Scottish 25 Mile Time Trial Championship 2014 – Three in a Row for Ian Grant

On a blustery, squally day on the dual carriageways of the A78 and A71 around Irvine and Kilmarnock on Sunday morning, Dooley’s Iain Grant added the Scottish 25 Mile Time Trial title to the “10” with a stunning 50:46 ride; a massive 1:39 clear of surprise second, Peter Murdoch (Paisley Velo) with Murdoch’s team mate Chris Smart a further 25 seconds back in the bronze medal position.

VeloVeritas had eventual fourth placed Arthur Doyle in the bronze medal spot, late in the race.

But cramp hit Doyle in the closing miles and he had to freewheel across the line, two seconds down on Smart.

Sandy Wallace’s Silas Goldsworthy was fifth in 53:10 and team mate and former 50 champion, Alan Thomson sixth in 53:17.

The early miles make it hard to find a rhythm with roundabouts, single carriageways, lots of arrows, marshals – then the A78, always a scenic delight.

It’s wide, flat, fast but no’ bonnie and pretty technical with the race manual listing 15 turns all told on this course.

The parcours picks up the A78 “10” course – more tarmac, barriers, road signs, grass and trees which are stirring in a stiff breeze.

But the sun’s out, at least.

Next up is the A71, more dual carriageway, grass verges with the occasional race route sign board – the Tour of the Trossachs it isn’t.

But the sport of ‘testing’ is about speed – and you find it on the dual carriageways.

The changes of direction are no bad thing on a windy day like this; and jings, there are some scenic cows for us – but they soon disappear as we dive into another cutting.

The early miles were very well direction arrowed but the Kilmarnock turn could have done with a few more signs in our opinion.

Back along the 71 – it’s wide open, to a wee bit technical but nice, quiet and safe finish straight.

We chose to set up shop at around three miles to go on the A71 on a drag as the ladies dice with a southerly cross wind and a heavy traffic flow – we arrived too late to catch the half-dozen youths and juniors who were set off first.

Sian Tovey (Dooley’s) is our fastest off number 28 but smooth pedaling Toni McIntosh (Ayr) takes 10 seconds off that as the traffic dies a wee bit.

No Anda-Jay Burgess and no Lynsey Curran – time for the men.

Euan Pope (Glasgow RC) is first across the tar, looking good – if lonely.

Jock Johnstone (Icarus) looks little different to when he used to race against us in the 80’s and 90’s.

Johny May (Edinburgh Road Club) has the highest gear of the morning so far – but doesn’t strike us as being on top of it.

Ian King (Velocity) looks on top of the job as the sky gets greyer and the wind swings westward to make it an even tougher grind up the drag.

Bob Taylor (Dooley’s) ‘strokes a biggie’ as just behind, Steve Brennan (Pro-AM) caches Tony Nugent (East Kilbride) for two minutes.

Those tiny rear lights on some of the bikes may be an anathema to people like me who spent hours thinking of ways to shave weight off their TT bikes – but they’re very effective and sensible given the Sunday morning traffic on the A71.

It’s scary to sit and watch the cocktail of cyclists and heavy traffic.

And now it rains as Sadiq Mir (West Lothian) fights past – squally and stinging but it passes quickly and the sun’s out for a minute.

Neil Walker (Walker Cycles) is getting it round nicely, all his duathlon and running training not seeming to dent his souplesse as the tarmac begins to dry in the breeze.

Brian Muir (Pro-AM) must be a Floyd fan – he’s in a ‘preying mantis’ position. If there’s a UCI commissaire on the A71 he’ll be declassed for sure.

Gary Robson (Gala) looks his usual purposeful self – maybe it’s time we started a watch ?

‘Super vet’ Davie Millar (Glasgow Couriers) forces a big one past – how many ’25’ champs has that man ridden – it could be as many as 50 ?

The traffic count is high now as we decide to start the watch on Gavin Shirley (Dooley’s): 00:00 …

Former ‘100’ champion, tall Steve Nutley (Sandy Wallace) levers a big one past some four seconds up on Shirley.

Alan Holmes (Johnstone) passes and we have him 1:50 up on Nutley – we weren’t expecting that one.

Dooley’s fast man, Sean Gray is a no-show as another squall sweeps in.

We’d expected a flyer from Nick Tryon (Dooley’s) but not today – we do put team mate Tom Gordon in the lead by one second, however.

Time for the Big Guns – we’re still not used to Jim Cusick in Dooley’s colours as he grinds back into the wind; we have him down on Gordon.

Sandy Wallace’s Kyle Gordon gives us a salute – that was a second or two gone right there when you did that, fella!

Chris Smart (Paisley) has no time for such things as he charges past, rolled up in a ball of pain, a minute up on the field and looking every inch a man on a mission.

Former ’50’ champ Alan Thomson (Sandy Wallace) can’t match it – 30 seconds or so down by us.

Ben Peacock (Paisley) was second last year in the “25” – but not today, team mate Smart has a minute and more on him.

Dooley’s former champ Arthur Doyle is looking good, screaming over the tar and up two seconds on Smart.

Pursuiter Silas Goldsworthy (Sandy Wallace) came looking for a medal but he’s 10 seconds down on Arthur as Peter Murdoch (Paisley) drops a big bomb; the gear isn’t one for wimps but is turning nicely and the time is rapid – 17 seconds up on Arthur.

But we’ve hardly taken the pics and noted the time down when last man Ian Grant (Dooleys) whirls into view.

Lower-geared than most and not taking any risks by riding wide to catch the slipstream off the cars, he’s only 37 seconds behind Murdoch on the road.

It’s game over – and no stopwatch required for a winning margin of 1:39.

Can anyone stop him at the “50”? Unlikely.

And on the subject of “50’s” – the Fife Century “50” on June 22nd will be run as the “Ali Speed Memorial” in honour of our friend and fellow cyclist who died so tragically, last season after being hit from behind by a car.

VeloVeritas will make the pilgrimage, we hope to see you there.

Results - Scottish 25 Mile Time Trial Championship 2014

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