East & West Lomond Hills - the "paps o' Fife".

After three laps, which included the hard climb of Largo Law the decisive moments came on the tough ‘wee circuit’ which had to be covered once, before the run-in to the finish.

Raymond Wilson knows it's in the bag.

It looked like it would be a three-way battle for the win at the line
between Wilson, Paul Coats (Squadra Via Mazzini/Racetool) and Evan Oliphant (DFL). Coats and Wilson had been riding a strong two-up ahead of the chasers with Oliphant just about to bridge-up to them when Coats' carbon steerer broke and the Wick professional Oliphant punctured.

Paul Coats might not be buying another pair of carbon steerer forks.

Coats was out and Oliphant had to ride five miles on the rim before he could get a change; but by then Wilson was long-gone.

The ‘Dunfermline Irishman’ rode the final 15 rolling and windy miles with
such force that his final margin of victory was in excess of two minutes.

Evan Oliphant punctured when in with a chance of the win.

Oliphant completed a busy and lucrative weekend with another second place to go with the same position in Saturday morning’s ten mile championship and a win in Saturday afternoon’s criterium at Ingilston.

Third was Rosneath and Sam Robinson winner, Gordon Murdoch (East Kilbride RT).

Gordon Murdoch (leading) worked hard to secure 3rd place.

Despite an excellent prize list it was a disappointing bunch of just 28 which rolled-away from race sponsors, Jax Health Club on Sunday morning.

Within a couple of miles the bunch was climbing Largo law into a block head wind, with Wilson and Coats already frisky.

Paul Coates and Ray Wilson were at the front from the first climb of Largo.

The first splits were appearing by Peat Inn and its famous eatery; three riders had already bid the back of the bunch; ‘adios’.

The famous Peat Inn.

Largo Law for the second time and it was Wilson and Oliphant at the head of affairs with a fragmented bunch in their wake.

Montrave on lap two and the Coats/Wilson duet was in place with a smiling Oliphant (above) leading the chase from Callum MacGregor (thebicycleworks.com) and Arthur Doyle (Ivy CC) fresh from a 21-33 in Saturday’s ten champs.

Motrave, Evan chases and has time to smile.

It was good to hear that Scotland’s top riders assist and encourage each other on the road, as the cry; “Fu**ing go through, Gordon!” echoed across the quiet barley fields.

Ray and Paul worked well together to build their lead.

At the top of Largo Law for the third and last time it was still the dynamic duo from a group of nine with Oliphant ever-active.

I followed the nine over the rolling road to Largo Ward; the word ‘sprachel’ comes to mind; meanwhile the two leaders worked smoothly together.

On the final climb out of Largo Ward it seemed that Mr. Murdoch had taken the earlier coaching to heart and lead the chase.

L to R: Calum MacGregor, Arthur Doyle, and Gordon Murdoch.

The ‘wee circuit’ behind Ceres is a "toughie" and I couldn’t help but remember the times that Jock Hardie used to half-wheel me up that climb – on his 76” fixed.

At the top, Wilson and Coats looked comfortable with Oliphant bridging-up – moments later, fate would roll the dice and the ‘luck of the Irish’ would return.

The race was promoted by thebicycleworks.com in memory of their stalwart, Callum MacGregor’s late father Duncan, who was a keen follower and supporter of the sport; appropriate then that Callum (below, left) should finish in sixth place.

What they said

Gordon:

"I think I began to ride better as the day went on; I’ve been doing a lot of training for the nationals next weekend, so maybe I’m a bit tired. I’ll be tapering-off this week and doing some quality work.

"There are a few guys who can win next Sunday – Raymond, Evan and Paul (Coats) among them – Paul was unlucky today; I think this result means that I’ll take the lead in the Grand Prix series from him."

Evan:

"I had to do a lot of work today, I spent half the race chasing at the front. A lot of the guys won’t work, I’m not sure if they aren’t fit –enough or just want to get round and get to the finish.

"On the big descent (Dangerfield), there were two guys up the road (Wilson and Coats) and there were eight of us behind; if we had just ridden through-and-off we would have caught them without any problem, but nobody wanted to work.

"I was just getting-on to Raymond when I punctured; I had to ride for five miles on the rim until I got a wheel. I chased back-up and went past everyone, Gordon (Murdoch) Stuart (McGregor) and Paul (Rennie) managed to get with me but Raymond was well-away by then. I’ll be doing some big runs this week in preparation for the national next weekend; I really want to win that."

Raymond:

"It’s good to get a win here, especially with the wife and family at the finish, this is ‘home turf’; for me. I moved up to Aberdeen to live about a month ago and my motivation has been a bit low so I’m pleased to win today – it’s given me a real boost for the national next weekend.

"Paul and I rode well together today, but I think I was stronger than he was, just before he had his mechanical I wanted to raise the tempo so as to make it hard for Evan to get up to us, I didn’t actually realise that Evan had punctured.

"The last 15 miles on my own were hard, there wasn’t as much assistance from the wind as I expected.

"The national championship? If you had asked me two or three weeks ago I would have ruled myself out of contention, but after today I’ve got my appetite back and I’m looking forward to the race."

Evan, Paul Coats, Gordon Murdoch, and Phil Brown – they’ll all be in there next week somewhere. As will VeloResults – see you there!

Result

1st Raymond Wilson (Dunfermline CC) 3.13.06
2nd Evan Oliphant (Team DFL) @ 2.31
3rd Gordon Murdoch (East Kilbride Wheelers) s.t.
4th Stuart MacGregor (Velo Ecosse) s.t.
5th Paul Rennie (Edge Racing) @ 3.16
6th Callum MacGregor (The Bicycleworks.com) s.t.
7th Steven Dunn (Falkirk BC) s.t.
8th Arthur Doyle (Ivy CC) s.t.
9th Ken Russell (Edinburgh RC) @ 4.26
10th Colin Ash (Anderson Racing) @ 12.12
11th John Kermode (Dundee Thistle) s.t.
12th Gary McCrae (Pedal Power RT) s.t.
13th Ian Taylor (Sunderland Clarion) s.t.
14th Tom Anderson (Falkirk BC) s.t.
15th Tom Worthington (Glasgow Nightingale) @ 25.47

Ray Wilson of Dunfermline CC and Alistair Watt of Granite City RT broke away on their own and caught all the groups with about 7 miles to go, then Ray won the sprint to the line.

34 of the 43 entered completed the event.

Raymond Wilson.

Result

1. Ray Wilson - Dunfermline CC - 1.51.10
2. A. Watt - Granite City RT - @ 11 secs
3. K. Clarke - Deeside Thistle CC - @ 43 secs
4. D. Hunt Cairngorm CC - 49 secs
5. S. Crowther - (unatt.) - 1.21
6. E. Stewart - DTCC - 3.12
7. B. Duncan - DTCC - 3.14
8. P. Black - Edinburgh Road Club - 3.20
9. R.Cowie - Aberdeen Wheelers 3.31
10. I. Humphreys – DTCC – (no Time)
11. P. Dennis – DTCC – 4.22
12. N. Kininmonth – DTCC – 5.25
13. A. McGill – DTCC – 5.37
14. L. Cowie – AW – 6.00
15. A. Whyman – DTCC – 6.04
16. P. Kneeshaw – DTCC – 6.30
17. A. Forbes - Addicombe CC – 7.16
18. C. Cowie – AW – 7.25
19. P. Wildblood – DTCC – 7.33
20. D. Young – DTCC – 7.33
21. A. Scott-Kiddie – DTCC – 7.35
22. S Monaghan – DTCC – 7.56
23. D. Warwick – DTCC – 8.00
24. R. Clark – DTCC – 8.09
25. S Mitchell – Dundee Wheelers – 8.14
26. D. Carnagie – Ythan CC – 9.02
27. I Watson – AW – 11.37
28. W. Mackie –Tri-Changing Gear – 11.39
29. G. Brown. – DTCC – 12.57
30. M. Pithie – DTCC – (no time)
31. K. Robertson – DTCC – 13.53
32. M. Munro – DTCC – 14.20
33. L. Chellingsworth – DTCC – 14.53
34. J. Nicholson – DTCC – 14.53
35. D. Bird – DTCC – 16.17
36. I. Wilkie – DTCC – 18.26

Second was Phil Brown (Velo Ecosse), who was the only one to respond to Coats’ attack on the final ascent of Cadgers Brae but couldn’t match the man in Persil white when it came to the finishing straight.

Winner Paul Coats (Squadra Via Mazzini Racetool).

Brown, third in the Drummond Memorial and best Scot at Girvan must be due for the big win soon. Third was southern raider, Colin Ash (Andersons Racing) who was best of the survivors of the group which Coats and Brown bolted from.

There were 42 riders on the sheet as the riders headed east into a cold easterly which whipped-in from the North Sea.

At Montrave, which tops the long, sore drag out of Kennoway the bunch was huddled together for warmth as a few specks of icy rain blew through.

At the top of the first ascent of former hill climb venue, Cadgers Brae, it was Coats nailing his colours to the mast as he took the prime.

Unusually for a Scottish race, the winning break had not established itself by the end of the first lap and approaching Craigrothie for the second time a group of four, including Rosneath winner, Gordon Murdoch ((East Kilbride CC) was trying to go clear.

Coats again from Wilson.

By Porters Brae (which comes some two miles after the ascent of Cadgers), on lap two it was Coats again taking the prime from Ray Wilson (Dunfermline CC) and eight others.

Phil Brown.

The damage was done now and the next group was a minute-plus down.

A lap later, on Cadgers Brae and the race was between ten men – Ash, Coats, Brown, Murdoch, Wilson, Callum Wilkinson (Pedal Power RT), Jonathan Copp (Deeside Thistle), Paul Rennie and Jim Murdoch (Edge RT) plus Ian Sim (Glasgow Couriers).

The race was now between just ten men.

The gap to the nearest group of chasers was 2-20 by now and there were riders scattered all over central Fife as the wind, cold, hills and distance took their toll.

The chasers at Langside.

At Hill of Tarvit for the last time the ten were working smoothly and the gap was 2-36. On the old Fife ten mile TT course, Ray Wilson’s bid for a home-club win in Fife’s biggest race came to an end as the Irishman’s transmission disintegrated.

Ray Wilson's transmission self-destructed.

After the last climb of Cadgers - where Coats race-winning move came - the race turned right to the finish circuit which has to be tackled twice, including the grinding Langside climb.

By the top, Coats and Brown were well clear of five chasers with the race behind now completely fragmented.

Jonathan Copp - 4th.

With one lap to go the two were over a minute clear of the five chasers – Wilkinson, Gordon Murdoch, Jim Murdoch, Copp and Ash.

It was Coats who was quickest up the straight and Englishman Ash who needed the petrol money most - taking the sprint for third place from versatile Jonathan Copp with Murdochs Gordon and Jim fifth and sixth respectively.

Paul Coats was understandably delighted with his win;

“I attacked last time up Cadgers and when I saw Phil had come with me I knew we had a good chance – he’s a hard-working, honest rider and the two of us just drove after that. It’s a pity Ray (Wilson) had the problems he did, I think he might have been with us otherwise.”

His best result this year?

“Girvan wasn’t so good for me; I had a cold on the last day and I punctured in the Drummond, so I’m well-pleased with today.”

And where has the good form come from?

“Four weeks of hard training – hill repeats on the Crow Road!”

What are the next goals?

“The team I ride for specialises in Sportifs, I have one coming-up in the Vosges and then it will be the Scottish road champs – to win that would be a dream come true.”

Phil Brown wasn’t too disappointed with second;

“I was able to go with Paul on Cadgers but I’m just missing that last wee bit; the form has been good ever since Girvan – that’s why I ride there, it’s not as if you are going to win but I usually come out of in good condition.

"The Sam Robinson is next-up and I’m looking forward to that.”

Former Scottish hill climb champion ‘Baz’ Carnegie was on hand to commiserate with Brown and remind him that he had won the event back in the 60’s – we believe you, Barry.

And just as we all set-off for home – the sun came out!

Euan in his MTB guise.

Mountainbiker Euan Pope took the top spot in the Dunfermline Road Race, with a fine solo win. Second was Lewis Oliphant and third Richard Allan.

Result

1 43 EUAN POPE ROCKHARD MBC 02:14:08
2 62 LEWIS OLIPHANT VELO ECOSSE 58
3 29 RICHARD ALLAN EDINBURGH RC B/W same time
4 41 DEREK WALKER EAST KILBRIDE RC same time
5 6 SCOTT MCRAE PEDAL POWER RT same time
6 45 STEPHEN COUPER DUNFERMLINE C C same time
7 44 BLAIR GIBB PEDAL POWER RT same time
8 48 SILAS GOLDWORTHY VELO ECOSSE same time
9 13 JOHN KERMODE DUNDEE THISTLE same time
10 5 ANDREW BROWN EDINBURGH RC B/W 01:03
11 38 ANDREW ROWAT MUSSELBURGH RCC same time
12 59 CALLUM WILKINSON PEDAL POWER RT same time
13 34 GARY MCRAE PEDAL POWER RT same time
14 15 GEORGE FINDLATER NO CLUB same time
15 50 JAMIE KENNEDY STIRLING B C same time
16 58 ALASDAIR EASTON EDINBURGH RC B/W same time
17 47 HUGH FORGIE 01:07
18 7 CHARLES DUFFY EAST KILBRIDE RC same time
19 64 JOHN MCBAY NO CLUB 01:08
20 39 EDD SHACKLEY IVY CC same time
21 67 MARK RICHARDS EAST KILBRIDE RC same time
22 37 MICHEAL CUNLIFFE GS METRO same time
23 60 BARRY CRUMLISH ROCKHARD MBC 01:15
24 14 KEVIN CLARKE DEESIDE THISTLE 01:18
25 21 CHRIS HARNEY EDINBURGH RC B/W same time
26 26 FRANK MORRIS G. S. METRO same time
27 53 MARK MILLINGTON THE BICYCLEWORKS same time
28 49 ANDREW FISH PEDAL POWER RT 01:27
29 12 GRAHAM HUSTON ZEUS CRT 01:35
30 40 KIERAN HAY VELO ECOSSE 01:59
31 2 ROBERT WILSON CRT INVERCLYDE same time
32 23 STEVEN QUINN DRUMMOND DATASAFE same time
33 9 MICHEAL HOUSTON EDINBURGH RC B/W 02:06
34 19 BRIAN HAMILTON PEDAL POWER RT same time
35 54 KENNY REASIDE INVERCLYDE VELO 06:57
36 56 CHRIS BOWN DUNFERMLINE C C 07:15
37 22 GRAHAM MERCER EAST KILBRIDE RC 13:52
38 65 GRAHAM LAWRIE GALA CC 14:17
39 10 COLIN MCKENZIE EDINBURGH RC B/W 15:52
40 27 CHRIS WILLIAMS NO CLUB 17:52
41 36 PETER LAMBIE FIFE CYCLING 2000 21:37
42 4 EILEEN ROE DUNFERMLINE C C 23:52
43 68 LEE ANDERSON EAST KILBRIDE RC 23:52

The rugged course incorporated a large loop of about 45 miles in length, and three smaller loops covering close to 15 miles.

- Reported by Owen Jeffries -

Paul Rennie and Gordon Murdoch.

Racing began in the early miles as the top guys tried to establish their dominance on the race, a split coming just before the first long climb of the day at the 20 mile mark.

Under the pressure of the 2.5 mile climb, the front break split in two with 3 riders including Velo Ecosse’s Lewis Oliphant, coming back to the bunch.

An unsuccessful bridging attempt by Graham Obree was also nullified. Obree, uniquely innovative as ever, rode a self constructed bicycle frame specked with an over extended top tube positioning his body in a moderate superman-like position, similar to that which shot him to fame as the world hour record holder in the mid 90’s.

Six riders remained in front (Kopp, Wilson, Ward, Rennie, Hand and Brown) that would fight out the rest of the race leaving the strong men remaining in the bunch to scavenge the crumbs from the top table.

With the Professional’s Paris-Roubaix road race over northern France’s terrifying cobbled pavé sections (run on the same day) in mind, the riders took a sharp left off the main road and onto a pavé-like section, with all the ingredients - narrow, twisty, dusty, potholed and sprinkled with gravel on every corner.

The bunch was not making any progress as the break drove through the crucial minute mark. It became a dogfight as groups chased the break, attacking and surrendering repetitively until entering the smaller circuit ,where a small group forced itself from the bunch under the driving power and narration of recent Tour of the North stage winner, Gordon Murdoch (East Kilbride RC).

Up front, the break worked solidly extending the lead to over 5minutes by the end of the race. Behind the lead, the chasing group split again under the pressure of Murdoch and Paul Coats (Squadra via Mazzini), whose attacking riding awarded him ‘most aggressive rider’ at the end of the race.

The break worked steadily together even managing to stay together over the final accent up the steep 20% gradient hill that lay about 8 miles from the finish line.

Daylight opened when Phil Brown and Jonathon Copp slipped off the front holding a tentative lead over their breakaway companions.

Driving hard on the front was Ray Wilson who couldn't pull them back, at which point Gary Hand and Paul Rennie jumped across, Copp being dropped as the pressure went down again.

In the finish, Velo Ecosse’s Phil Brown jumped early with 500 metres to go, letting adrenaline dictate his final position and effectively leading out the sprint with Paul Rennie (Edge Racing) the fastest man of the day, taking the sprint and a well deserved win (his 3rd Drummond win in total) ahead of Gary Hand (KFS special).

Family man Phil Brown, best Scot in the recent Girvan Stage Race finishing 19th overall, took an excellent 3rd and carried the kids onto the stage with him in the presentation hall.

Once again thanks go to the Drummond family, who supported the race by putting up a prize list which totaled over £10,000, attracting a top quality field of riders from all over Scotland, to provide a day of great aggressive racing.

Result

1. Paul Rennie (Edge Racing) in 3 hrs 15 mins
2. Gary Hand (KFS Special) s.t.
3. Phil Brown (Velo Ecosse) s.t.
4. Stephen Ward (VC Azzurri) at 10"
5. Ray Wilson (Dunfermline CC) s.t.
6. Jonathan Copp (Dundee Thistle CC) s.t.
7. Gordon Murdoch (East Kilbride RC) at 5'48"
8. Paul Coats (Squadra via Mazzini) s.t. (Most Aggressive Rider)
9. Alistair Watt (Granite City RC) s.t.
10. Cameron Wood (Bicycle Works) at 8'23"
11. Calum McGregor (Bicycle Works) s.t.
12. Brian Pool (Andersons) s.t.
13. Danny McShane (Omagh Wheelers) s.t.
14. Owen Jeffries (Velo Ecosse) s.t.
15. Stuart McGregor (Velo Ecosse) at 9'34"
16. Calum Wilkinson (Pedal Power RT) at 9'42"
17. Chris Mather (VC Azzurri) at 9'56"
18. Michael Mallen (GS Metro) s.t.
19. Donald Scally (Glasgow Couriers) s.t.
20. Ewan Pope (Rock Hard Racing) s.t.

- Reported by Dominic Hines -

Shane doesn't race much on the road, but when he does...

After 3 laps (of five), group three had merged with one and two. Group four could have made better progress if they had gone "through-and-off " smoothly and more riders had taken a turn.To be fair, the stiff breeze and lumpy nature of the course, together with a large group, did not encourage a well disciplined chain gang.

Nevertheless, eventually most of group four bludgeoned their way through groups one to three which stretched from gutter to gutter at the start of the penultimate lap. No sighting of the small scratch group was made except for Euan Pope (Rockhard MTB) who must have stealthily sneaked up to the front.

On the final lap, as the riders turned into Grassyards Road for the two mile tailwind rollercoaster to the finish, the riders at the front strung out into a line of eight or nine, bowling along at 40-plus mph. Shane Charlton (City of Edinburgh RC - Junior), and Euan Pope being well positioned.

With five hundred metres to go, and half way through the notorious 'S' bend, the riders took up the full width of the tarmac.

As the the road straightened up, the sprint began up the draggy rise to the finish. Eric Easton (Edinbrugh Road Club) threw himself into the ensuing melee having used gravity and his 92 Kilograms most ably on the decent from Grassyards Farm one mile past.

However, he was given the elbow by a rider, ploughed into a mud filled crater, mounted the bank, miraculously bounced back onto the road and then claims he was given a final elbow which saw him back in another muddy trench. He flew over the bars, smashing his helmet. His bicycle, even more spectacularly, completed two somersaults and attained a remarkable height.

At the front of this mayhem the dash for the line was won in a determined sprint by Shane Charlton (who had started in the third group), followed by Euan Pope, Ryan Loye, Dominic Hines (Edinburgh Road Club) and Tom Dempste (Edge Racing).

Result

1 Shane Charlton - City of Edinburgh Racing Club
2 Euan Pope  - Rockhard MTB
3 Ryan Loye - Fullarton Wheelers
4 Dominic Hines- Edinburgh Road Club
5 Tom Dempste- Edge Racing

First Lady:  Christine McLean (Shetland Wheelers)

Second was versatile Jonathan Copp (Deeside) and third Paul Coats (SVMR).

Gordon Murdoch - glad that's over.

It was cold when we left Kirkcaldy this morning, and snowing hard by the time we passed Kirk o' Shotts; Sunday brunch in Cafe Gandolfi beckoned, but it was back to torrential rain in Glasgow and we pushed-on. It was dry down at Garelochhead though, but the mountains all around were capped with snow.

Route alterations
That white stuff caused a change of race route, the M.O.D. road at the north end of the course being well dusted. Rather than the traditional loop around the Rosneath peninsula, the route headed out along Gare Lochside in the opposite direction from usual, going all the way round the coast to Coulport; where in best time trial fashion it turned at the roundabout and retraced to the start.

After this, it was left up the dreaded Whistlefield at Garelochhead and another roundabout turn a mile or two beyond the summit, then back down Whistlefield; to be repeated three times.

Jason keeps his new colours under wraps at the start.

The sun was out when a well wrapped-up and rather reluctant bunch headed out from Garelochhead along a flooded Gare Lochside. It wasn't long until sleet replaced the sunshine, and at Ardpeaton the bunch also had to contend with waves breaking over the road!

Early sort-out
First to call it a day was Andrew Nicell (Velo Ecosse) - he wouldn't be the last. Out of the roundabout at Coulport there were six riders clear, including Jason Macintyre, his new Edge colours wrapped up in a cape. It was 30 seconds to the bunch then another 30 seconds to a group of seven.

Back along the Loch side we passed an awful lot of solo casualties and by time the race hit Whistlefield for the first time the group of six had become ten and the race was effectively over if you weren't in that group.

Stewart McGregor rode strongly today for 6th.

Paul Rennie (Edge) took the prime, Raymond Wilson (Dunfermline), Jonathan Copp (Deeside), Stewart McGregor (Velo Ecosse) and Jason all looked comfy and it was wearing-on for two minutes before the seven chasers appeared, led by Phil Brown (Velo Ecosse).

More casualties
On the descent of Whistlefield the gap was two minutes as the race entered lap two.

At this juncture we decided there was little to be gained by following the bunch all the way to Coulport and back, the race pattern was decided, but it was too early for heroics. Instead we headed-off in search of fuel and food - we had to go all the way to Helensburgh and passed the Peace Campers at the submarine base en-route; beats working I guess.

The second time up Whistlefield the ten were nine, Dunfermline mountain test winner, Arthur Doyle (Ivy) having lost his place.

Colin Ash had a frustratingly long time off the bike.

Nine became eight as Colin Ash (Cestria CC) punctured on the prime line and had to change a rear wheel.

The winner comes out the break?
It was three minutes plus back to the chasers, and we had a repeat wheel-change performance with Kevin Barclay (Evans) - but he did a get a quicker change than Mr. Ash.

Kevin benefits from a quick wheel change from his dad.

On the decent there was one rider clear and motoring - Jason. Putting his nice new Cervelo through it's paces, punctures or crashes apart the race was won - or so we thought. However, an hour later it was Gordon Murdoch ridng strongly into sight up to the finish atop Whistlefield; but what happened to Jason's bid?

Jonathan Copp tries to recover to answer fool questions from VeloResults!

What they said

We grabbed second finisher, Jonathan Copp just after he crossed the line to get the story straight from the horse's mouth:

"Jason went away but there were still guys riding strongly in the bunch and he was pulled back, he went again, this time with Stewart McGregor. But behind we kept grafting away, particularly Raymond Wilson and myself, so they didn't open a big gap.

"Stewart blew and came back, then Gordon went across to - and past - Jason. I just kept chasing, I looked back and saw I had a gap and kept going. I thought maybe I could get up to Gordon before the finish, but when I hit the finish hill I knew I couldn't catch him. The cold just gradually ate into you today, it was a hard day."

Gordon looking forward to a warm shower.

We didn't catch winner, Gordon until he was changed and warm in the strip:

"Jason and Stewarty had a gap of 30 seconds at Coulport for the last time but me and Raymond Wilson rode hard and got it down to about 10 seconds. Stewart cracked on the climb at Rosneath and came back. I jumped across to Jason but he didn't get on my wheel - he had gone by then.

"I concentrated on getting the gap before the finishing climb, I knew that once I was on that no one would get across to me. Timing was everything today, it was so hard into that wind but it was a good agressive race. I'll be riding all the Grand Prix's this year, I won't be doing Girvan though, I'll be riding in Ireland at Easter."

Fourth finisher, Raymond Wilson told us:

"I felt great with 15 miles to go, then I lost the feeling in my hands and I just couldn't get my gels and food from my jersey pockets, on a day like today if you don't eat then you"ve had it."

A good race, a deserving winner and a great start to the 2007 GP series.

Result

1. Gordon Murdoch (East Kilbride)
2. Jonathan Copp (Deeside)
3. Paul Coats (SVMR)
4. Ray Wilson (Dunfermline)
5. Jason Macintyre (Edge)
6. Stewart McGregor (Velo Ecosse)
7. Brian Pool (Andersons)
8. Paul Rennie (Edge)
9. Colin Ash (Cestria CC)
10. Jim Murdoch (Edge)

VeloResults reckons a special mention should go to Tom Dempster (Edge): 15th over 90 tough miles, and still a junior!