Lochaber rider wins Oban Sportive cycling challenge
THE ROTARY Club of Oban in partnership with North Argyll Cycle Club (NACC) had another successful Sportive cycle challenge last Sunday with 78 cyclists taking part although 94 entries were received.
The event covered two country routes, the Loch Avich one at 52 miles and the longer Kilmartin one at 84 miles with both routes also having a timed hill climb.
Cyclists came from as far afield as Aberdeen, Arbroath, Berwick on Tweed and Glasgow with four members of the worldwide cycling club – Rapha – taking part.
Coming in first on the 84-mile route was 16-year-old Alex Dent from Onich who is a member of the Nevis Cycle Race team with a splendid time of four hours, 41 minutes, which was 56 minutes ahead of the second fastest time. Alex also clocked the best time for the hill climb.
The fastest time for the 52mile route was recorded by NACC’s Steven Groom from Benderloch who covered the distance in three hours, 11 minutes, 59 seconds.
Very credible times were also recorded by Oban’s Fraser Inglis and Gavin Blainey with thee hours, 21 minutes, 52 seconds and three hours, 26 minutes, 07 seconds respectively. Fraser and Gavin were team-mates in Oban Camanachd’s 1996 Camanachd Cup-winning team.
Although it was very wet in Oban on Sunday, the cyclists regarded the weather conditions out in the country as favourable to them with very little rain in evidence and they were also very complimentary regarding the organisation of the event in terms of health and safety, signage, feed stations etc.
Oban Rotary Club president Tommy McQuade commented on the good turnout by his members and he also expressed his gratitude to the ladies of Inner Wheel for their baking and for the support the event receives from its sponsors, Dawnfresh Seafoods Ltd, Atlantis Community Leisure, MacQueen Brothers, the Rusty Cycle Shed, BID4Oban and Tesco. The net proceeds from the event go towards supporting local good causes.