VeloResults

Super 6 Series – Event 6, East Saltoun (0)

On a day more suited to a November cyclo-cross, than a ‘summer’ road race, those Pedal Power boys did it again; Gary Hand topped and tailed the Super Six in taking the East of Scotland Championship at East Saltoun, having won the first round – also in East Lothian – back in the spring, whilst series leader, Gordon Murdoch built upon an already unassailable points total, in second spot.

The day was a horror; windy, wet and cold – the car computer said 10 degrees at one point – with the gnarly road surface covered in pieces of battered branches and foliage.

Super 6 Series – Event 5, Lang Whang (0)

Yesterday when I woke up, I was able to step out onto my patio and eat my breakfast in the warmth of a July morning. Now, 24 hours later, it felt like late October!

A strong wind was bringing the rain in at 45 degrees and the temperature was barely above zero. After picking up a few requirements for the riders going over to the Junior Tour of Ireland straight after the race, and stopping off at Asda to replace the missing card for my camera, I made my way out to the ‘Lang Whang’ to view the 5th installment in the Scottish Power Renewable’s Super Six series.

Super 6 Series – Event 4, Leven (0)

“That was horrid”, said the winner Evan Oliphant, as I asked him moments after he crossed the line how he enjoyed it. “It was just like being back at the Rás, what with the rain – and those roads!”.

Oh! I I thought he was talking about his teammate James McCallum congratulating him with a sloppy kiss on the cheek!

Super Six Series – Event 4, Leven: Preview (0)

The Duncan McGregor Memorial races will start with 5 or 10 minute gap between them. Race A off first.

Both races will tackle the climb to Largo Ward which will prove a challenge, race B have a prime the first time up the climb with race getting a lap to warm up before the first prime points are fought out.

Super 6 Series – Event 3, Greenacres (0)

“I was needing a win! I’ve had too many second places!” was how Gordon Murdoch (Pedal Power) explained his strongman’s victory over 62 windy, potholed, crash-plagued miles in Saturday’s Dooley’s Grand Prix, high on the bleak moors to the south west of Paisley.

The Pedal Power men took their tartan to a one-two-four, with Scott Macrae close behind Murdoch at the line and the man in the Super Six leader’s jersey – Gary Hand – fourth, after puncturing at the wrong time.

Third place belonged to race hero, Arthur Doyle (Dooleys); it had looked for a while as if his solo epic might pay off, but Murdoch was, as Macrae said; “super strong!”

Super 6 Series – Event 2, Wanlockhead (0)

“I knew you’d ask that! With my team mate Gordon Murdoch in second place in the series, there’s no pressure on me, and all I would say is that it’ll be hard for someone to win who’s not in Pedal Power!”.

Those were the words of Gary Hand in the run up to this weekend’s race, and with Ben Greenwood (Rapha Condor-Recycling) pulling out of the second round of the Super Six due to injury, it looked set to follow a similar pattern to the first round; being dominated by Pedal Power.

Super Six Series – Event 2, Wanlockhead: Preview (0)

Gary Hand (Pedal Power), race winner at Gifford in Round 1 carries his Super Six Series lead into Round 2 at Scotland’s highest village of Wanlockhead on Saturday.

The village sits at 467 metres (1531 feet) and used to be known as ‘God’s Treasure House’, due to the local mineral wealth.

[There’s a village in Fife which is known as ‘The Street of Fear’ due to the propensity of the locals to commit random acts of violence on strangers – but that’s another story].

Super 6 Series – Event 1, Gifford (0)

The new Scottish Cycling Super 6 series kicked off in grand style today at Gifford in beautiful East Lothian, with Gary Hand taking a well-executed and deserved solo win in the ‘A’ Race, in a superbly organised Edinburgh Road Club event.

It was a great result for his pedalpower.org.uk/Endura Race Team as his teammate Gordon Murdoch came across the line in 2nd place 32 seconds behind, and with David Lines in 6th place at 3′25″ and Paul Coates next in just 1 second behind pedalpower easily won the team award, a feat which mirrored the team’s earlier success in the ‘B’ race. Paul Coates also won the KoM competition, and Gary Hand the Sprints competition to round off a very successful day for the team.

Super Six Series – Event 1, Gifford: Preview (0)

Snowdrops by the roadside, fluffy white clouds scurrying across a blue sky, bright sunshine requiring the Ray Bans to get dusted-off, and a breeze that was fresh but not chilling – has Spring arrived in Gifford on this February Sunday?

Nah! It’ll be snowing, tomorrow!

Still, it was a lovely day to recce the course for the first of James McCallum’s ‘Super Six’ series; the timing was perfect, organiser Chris Harney pulled-on the brakes of his Orbea outside Gifford town hall, just as I stopped the Toyota beside the village green.