Sport: Cycle column

Dec 23 2011 by Lizzie Smith, Kilmarnock Standard

SEVENTY competitors lined up at Marress, Irvine, on Sunday for the 54th annual Cyclists V Harriers challenge race.

Every Christmas, keen bikers and runners from all over Ayrshire fight it out on a cross country circuit over Irvine Moor.

The weather is always a big factor in the five-mile fun run with hard-packed ice or deep crunchy snow generally determining how the event is tackled.

This year, the ground was a mix of soft and hard, but the sun shone throughout the proceedings.

The race, which starts and finishes at Marress playing fields, has two laps of Irvine moor as the centrepiece and cyclists need to dismount and push or carry their bikes on the tarmac paths which link the two areas.

For a second time in three years, Neil Walker of Walkers Cycling Club won the trophy, beating David Millar of Irvine Athletic Club by just over two minutes. Neil finished on 25.32 and David on 24.42. Third and fourth places also went to Walkers CC members, Scott Kerr (28.29) and Stuart McLean (28.46).

Other members of WCC to participate were Scott Russell who finished ninth, and Euan Cleland, who pulled up after snapping a gear cable half way round the running track. Russell Mowat got off to a positive start, distancing himself from the body of runners within the first 50 feet, but was unable to maintain the pace being set by Neil and Scott and completed the course in 17th position. Jim Goldie also took part despite suffering injuries caused by a fall from his bike on the Saturday due to the ice. This meant Jim had problems getting back on his bike after the dismounts and also carrying his machine on the run-ups. He still managed to finish, but not quite as good a position as last year. Catherine Walker did well to be first among the lady cyclists with a creditable 28th overall. Despite recovering from a bad cold, Fiona Walker made a valiant effort to take part and managed to struggle round.

Among other cyclists taking part were Colin Davidson of Ayrodynamic Triathletes, who was competing along with three running colleagues. Colin was fifth fastest cyclist overall on 32.34.

Drew Clark and Andrew Agnew of Wallacehill CC were 18th and 21st respectively while Angela Martin of Dales RT was 37th.

The full finishing list was: 1 Neil Walker; 2 David Millar; 3 Scott Kerr; 4 Stuart McLean; 5 Lee Wilson, Shettleston Harriers 28.52; 6 Stephen Wylie, Girvan AAC 28.59; 7 Iain Connell, Kilmarnock H&AC 29.09; 8 Billy Richardson, Irvine AC 29.24; 9 Scott Russell, Walkers CC 30.54; 10 Steve Daye, North Ayrshire AC 31.03; 11 Alex Allardyce, Irvine AC 31.11; 12 William Morgan, Irvine AC 31.23; 13 Steven Prentice, Bellahouston Harriers 31.26; 14 Chris Upson, Westerlands XC Club 31.28; 15 Scott Martin, Kilmarnock H&AC 31.59; 16 Colin Davidson, Ayrodynamic TC 32.34; 17 Russell Mowat, Walkers CC 32.46; 18 Drew Clark, Wallacehill CC 33.02. 19 Jim Goldie Walkers CC 33.26; 20 Kara Tait, Kilmarnock H&AC 33.39; 21 Andrew Agnew, Wallacehill CC 34.07; 22 David White, Kilmarnock H&AC 34.08; 23 Joe McNamee, Irvine AC 34.12; 24 Colin Miller, Irvine AC 34.35; 25 Connell Drummond, Kilmarnock H&AC 34.50; 26 Gareth Brown, North Ayrshire AC 34.58; 27 Gordon Thomson, Irvine AC 35.12; 28 Catherine Logan, Walkers CC 35.15; 29 Gary Kilpatrick U/A 35.21; 30 Alastair MacFarlane, Irvine AC 35.31; 31 Jim Sneddon, Irvine AC 35.41; 32 Angus McTaggart, Girvan AAC 35.51; 33 Tommy Begley, Irvine AC 35.51; 34 Stephen Flanagan, Girvan AAC 36.34; 35 Gary Daye, U/A 36.37; 36 James White, Irvine AC 37.05; 37 Angela Martin, Dales RT 37.08; 38 Paul Camlin, Ron’s Runners 37.34; 39 Natalie Fleming, Troon Tortoises AC 37.41; 40 Steven Connell, Irvine AC 37.51; 41 Bill Gerrie, Troon Tortoises 38.14; 42 Stuart Hawthorn, Ayrodynamic TC 38.18; 43 Graeme McKenzie, Troon Tortoises AC 38.38; 44 David Mooney, Mooney Motivators 38.41; 45 Paula Wilson, Kilmarnock H&AC 38.43; 46 Brian Darroch, Kilmarnock H&AC 38.56; 47 Andrew McNaught, Girvan AAC 39.02; 48 Thomas Turner, Ron’s Runners 39.23; 49 Ewan Currie, Ayrodynamic TC 39.30; 50 Terry Mulholland, Kilmarnock H&AC 39.46; 51 Timothy Downie, Troon Tortoises 40.00; 52 Adam Agnew, U/A 40.00; 53 Kenneth Wales, Kilmarnock H&AC 40.17; 54 Kenneth Salmon, Ron’s Runners 40.42; 55 Ian Davidson, Girvan AAC 41.09; 56 Michael Flinn, Irvine AC 41.19; 57 George McGregor, Troon Tortoises 42.10; 58 Sarah Sigley, Ayrodynamic TC 42.36; 59 Lorna Sloan, Kilmarnock H&AC 43.19; 60 David Etchells, Troon Tortoises 43.31; 61 Karen Robertson, Troon Tortoises AC 43.38; 62 Ian Logan, Kilmarnock H&AC 43.49; 63 Ada Stewart, Kirkintilloch Olympians 44.42; 64 Paul Roberts, Troon Tortoises 45.19; 65 Katy Smith, Bellahouston Harriers 46.01; 66 Moira Connell, Troon Tortoises AC 47.42; 67 Shirley McNab, Kirkintilloch Olympians 48.51; 68 Fiona Walker, Walkers CC 50.59; 69 Kevin Wright, North Ayrshire AC 52.07; 70 Susan Westlake, Troon Tortoises 61.15.

lFIVE Walkers riders braved the icy conditions and met at the shop in Kilmaurs for the Saturday road run. It was unanimously agreed that a limited trip to Langholm Farm on main roads was the order of the day. There was a brief stop while one rider fixed a puncture. After coffee and scones the group headed for Dundonald.

Unfortunately most of the road was sheet ice but Neil Walker was able to deploy his cyclocross skills to make steady progress down the grass verges. Pete Forsythe and David Belding both had minor tumbles and were shown up by speed ace Tommy Gribbon who was at his graceful best to stay upright.

Fiona Walker erred on the side of caution and walked on the grass verge, sensibly using her bike for balance. After that it was back to main roads and an ice-free return route to Kilmaurs.

lTEA mugs heated up hands at the end of the Retired Gentleman’s Cycling Club weekly jaunt on Monday.

The five Stewarton cyclists opted for a main road route to avoid any ice. Heading for Irvine and turning left before the Stanecastle roundabout, the quintet followed the bus route to Dreghorn, past Crosshouse and made their way up Western Road in Kilmarnock to turn off to Kilmaurs. They then went right, off the A735 and crossed the Fenwick road, keeping north to continue on and enter Stewarton via Holm Street.

Back in the club’s church HQ, a handful of hot teas were very welcome as tales of weekend weather woes were shared.

lAYR Roads Cycling Club convened for the weekly Sunday run, with 20 riders making an appearance despite the cold conditions. A flat, coastal route was decided on, and so the intrepid group set off for southern pastures which included the Pennyglen, Maidens, Girvan and lastly Ballantrae, where the bunch re-fuelled ready for the return leg. A sunny, blue sky day was enjoyed by all, with the added bonus of fantastic views over to Arran, Kintyre and Ireland. Ayr Roads Cycling Club, sponsored by Harry Fairbairn BMW, start their Sunday runs at Beresford Terrace at 9.30am. Riders of all

abilities are more than welcome.

lMONDAY night saw 10 Fullarton riders take part in event four of the club’s VR winter league at their Drybridge meeting point.

The event featured a scenic and mainly flat Giro 10-mile TT circuit along the side of an Italian lake, not that many had time to take in the scenery. The fast level course is a favourite with many club members who can usually produce some fairly fast times.

Plans are underway to hold some special Monday events early in the new year. These will feature a talk by a sports nutritionist, a bike maintenance demo, an insight into training by club member Graeme Obree and an advice session on using a body mass analyser machine.

Obree, the former hour record holder and individual pursuit world champion, has launched his new training manual. It costs £30 and is available from www.obree.com/index.php