURIERS V DNS

Vets
1 J. CUSICK GLASGOW COURIERS 20:42
2 C. RIISE SHETLAND WHEELERS 20:57
3 D. GIBSON DOOLEYS CYCLES R.T. 21:01

1st Team
DOOLEYS CYCLES R.T. 1: 1:41 (Scottish record)
A. DOYLE 20:13
G. ROBSON 20:27
D. GIBSON 21:01

2nd Team
GLASGOW COURIERS 1: 3:08
J. CUSICK 20:42
C. SMART 20:48
S. BLUM 21:38

3rd Team
SANDY WALLACE CYCLES 1: 3:15
M. ATKINSON 20:47
I. BLACK 21:12
J. COPP 21:16

Juniors / Women

1 Ms J. WILSON-YOUNG EDINBURGH R.C. L 23:03
2 Ms C. McLEAN SHETLAND WHEELERS LV 23:48
3 Ms M. TODD SQUARE WHEELS L 23:59
4 S. McCROSSAN GLASGOW COURIERS Y 24:16
5 D. GUNN FORRES C.C. Jn 24:33
6 Ms V. HUNTER PERTH UNITED C.C. LV 24:40
7 A. McNICOL VELO ECOSSE Jn 24:50
8 Ms F. DUNCAN YTHAN C.C.L 24:54
9 Ms V. BEGG JOHNSTONE WHEELERS L 25:01
10 Ms A. HAGGERTY DOOLEYS CYCLES R.T. L 25:15
11 F. YOUNG VELO ECOSSE Y 25:42
12 Ms J. LANG EDINBURGH R.C. LV 26:43
13 Ms J. STEVENSON EDINBURGH R.C. L 26:47
14 Ms A. EWING EDINBURGH R.C. L 26:50
15 Ms P. ROTHER EDINBURGH R.C. LV 27:24
16 R. NORMAN STIRLING BIKE CLUB Jn 27:35
17 Ms I. FLETCHER GLASGOW WHEELERS LV 28:16
18 Ms J. NICHOLSON DEESIDE THISTLE C.C. LV 29:42
19 Ms C. CLARK UNATTACHED LJn 29:47
20 Ms L. GUNN FORRES C.C. LY 33:15

S. QUINN DRUMMOND-DATASAFE Jn DNS
Ms S. DOYLE IVY C.C. L DNS

Lady
1 Ms J. WILSON-YOUNG EDINBURGH R.C. 23:03
2 Ms C. McLEAN SHETLAND WHEELERS 23:48
3 Ms M. TODD SQUARE WHEELS 23:59

Junior
1 D. GUNN FORRES C.C. 24:33
2 A. McNICOL VELO ECOSSE 24:50
3 R. NORMAN STIRLING BIKE CLUB 27:35

Junior Lady
Ms C. CLARK UNATTACHED 29:47

Youth
1 S. McCROSSAN GLASGOW COURIERS 24:16
2 F. YOUNG VELO ECOSSE 25:42

Youth Lady
Ms L. GUNN FORRES C.C. 33:15

1st Team
EDINBURGH R.C. 49:46
Ms J. WILSON-YOUNG 23:03
Ms J. LANG 26:43

The Trossachs.