Off-road time trial given yellow jersey
Mountain bikers who competed in Kintyre Wheelers Cycling Club’s inaugural off-road time trial gave it the thumbs-up, writes Mark Davey. Perfect sunny but cool conditions with hardly a breath of wind saw 15 riders of all abilities head for the Lussa Loch TT at 11am on Sunday morning. Club chairman Robert Semple gave his usual safety briefing before the event being run in a semi-remote location. Despite the clear conditions, he gave a word of warning when he advised riders to take great care particularly on descents, saying: ‘If you go into a ditch on this course you’ll not be climbing back out of it.’ It was not just the premiere time trial on forest roads for KWCC but for some road riders, the 6.5-mile event was their first time on mountain bikes. Alex Binnie, dubbed the ‘rocket man’, finished first and said: ‘Yet another well organised event, Robbie. ‘I really enjoyed it today, over the moon with my time but I’m pretty sure I’ll not be top of the winter league for long, but in the meantime I’m loving it.’ Cycling crofter Emma Smith, from Taynuilt, came in second having spent the previous day beating for pheasant at Ormsary. McFadyens Contracting director Tom Millar said: ‘Very well organised, Robbie; well done, Alex, a great race.’ The full results: 1 Alex Binnie 27.20; 2 Emma Smith 30.15; 3 Robbie Semple 30.16; 4 Jim Cretton 30.20; 5 Malcolm McFadzean 30.51; 6 Iain McGougan 30.57; 7= Kathryn McGeachy, Elaine McGeachy 37.03; 8 Colin Stalker 37.29; 9 Tom Millar 37.4; 10 Lynsay McGeachy 39.03; 11 James Murdoch 45.18 (sweeper); 12 Catrina Semple 48.36; 13 Margaret Sinclair 49.37; 14 Dougal Jones (punctured) 50.18.