Friday, March 29, 2024

Scottish Vets’ Road Race Championship 2007

-

HomeRaceRace ReviewsScottish Vets' Road Race Championship 2007

When it became apparent that the Scottish Vets’ Road Race Championship 2007 — over 65 wet and hilly miles at Alford – would end in a sprint finish, most bets were on fast-finisher Graham McGarrity (Edge RT).

John Kermode (Dundee Thistle) had other ideas however and McGarrity had to settle for second.

Kermode was, understandably; ‘delighted’, whilst McGarrity: ‘hates to lose a sprint, especially in vets’ race!’

The car computer read 13 degrees as the field rolled-out of Alford Ski Centre but the rain which would persist throughout the event, coupled with a cold breeze, made it feel chilly – especially on the higher points of the two 30-odd mile loops around the Correen Hills which fringe the Grampian Mountains.

Scottish Vets' Road Race Championship 2007
Some local spectators.

Favourites included McGarrity, a former winner of the Scottish senior road race championships, Jim Cusick (Glasgow Couriers) the current Scottish 50 mile time champion and defending champion Stuart McGregor (Velo Ecosse).

Scottish Vets' Road Race Championship 2007
Davie Whitehall leads the chase on lap 1.

David Whitehall (unattached), was another interesting entry, a multiple winner of Scottish titles in the 70’s and 80’s.

VeloVeritas had been charged with keeping an eye on 50 plus favourite, Jim Leslie (the bicycleworks) by his Spanish-based mentor Al Hamilton, but the Portobello man failed to appear and it was Kirkcaldy rider Graham Barclay who finished best of “the more mature riders.”

Scottish Vets' Road Race Championship 2007
Cusick & Barclay bridge up to the break, lap 1.

After one hour’s riding on the climb out of Rhynie, it looked like the race pattern had formed, with five up the road including McGregor, Kermode and McGregor with Cusick and Barclay bridging-up.

Scottish Vets' Road Race Championship 2007
McGarrity makes it hurt – Bennachie, lap 2.

McGregor in particular looked to have the bit firmly between his teeth and a seven man group of this quality would usually stay away in a Scottish senior event.

Scottish Vets' Road Race Championship 2007
McGregor and McGarrity see the gap closing again.

Surprisingly, this break was caught, McGarrity put it down to;

“I think we all thought that we were the break of the day and got a bit complacent.”

Kermode put it differently;

“Nobody gave-up in the group behind.”

whilst McGregor felt;

“We weren’t working as a cohesive unit.”

On the big climb over the flank of 493 metre Bennachie on the second lap it was all together, with a savage dig from McGarrity failing to do the damage he wanted;

“I’ve split the race on that climb a couple of times in the past, but not today!”

Scottish Vets' Road Race Championship 2007
McGregor driving at the front.

The second climb out of Rhynie saw McGregor at the front driving a little group clear, but despite exhortations to his fellow breakaways, the gap at the top wasn’t sufficient and it was apparent that it was going to be a blanket finish.

Scottish Vets' Road Race Championship 2007
It’s heading for a bunch sprint.

The rain-lashed finishing straight was flat and fast, curving gently to the right and it was McGarrity who launched first;

“I went at around 250 to go, with the benefit of hindsight that was maybe a bit early, I had been conscious of Kermode on my wheel for the last couple of miles and when I saw him coming on my left, I drifted that way a little to try and put him off, but he got past —

“I’m not used to loosing sprints, especially in vets races!

“There are so many time triallists riding this race, they’ll chase all day, but won’t try to get away or jump across on their own.

“Still, the criterium champs are coming-up at Glasgow Green, so we’ll need to try and do something in that.”

[Glasgow Green, that’s only an hour away — surely it’s not a proper race unless you have to drive 150 miles to get there.]

Kermode’s memory of the lead-out distance was a little shorter;

“I had heard that McGarrity had a good finish, so I was on his wheel for the last mile, it was a crowded finish, with riders all-over the road, I hardly glimpsed the yellow flag and started to go past him at around 100 to go, my sunglasses had steamed-up so I couldn’t really see the line, just a group of people —that was what I sprinted for!

“It was a really fast race today, I made it 24 mph… I’m just delighted to have won.”

VC Astar man, Chris Thomson took bronze, and just as it was time to head home — the sun came out.

Scottish Vets' Road Race Championship 2007
The Macs agree, that was good fun.

Result

1 J.Kermode, Dundee Thistle – 2,40,45
2 G.McGarrity, Edge Racing – All at st
3 C.Thomson, V.C. Astar
4 S.McIntosh, Granite City
5 P.McDonald, Johnstone Wheelers
6 G.Barclay, Kirkcaldy & District 1st 50+
7 = S.McGregor, Velo Ecosse
K.Thomson, Dunfermline CC
D.Hines, Edinburgh R.C.
J.May
O.Brookes
P.Ettles, Forres
C.Fisher, Glasgow Nightingale
T.Worthington
A.Taylor, Glasgow Wheelers
R.Nicholson, Classic Walls
N.Johnstone
T.Nugent, East Kilbride
P.Allan, Granite City
A.Hay, Stirling RC 2nd 50+
F.Morris, G.S.Metro
E.Shackley, Ivy CC
R.Shenton, Team Swift Allsorts 3rd 50+
M.Houston, Edinburgh RC
B.Dallas, Ythan CC
J.Daly, Johnstone Wheelers
N.Anderson, DTCC
E.Ritchie, unattached
D.Whitehall
30 J.Cusick, Glasgow Couriers
31 R.Reidy, Leslie Bikes
32 P.Waites, Fife CC @ 5.58
33 I.Wilkie, DTCC @ 5.59
34 C.Russell, Edinburgh RC @ 6.01
35 A.Mcallister, Ayr RC @ 6.05
36 D.Lang, Glasgow Wheelers “
37 A.Syme, unattached “
38 G.Findlater, “ @ 6.08
39 N.Kininmonth, DTCC @ 8.43
40 N.Skene, Granite City @ 17.44
41 I.Anderson, Dundee Thistle @ 22.20
42 J.Gemmell, Ayr RC “
43 N.Howarth, DTCC “
44 C.Cowie, Aberdeen Wheelers “

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 2014 – Stage 4; Le Touquet – Paris-Plage, 164 km. Marcel Kittel goes 3 from 4

I didn’t think Kristoff was as ultimately fast as that; I knew he’s a beast of a boy but didn’t think that a straight sprinters’ stage was tough enough for him - but he nearly proved me wrong in Lille at the end of Stage Four. The wily Paolini and strong-as-a-bear Russian Champion Alex Porsev dragged the Katusha Norwegian through the chaos and gave him a clear run – but Kittel was just too strong, again.

Le Tour de France 2009 – The Day After

And now Le Tour de France 2009 is all over; it's Monday morning and we're in a cafe at Montmartre - lucky us, I'm taking care to savour the moment. Even though the coffees are four euros each.

Le Tour de France 2017 – Stage 12: Pau – Peyragudes, 214.5km. Bardet confirms and Aru goes Yellow!

It wasn’t until inside the last kilometre at Peyragudes that the drama really unfolded; Bardet confirms, as does Aru, Froome cracks a little, Quintana cracks A LOT and much as it pains me; ‘one season too many, Bert!’ And Bennett and Martin impress, especially the latter who’s carrying injuries from that horrible crash with Porte on Sunday.

La Vuelta a España 2012 – Stage 6: Tarazona – Jaca 175.4 km

You have to be impressed by Sky’s riding here at the La Vuelta a España 2012. There was no show boating or ‘riding into the climb’ – they only went to the front when it really counted.

At Random

Copenhagen Six Day 2013 – Day Six

'Are you ready, boys?' asks ex-pro and new Copenhagen Six Day 2013 race organiser, Michael Sandstød. Then he adds with a grin; 'Enjoy your last hour in Copenhagen!' I'm holding Michael Mørkøv on the start line for the final chase.

Lizzie Armitstead’s (Three) Two Strikes for Missed Tests

"She’s at it, they all are! And you know she’s at it!" The reaction of a friend of mine when I explained the basics of the Lizzie Armistead case to him – he’s no right-wing balm pot, on the contrary he’s a working class former international sportsman who’s represented Scotland at the highest level. Perhaps if it hadn’t been for Lance feeling sorry for the doubters; Tyler and his phantom twin; Floyd and all that Jack Daniels; Bert and his steak and all the rest he wouldn’t feel that way?

Mick Ives – On Racing Non-stop, Summer and Winter, for 62 years!

Mick Ives won 81 British Cycling Championships in all disciplines and 19 World Championship medals, he’s the only male cyclist to represent Britain in all disciplines: road, track, cyclo-cross and mountain biking; and he held a racing license continuously from 1957 to 2019.

Moreno De Pauw – from the Blue Train to the Blue Line

There’ll be a popular name missing from the Six Day lap boards come the winter of 2020/21, that of Belgium’s Moreno De Pauw, at just 28 years-of-age he’s decided to call ‘time’ on his career and join the police. Over the years he’s been a prolific collector of championship medals – 28 Belgian titles and too many Belgian championship silvers and bronzes for us – or him - to keep track of.