Cycling spotlight

The chosen climb for the riders to scale was the 248 metre high 'Nic of the Balloch' with 36 ascents required to gain the 9000 metres of Mount Everest.

Drizzly and damp conditions didn't deter the Burners who turned out for the test, and after three hours of slog and grind, the weary riders competed a fantastic 40 ascents of the famous 'Ayrshire Alp.'

This Sunday 'The Burners' are heading to the cycling paradise of Arran for a days riding around the scenic Island. For full details visit www.ayr burners.org

The lumpy roads of East Ayrshire were the venue for four riders from Carrick Cycling Club at the Galston Hilly TT last Saturday. The 14 mile event has become a firm favourite of racers from Ayrshire and beyond with its leg sapping hills and exciting descents which favour confident and experienced bike handlers.

Kenny Armstrong of Carrick CC made good use of his ascending ability to post an impressive time of 35 minutes and 10 seconds, which earned him fifth place overall and the mantle of highest-placed Ayrshire rider of the day.

Team-mate Mark Skilling came home in 12th with a time of 36.03, whilst Davie Fulton and Adam Stevens finished in 45th and 51st with times of 41.38 and 43.00 respectively.

Pro Vision Cycle Clothing continue to dominate the early season Scottish time trial scene with Robert Friel taking the days spoils with an outstanding time of 33.26.

AYR Roads/Harry Fairbairn Cycling Club have supported the Loudoun Road Club's hilly time trial for some years and were again out in force last Saturday with nine competing in this popular early season event. Run over an undulating course of 14 miles, the event favours those with hill climbing abilities. A field of 60iders entered with a mixed category of juniors, seniors and veterans and four ladies.

This year’s race proved to be a fast one, with four riders beating the previous record of 35 minutes 3 seconds set by Barry Wilson of Billy Bilsland Cycles in 2015.

The new record holder is Robert Friel of Pro Vision Cycle Clothing, with a winning time of 33 minutes 26 seconds. Second was Ross Clark of Dooleys Cycles with a time of 34 minutes flat and in third place, maintaining his good performances in this race, with a time of 34 minutes 9 seconds was David Griffiths of Pro Vision Cycle Clothing.

On home roads the promoting club fielded some excellent riders, including John Dunlop, who was second to the course record holder in 2015. With club mate Marc Anderson in support it was expected that the Loudoun club would be amongst the top finishers. They didn’t disappoint, finishing 7th and 8th respectively.

Ayr Roads riders turned in some excellent performances with Ed Clifton finishing 16th with a time of 36 minutes 57 seconds. He was closely followed by Alistair McGibbon in 18th, 58 seconds slower and Michael Curran another 15 seconds behind in 20th. Jonathon Hillbourne finished first junior with a superb time of 41 minutes 44 seconds and Janet Erskine continued her good form to claim second place in the ladies category. Their team-mates Alex McAllister, Graham MacLeod, Martin Lindsay and Harry Brawley all put in good efforts to finish in the top half of the field. A great result all round.

On Sunday the Ayr Roads ladies team of Janet Erskine and Toni McIntosh made the trip to Stirling to compete in the Corrieri's Classic 10 Mile Time Trial, promoted by Stirling Bike Club. This event has long been known as one of the classic season openers.

Sunday's race attracted the elite amongst Scottish Time Triallists, where Janet and Toni were up against the finest women time triallists in the country.

The event took part on the outskirts of Stirling on the exposed out-and-back 'Cambusbarron 10' Course and isriders faced a prevailing westerly, before a tailwind finish towards Stirling Castle. The event was won by John Archibald of Pro Vision Cycle Clothing, with a time of 19 minutes 25 seconds a phenomenal time so early in the season. Second was David Griffiths who trailed his teammate by 58 seconds and Dylan Hughes of Spokes Racing Team was 3rd at 20 minutes 49 seconds. Catriona MacGillivray won the ladies section with a personal best of 23 minutes 7 seconds. Toni McIntosh claimed second in the section with a time of 24 minutes 27 seconds whilst Janet Erskine won the women’s veterans class in a time of 25 minutes 53 seconds.

In South Shields Iain Fisher competed in the second of the local club's cyclocross series. After a good start and looking like getting a top three placing, he suffered a puncture and was out of the running.

Meanwhile, closer to home club members enjoyed their regular midweek and Sunday runs with spring like weather, the midweek brigade ramped up their weekly mileage by heading on southern byways via the Assel Valley to Pinmore. Here they took to the crossing of the hanging valley of the Lendal Water, before meeting the Stranraer to Ayr road at Lendalfoot. A tail wind took them homewards along the coast road via Girvan, recording a nice 70 miles. On Sunday a hardy group braved the rain with a 40 mile route which took them from Ayr towards Maybole via Dalrymple then heading east over Guildtreehill to Patna to Drongan and home.

THE lumpy roads of East Ayrshire were the venue for four riders from Carrick Cycling Club at the Galston Hilly TT last Saturday. The 14 mile event has become a firm favourite of racers from Ayrshire and beyond with its leg sapping hills and exciting descents which favour confident and experienced bike handlers.

Kenny Armstrong of Carrick CC made good use of his ascending ability to post an impressive time of 35 minutes and 10 seconds which earned him 5th place overall and the mantle of highest placed Ayrshire rider of the day. Teammate Mark Skilling came home in 12th with a time of 36.03, whilst Davie Fulton and Adam Stevens finished in 45th and 51st with times of 41.38 and 43.00 respectively.

Pro Vision Cycle Clothing continue to dominate the early season Scottish time trial scene with Robert Friel taking the days spoils with an outstanding time of 33.26.