Alan Thomson – Winner of the Meldons Hilly Time Trial 2013 (inc. Scottish TT Championship) (0)

Scottish Time Trial Championships in April? But like Dylan said; ‘The Times They are a Changin’ . . . .

Sunday was horrible, wind, rain, cold – just what my bad throat and chest didn’t need. Step forward our Editor, Martin who, despite having been riding in the storm all morning to help with filming John Anderson’s Tour o’ the Borders sportive, braved the ghosts from the biggest Iron Age in Scotland, which sits up on the 1400’ White Meldon to brandish the Nikon into the gale force storm.

Winner through the murk and driving rain was Sandy Wallace Cycles’ Alan Thomson, holding off teammate Silas Goldsworthy by eight seconds in the Tour of the Meldons – incorporating the Scottish Olympic Time Trial Championship.

Scottish Cyclo-Cross Championships 2013 (0)

Cyclists are a hardy bunch, perhaps Cyclo-Cross Cyclists are the hardiest of them all. On a miserable and bitterly cold February afternoon at Strathclyde Country Park they faced the sleet-fall and muddy terrain with good humour and sturdy resolve. I didn’t hear one complaint all day, maybe because everyone was just happy to finally be having a Scottish Championship after it’s postponement from last November due to the ice-rutted dangerous course?

Demonstrating that the Scottish ‘Cross scene is in burgeoning good shape, there were lots of riders in each category, with the Senior riders going off last and enjoying the nicely churned course in drying but ever-colder conditions.

Scottish National Hill Climb Championship 2012 (14)

On a beautiful Scottish Borders Sunday morning, Boardman Elite’s versatile mountain biker, Grant Ferguson turned around a 10 second deficit at the top of the steep section of the Stow climb to win the Scottish Hill Climb Championship by three seconds from up and coming Steve Lawley (thebicycleworks.com), with the bronze going to Jamie Kennedy (Glasgow Couriers).

Scottish National 25 mile Time Trial Championship 2012 (5)

On a grey, damp but mild and fast Sunday morning on the roads around Blairdrummond near Stirling, Dooleys’ Ian Grant added the ’25′ title to the ’50′ with a fine 52:26; besting Sandy Wallace’s Silas Goldsworthy – whose fight back over the closing miles hauled back a 17 second deficit on Grant down to six at the line.

Last year’s ’50′ champion Alan Thomson, took another medal for Sandy Wallace with bronze in 53:09.

The event was not without controversy, however.

Why Not Take the Race to the People! (1)

The Scottish road race; a nice day, a good course – past the village green at Denholm is cool – well marshalled, a full field.

But why start 30 minutes late; why is it so difficult to get a start sheet and why not take it into Hawick, each lap – past the pubs ?

Preview – The Scottish National 25 Mile Time Trial Championships (0)

Organiser Isobel Smith is certainly hoping the recent run of fine weather continues for her race on Sunday morning, the Scottish 25 Mile Time Trial Championships.

Promoted by Aberdeen & District CA, and held on the fast AB25/8 course, with Arthur Doyle (Dooleys RT) and Peter Ettles (Forres CC), first and second at the recent 10 Mile Time Trial Champs competing, chased by fourth-placed Mark Atkinson (Sandy Wallace Cycles) it looks like it’ll be a good contest.

Scottish Hill Climb Championship 2008 (0)

On a mild but blustery day on the north side of the Ochil Hills, Ben Abrahams (equipe Velo Ecosse – Montpeliers ) finally realised some of his potential and gave new team sponsors Harley Haddow engineering and Warners solicitors value for money with a surprise 17 second win in the Scottish Hill Climb Championship.

The Glasgow Grand Prix 2008 (0)

The Tour of Britain’s penultimate stage departed from Glasgow Green today, taking the peloton south to the beautiful setting of Drumlanrig Castle in the Southern Uplands.

The Glasgow Grand Prix took advantage of the closed circuit and the watching crowds, with two events following immediately after the ToB departure.

Scottish 12 Hour Time Trial Championship 2008 (0)

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.

The Scottish Road Race Championships (0)

“Yeah, I’m happy to have won, but I’m not happy at having to go back to Yorkshire again – I just came from there, last night! And I’m sick of eating pies!”

The words of Plowman Craven professional Evan Oliphant after successfully defending the Scottish road race title on a deceptively tough course over 81 miles of the beautiful rolling Borders country around historic Hawick.

Scottish 50 Mile Time Trial Championship 2008 (0)

“Given my record of bad luck in 50′s, when I heard that the course had been changed, I expected to end up in the Cromarty Firth at the turn, checking out the dolphins!”

But Mark Atkinson successfully avoided that fate to take his third Scottish 50 title; leading Sandy Wallace team mates, second placed Jonathan Copp and fifth placed Ian Black, to take a double championship win on a bright but cool and windy Sunday morning on the A9 near Invergordon.

Scottish 25 Mile Time Trial Championship 2008 (0)

Recording exactly the same time – 52:15 – as the last occasion he won the 25 title, in 2005, Fort William’s Mark Atkinson (Sandy Wallace Cycles) regained his crown on a cool and windswept Laurencekirk by-pass on Sunday morning.

VeloVeritas correctly tipped the top three, but got the order wrong. We had Mark down to win ahead of Dooley’s duo, Arthur Doyle and Gary Robson, but a personal best 52:46 by Robson gave him the silver by nine seconds from Doyle.

Scottish National 25 Mile Time Trial Championship: Preview (0)

The only thing that is certain about Sunday’s National 25 Championship, is that there will be a new champion.

Reigning champion, Jason Macintyre was snatched from us before we saw the very best of him; we miss you, Jason.

Sunday morning’s championship is organised by Isobel Smith on the rolling dual carriageways of the A90 near Strathcathro Services between Dundee and Aberdeen. The start is near Fordoun, just a mile or two from Arbuthnott – Lewis Grassick Gibbon country.

Scottish 10 Mile Time Trial Championship 2008 (0)

On a Sunday morning as close to perfect as we’ll get in Scotland, Arthur Doyle (Dooleys) did what most people had expected and took the Scottish ten mile championship over the A811, Kippen Flats, equalling Graeme Obree’s 20-13 course record. If Arthur’s first time trial championship win went to form, then the destination for rest of the medals was much less predictable.

Scottish Cyclo-Cross Championship 2007 (0)

Craig Hardie (Dunfermline CC) disproved the old adage that; “a good big ‘un, will always beat a good little ‘un,” when the 37 year-old from Dalgety Bay left his much-taller rival Dan Whitehead several lengths back to win the Scottish Cyclo-Cross Championships today on a snowy and technical circuit at Plean Country Park.