Clifton is ‘ Ed man for second year
But he goes four minutes slower this time
Ed Clifton repeated his win of last year when Ayr Roads/ Harry Fairbairn Cycling Club staged their Turnberry Circuit time trial last Thursday night.
Along with the Carwinshoch hill climb, it is the oldest event in Ayrshire and takes in the coastal route from Doonfoot via Pennyglen and Maidens to Turnberry.
The return is by Kirkoswald, Pennyglen and the Covenanter’s road to Alloway. At just over 28 miles, the event is also run on a handicapped basis that allows varying abilities to compete against the club’s fastest riders.
Fourteen members faced a strong south westerly wind to the turn, with exposed sections from the Dunure Mill to the Electric Brae and the Turnberry straight. The Ballyhilly climb out of Turnberry and the Covenanter’s road were by far the fastest sections of the course.
Ed was fastest in 1 hour 15 minutes 7 seconds. He was over four minutes slower than last year, showing how hard the conditions were. A close second was Calum MacDonald in 1: 15: 51.
New member Kenny Scott took the handicap award of the coveted Turnberry Cup, in 1: 01: 04. Kenny had never ridden a time trial before and until joining the club had been cycling on his own.
Now a regular on the club runs, he has joined a growing band of new recruits, who are mixing their leisure cycling with the occasional time trial or cyclo sportive event.
Other times: Mark Warters 1: 17: 30, Alex McAllister 1: 17: 48. Rory Webster 1: 18: 54, Tom Gooding- Hill 1: 19: 29 PB for the course, Harry Brawley 1: 19: 57 PB, Scott Knox 1: 20: 42, Kenny Scott 1: 23: 41, Bobby McGhee 1: 27: 35 PB, John Gemmell 1: 28: 29, Ross Mulvennan 1: 30: 04, Aileen Fisher 1: 35: 00.
The Turnberry Circuit is a popular annual competition favoured by club members. At the finish there were a few slavering mouths, not attributed to the physical efforts of the race, but in awaiting Aileen’s chocolate brownies and home made tablet that went down a treat.
The Turnberry circuit also counts for the club’s league championship, which again looks as though it will go to the wire. Now, with six events completed, three remain, with six points separating four riders. It may well be the club’s hill climb will determine the league winner.
Cyclo Sportives have become very popular events, with many taking place throughout the UK and Europe. This year, Ayr Roads members have competed in 10, including two in France and one in Northern Ireland.
Andy Conway of Roads has competed in four events on his own and two weeks ago represented the club in the famous Ride London, where he completed the 100 mile course with thousands of other participants.
The Ayrshire Alps sportive will take place in a few weeks, when no doubt there will be a contingent from the Roads club.
The midweek group clocked up 70 good miles on East Ayrshire byways, before taking a delightful little known road from Catrine over to Galston and Stewarton. Sunday’s club run took in the Turnberry hills, clocking up a modest 40 miles.
This Sunday will see elite time triallists head to Forfar to compete in the Scottish National Team Time Trial championships. Teams of four will take on the 39 mile course.
Roads have performed well over the past few years, with their ladies taking gold in 2014. The club will field two teams, some of whom are complete novices to Team Time Trialling.