Thursday, March 28, 2024

Scottish 12 Hour Time Trial Championship 2008

-

HomeRaceRace ReviewsScottish 12 Hour Time Trial Championship 2008

Steve Beech has ridden two Milk Races and ten 12 hour races, so when he tells you that this year’s Scottish ’12’ was the hardest one he’s ever ridden, he knows what he’s talking about.

He’s also held the Scottish record, with 275.258 miles – set in the Glasgow 12 in 1991, until Joe Wilson updated it; that distance is however, still the Scottish vets record.

Steve Beech.

We asked him why he’s still riding 12’s – and winning bronze medals with 246 miles – at 58 years-of-age?

“Because I’m mad!

“I had a spell away from racing, 2001 to 2005 and when I came back, I joined Sandy Wallace. Joe Wilson and Ian Black were both riding the 12, so I rode too, for the team.

“This year, Joe didn’t ride (club sponsor, Sandy Wallace tells us that Joe and the team are considering an assault on the British 12 in 2009) nor did Ian – he’s had bad saddle sores all year – but I felt good in the 100 and decided to ride, to support the event, I wouldn’t like to see it disappear.

“I was 10 minutes down on Ken Kentley at one stage, but came back at him late in the day.

“At the end, the margin between us wasn’t much more than a mile; but to get that back I would have needed to know the position with an hour to go. It’s difficult to work out who’s doing what in the North 12; in order to keep the field together, they have riders miss legs.

“That makes it difficult to keep tabs and it also means that some riders aren’t having to do tough head wind legs.

“Chris Adamson (Musselburgh), rode well (4th), he wasn’t far behind me, but he benefited from missing a tough leg.”

In second place was Ken Kentley;

“I was hoping for a medal, so I’m happy with 248 and silver. After six hours I couldn’t eat, I felt terrible and just wanted to get to the finish.

“I could only take liquids, not even gels. The Invergordon course isn’t a bad course, but it was very windy – the leg back to Inverness was tough, it was a block head wind. At least it was dry and mild.”

Scottish 12 Hour Time Trial Championship
Carlos Riise.

For one reason or another, we didn’t manage to catch up with the winner, Shetland’s perennial Carlos Riise (above), the winner on 268.17 miles; but we did get an email from him;

“It was a hard windy day, not sure if I’ve recovered yet. Though I was surprised with my distance, I guess I must have gotten the position right on the day.

Scottish 12 Hour Time Trial Championship
Christine Mclean.

“A bigger surprise was Christine Mclean’s win, no specific training or long runs other than competing in a few 50’s and 100’s. That and her other gold SCU and CTT Vets medals has certainly given her a season to be proud of.”

Just like the man to play down his own achievment.

With Joe Wilson, Jim Cusick and Ian Black all giving the 12 a “by” the Shetand man has the Scottish BAR in the bag too.

Scottish 12 Hour Time Trial Championship – Result

1 Carlos Riise Shetland Wheelers 268.17 miles
2 Kenny Kentley Team Velo Ecosse 248.06
3 Steve Beech Sandy Wallace Cycles 246.86

4 Christopher Adamson Musselburgh R.C.C. 244.54
5 Euan Ritchie Angus Bike Chain 238.91
6 Stephen Blom Glasgow Couriers 235.46
7 Dave Millard Angus Bike Chain 226.21
8 Christine McLean Shetland Wheelers 225.86 miles
9 Louisa Edmonston Edinburgh R.C. 225.48
10 Alan Rose Deeside Thistle C.C. 223.54
11 Ian Wilson Deeside Thistle C.C. 215.64
12 John Anderson Glasgow Couriers 213.44
13 Peter McLean Elgin C.C. 212.03
14 Peter Crawley Deeside Thistle C.C. 211.82
15 Shelley Farrar Deeside Thistle C.C. 207.97
16 Ivan Laughton Deeside Thistle C.C. 202.92
17 Linda Reid Deeside Thistle C.C. 202.39
18 Keith Rowson Deeside Thistle C.C. 201.95
19 Sandy Whyman Deeside Thistle C.C. 201.80
20 Allan McCourt Deeside Thistle C.C. 192.94
21 Dave Kilshaw Deeside Thistle C.C. 191.67
22 Stephen Darling Deeside Thistle C.C. 189.76
23 Eric Malcolm Deeside Thistle C.C. 139.08

DNF Doug Haig Deeside Thistle C.C.
DNF Gary Reid Elgin C.C.
DNS Ken Ross Cromarty Firth C.C.
DNS Bobby Gilmour Glasgow Nightingale C.C.
DNS Barry Duncan Edinburgh R.C.
DNS Charlene Hamilton Deeside Thistle C.C.
DNS Al Sutton Elgin C.C.
DNS Ian Black Sandy Wallace Cycles
DNS Colin Sim Deeside Thistle C.C.
DNS Philip Duncan Deeside Thistle C.C.

Handicap
1 Stephen Blom 280.81
2 Peter McLean 278.02
3 Alan Rose 271.80

Vet on Standard
1 Christopher Adamson 27.85
2 Euan Ritchie 22.22
3 Linda Reid 11.74

Championship Women
Gold – Christine McLean
Silver – Louisa Edmonston
Bronze – Shelley Farrar

Championship Team
Deeside Thistle C.C.651.00
Alan Rose, Ian Wilson, Peter Crawley

Championship Team Women
Deeside Thistle C.C. 410.36
Shelley Farrar, Linda Reid

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed's been involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he's been a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He's also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months was often working in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed remains a massive fan of the sport and couples his extensive contacts with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae and the history of our sport. In February 2023 however, our dear friend and beloved colleague Ed suffered a devastating stroke and faces an uncertain future; Ed has lost his ability to speak, to read, and has lost movement on the right side of his body. He's working with speech and physical therapists on rehabilitation, but all strokes are different and each patient responds differently, so unfortunately recovery is one day at a time. Ed ran his own business installing windows, and will probably not be able to work again. Please consider joining us to make a contribution to Ed's GoFundMe page to help stabilise and secure his future.

Related Articles

Le Tour de France 2010, Stage 2: Brussels – Spa; Tour Feminine?

Le Tour de France 2010 'Ride to rule,' 'rider protest,' or 'strike' - file all under, 'PR disaster.' Once again it was Viktor with the quote of the day; 'Tour Feminine.' Dave Chapman only needed one word; 'farce!'

Le Tour de France 2016 – Les Chiffres (the Numbers)

I know, I said I’d penned my last Tour piece for the year but I was in the area, there was a parking space and I thought; ‘I’ll have a quick look’ – and to my joy there it was, Monday’s L’Équipe in pride of place outside the International Newsagents. A sad 40 minutes in the City Cafe ensued as I distilled les chiffres (that’s numbers) you need to make you the font of all knowledge on the club run.

Scottish 10 Mile Time Trial Championship 2009

Scottish 10 Mile Time Trial Championship 2009 - Scottish time trialling came within ten seconds of a major upset on the wind swept tarmac of the A77 near Newton Mearns on Saturday morning as 45 year-old Peter Ettles (Forres) thrashed his 104" fixed gear to within that many seconds of defending 10 mile champion and current short distance king, Arthur Doyle (Dooleys).

World Road Championships 2012 – Day Three; U23 Time Trial World Championship

The party’s over at the U23 Time Trial World Championship, there’s no more nice wee room in Valkenburg and ambling down for breakfast, with the patron asking if you’d like a fried egg to go with your rolls, cheese and ham.

At Random

Paul Kimmage, Part 2: “It wouldn’t take much – just a bit of honesty”

If you're a rider, you've have had issues with 'les vitamines' and Paul Kimmage turns up at your press conference, best ask for a brandy to sip, forget that Vittel. Kimmage is the man who wrote 'The Rough Ride', an exposé of his experiences as a young 'green as grass' young pro and his flirtations with 'the needle.'

Sandy Gordon – Part Two: Shipyards and Scottish Championships

In Part One of our interview with Sandy Gordon, we heard about his horror crash at the 1966 Tour of Austria and missing the Jamaica Commonwealth Games, helping Brian Temple secure a silver medal at the 1970 Commonwealth Games and racing in the Tours of Scotland, Czechoslovakia - and getting banned for racing in South Africa at the Rapport Toer. We continue the chat by finding out more about Sandy's other overseas races and his many domestic successes...

Rotterdam Six Day 2011 – Day One, Stam and Van Bon Take Early Lead

Rotterdam Six Day 2011 and it wouldn't be a Six without off-the-track dramas - you'll all be familiar by now with the 'Iljo Saga.' Who ever you think is at fault, there's no doubt that the sport's governing body is now doing itself no favours with the way it's handling this situation. They tell the Rotterdam organiser that Keisse shouldn't start, but when Frank Boelé says; 'and you'll pick up the tab for the 50,000 Euros/day fine if Keisse's judgement sticks because I'm denying him the right to ride?'

Grand Tour Time Trial Bikes 2007

Grand Tour Time Trial Bikes 2007... With the prologue of the Tour taking London by storm, we thought it would be good to take a look at some of the hardware used. These shots came from the Giro.