ATHLETICS
After the cancelling of the race last year due to Covid 19, it was back to business for seven Ayr Seaforth senior athletes at the popular Roon The Toon 10k at Kilmarnock.
With a field of over 1100 runners taking part, and a large number of crowds cheering on the route, it made for a fantastic atmosphere to take part in.
The strong field of runners and the great atmosphere lifted all the Seaforth athletes to produce some great times.
Finishing 13th overall and in first place in the Male over 40 category, Kenny Neill continued his impressive form to smash his PB set only five days earlier by 25 seconds, finishing in a time of 32.39.
Well done to the other Seaforth members on the day – Brian Robinson (26th) 34.28, Iain Pettigrew (139th) 41.24, Ian Morrison (141st) 41.30, Peter MacLean (157th) 42.23, David Wallace (248th) 46.10 and Laura Wallace (33rd female) 46.30.
CYCLING
AYR ROADS/HARRY FAIRBAIRN CC
Ayr Roads/Harry Fairbairn Cycling Club featured in a number of events throughout the country.
In the British National 50 mile Time Trial Championships, Gavin McDonald and Jennifer George, (2nd claim club member), were hoping to do well.
As a 17 year-old in 1984, Gavin smashed the Scottish Junior 50-mile record in a time of 1hr 59mins 3secs, taking the club’s senior and junior record at the same time.
Thirty-seven years on, a 54 year-old Gavin smashed the club’s veteran’s record by over two minutes in a new record time of 1:55:48.
Jennifer, the 2019 Scottish Road Race Champion, took bronze in the ladies Championship in a PB time of 1:54:42.
In Wales, Conal Davidson, a 2nd claim member of The Roads Club, took part in
the Junior Tour of Wales, but retired with a broken collar bone after a misshap.
Meanwhile, the final results of the prestigious Georgetown League were announced.
A season long weekly event that is held in Renfrewshire, the 7.5 mile Time Trial is one of the most popular events in Scotland.
Olympic gold medallist, Katie Archibald, took part and produced a ladies record of 14mins 49secs for the course.
Ayr Roads’ pair of Beth Macrae and John Mason featured in the final placings of the series, with Beth taking third place in the Ladies series.
Beth is now hoping to do well in the
Scottish 10 Mile National Championship.
John, one of the club’s octogenarians, makes a weekly trip from the Lothians to compete at Georgetown and also in the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome Track league in Glasgow. He’s no stranger to national honours on the track.
John took the Georgetown Veterans over 80 age trophy.
On local roads, the club held two events last week.
On Tuesday evening the fifth of the seven league events was held at Monkton.
The Monkton Sprint is a ten-lap time trial with club members going all out from the start on a very tight 60-mile circuit, needing good bike handling skills.
New club member, Oliver Newton, took the points by taking first place in a time of 15mins 27secs, narrowly beating second placed Michael Curran by two seconds.
And the club evening 10-mile Time Trial produced no less than seven Personal Bests on the Loans Course last Thursday, with Michael Curran winning in a time of 21 mins 12 secs (PB).
Beth Macrae was second in 22:19. Gordon Fields was third in 22:42 (PB). There were two other 22 minute rides; Scott Knox 22:43 and Alex McAllister, 22:52.
Meanwhile, Robert Kelly clocked up a ride of 120 miles by riding from Ayr to Ardrossan and then took in a circuit of the Isle of Arran.
Others clocked up various century rides, taking in the hill country of South Ayrshire and Galloway.
And newcomer Laura McGhee took herself off for her first ever circuit of Arran.