Ed to the four as he wins at Loans
Seventeen members took part in Ayr Roads Cycling Club’s last of the season club time trials on the Loans course last Thursday with four recording a season’s best.
Ed Clifton was again the winner in 21 mins 23 secs or just over 28 mph. This was only Clifton’s fourth ‘ 10’ of the season and he again produced a personal best.
Other results: 2. Michael Curran 22.19 ( season’s best); 3. Calum Hume 22.30 PB; 4. Kevin Brown 22.53; 5. Alastair McGibbon 23.00; 6. Robert Kelly 23.10; 7. Jody Gerrard 23.27; 8. Brian Yates 23.35; 9. Craig Robertson 24.03; 10. Lynne Wardrop 24.18; 11. Toni McIntosh 24.22; 12. Janet Erskine 24.43; 14. Colin Armstrong 25.57; 15. Michael McClelland 26.13 PB; 16= Duncan McArthur, Andrew Kent 26.25 PB.
This rounds off an exceptionally good season for the club’s confined ‘ 10’ Mile Time Trials, with 35 members participating which is more than half the club membership.
A total of 34 pbs were recorded with one member recording four pbs during the season.
Ayr Roads CC, in its 85th anniversary year, continues to support and encourage all to the sport, and now the racing season is almost over, social rides are the order.
Shorter and slower paced runs are planned for Sundays, as well as a seniors group midweek. Contact the forum on www. ayrroadscc. co. uk or ayrroadscc. freeforums. net
The club’s next event is the Hill Climb Championship on Carwinshoch Hill, which also features as part of the club’s league competition.
Look out for the famous Free- Wheel competition at Gibb’s Yard, Auchincruive. Date to be confirmed. Watch the heavyweights win for a change!
On Sunday, the last open 25 Mile Time Trial took place on the West Ferry course, organised by Johnstone Wheelers with Ayr Roads CC fielding seven riders.
Winner was Chris Smart of Paisley Velo in a staggering 52 mins 22 secs, the only competitor under 53 minutes.
Roads were without Kenny Armstrong who is still abroad, but had the return of Michael Robb, who had ridden very few events this year.
Despite this, the club performed well and were among the leading team times. Lynne Wardrop, who is in great form, was third in the ladies section.
Ayr Roads times: Paul Gibson 57.28; Ed Clifton 57.36; Michael Robb 58.18; Robert Kelly 1.00.59; Alastair McGibbon 1.01.40; Lynne Wardrop 1.03.54; Janet Erskine 1.04.49.
Former Ayr Roads rider Mark Skilling was seventh in 55.41.
● Club stalwart Calum Hume was accompanied by Kev Brown in the Pedal for Scotland Charitable ride on Sunday. Both rose the longer distance of 110 miles from Glasgow, via Stewarton, Galston, Muirkirk and across mid Scotland to Murrayfield.
Calum and Kev were part of a 750 group of cyclists in the longer distance event and finished seventh and eighth respectively.
In Northern Ireland, Ayr Roads pair Alan and Kathryn Thomson took part in a 100km charity ride, hosted by former UK Time Trial national champion Michael Hutchinson who rode with the 100 riders.
The Ayr duo rode the route together and finished in the top half. Both have entered the Causeway Challenge Sportive next weekend and are aware the Coastal route will be far more challenging, in terms of distance and climbing.
● A weekend of mixed terrains for Ayr Burners as members took on two big challenges.
Five Burners took part in the Pedal for Scotland Sportive, a 110 mile route that started in Glasgow and finished in Edinburgh with nearly 7000 feet of climbing.
Will Jackson posted an impressive 5 hours and 45 mins, maintaining a great pace over the peaks despite windy conditions.
Andy Clapperton and Kenny Girvan of Ayrodynamic Tri Club also enjoyed their day, courtesy of raffle ticket prizes from the Ayrshire Alps Friendly ride.
Meanwhile, the second early season CycloCross race, the Beveridge Park Grand Prix in Kirkcaldy, enticed over 100 to its slopes and bankings.
The fast and technical course kept all on their toes with off- camber sections and four sets of hurdles. Davie Lines of Starley- Primal took the men’s win, while Eileen Roe of Wiggle- Honda Racing claimed the ladies race. A broken spoke hampered Burners’ JP Baxter who finished 35th.
This weekend, Burners host their fourth Summer Chiller ride, a relaxed 40k ride through the quiet back lanes of South Ayrshire. It departs the Burns Centre at 9.30am with any prospective members welcome.
● The wide variety in Ayrshire CTC’s cycling programme was demonstrated last weekend with two rides in which the bike and cycling was not an end in itself.
Saturday saw the Ladies Ride dedicate itself to finding a vantage point to view the aerial offerings of the Scottish Air Show. Setting out seven strong from the University of West of Scotland, they made their way via suburban streets and the cycle path to High Greenan. The return was via Doonfoot shore.
The following day’s cycle was a Special Ride and was designed to take advantage of Ayrshire’s Open Doors Day. The ride focused on Irvine and Kilwinning and was supported by 10 riders.
This coming week has the penultimate midweek ride on Wednesday, a do- it- yourself ride on Saturday and the main monthly ride from Sanquhar on Sunday.