WHEN Iain Fisher joined Ayr Roads/Harry Fairbairn Cycling Club as a junior member, his mother, Aileen came along to give her support.

Little did she realise that before long she would be bitten by the cycling bug herself. In a very short time Aileen was accompanying Iain and seasoned members of the club on Sunday club runs.

Daughter Iona too, a Carrick Academy pupil became engrossed in the club's activities and is now a very accomplished amateur cycling photographer.

Not forgetting the head of the household James, who has been a great help to the club and is himself a keen follower of the sport, having followed the major Tours and Classics in the continent for years. Over the years, the Roads Club has had numerous family group members, but it is 30 years since the club hasve featured a mother and son.

Last week Aileen took to the road to compete in her first ever evening 10 Mile Time Trial and posted a time of 31 minutes 14 seconds on a brutal night for racing against the clock. Riders faced an outward leg into a strong wind coming from the NE with gusts of 30 mph on the exposed Loans course. She was delighted with her time. Other times were: Alastair McGibbon and Michael Curran 1st equal 23:42; Craig Allison 24:20; Jody Gerrard 24:36; Scott Knox 24:46; Harry Brawley 24:55; Rory Webster 25:00; Tom G Hill 25:03; Steven Maclean 25:14; John McKie 25:25; Jim Smith 26:42; John Gemmell 27:23; Tony Garnett 28:40; Andy Conway 31:14

Meanwhile with fine weather earlier in the week, club members were out in force, in all disciplines of the sport.

On the racing front, Beth Macrae, Paul Rodwell and Iain Fisher competed in Road Races.

Young Beth took part in the Criterium race at Ingleston, where she secured10th. Paul rode the May Day Gallop Australian Pursuit Race and finished 12th, beating some well known riders, and Iain took his first points in his fourth category Road Race by finishing 10th. Earlier in the week young Iain was fifth overall in the South Shields Cyclo Cross.

On the touring scene, club captain Bobby McGhee with Harry Brawley took to the English Lakes.

Two members of the midweek run clocked up more than 100 miles, with a run from Ayr to Newton Stuart, with the Sunday run logging over 50 miles on East Ayrshire byways with a cafe stop at Sorn.

The Roads club also featured in Scottish Cycling's National 10 Mile TT Championship on Sunday which was won by Iain Archibald of Pro Vision in a staggering time of 19 minutes 29 seconds for the Fife course. Ian was in a league of his own, with no other rider getting under the 20-minute mark. The fastest lady was Neah Evans of Storey Racing Team in a phenomenal time of 22:18. The fastest Ayrshire rider was Kenny Armstrong in 20:42. He finished sixth overall. Fastest Ayrshire lady was Aileen Clyde of the Fullarton in 23:55

Ayr Roads times were, Michael Curran 22:03 and Alastair McGibbon 23:01. The Ayr club's Toni McIntosh had to withdraw from the event.

Tuesday evening sees the League event, which is a Sprint Circuit over the Monkton course, with the start and finish on the Aerospace Park circuit.

Meanwhile three members of Carrick Cycling Club made the journey to Fife last Sunday for the 2017 Scottish National Ten-Mile Championship. The route around Freuchie and the A92 is noted for being one of the faster courses, and with excellent weather conditions to boot there were some impressive performances.

Kenny Armstrong was in outstanding form and took sixth position (and highest-placed Ayrshire rider) in 20 minutes and 42 seconds. Team-mate Mark Skilling finished in 21.46 which earned him 5th highest placed veteran rider, whilst Brian Yates posted a solid time of 22.23 to complete the CCC line up. John Archibald of Pro Vision took the gold medal in an19 minutes and 29 seconds.

The glorious weather enticed the members of Ayr Burners Cycling QTS out onto the roads and tracks of Ayrshire and beyond last weekend.

On Saturday the Burners Burns Centre Bunch enjoyed their usual morning miles which this week took them on a 35 mile jaunt to their favourite haunts around Crosshill and Straiton

On Sunday 'The Burners took to the Lagafater Way. Starting in Barrhill the group headed for Glenwhilly before turning onto the old drovers road that rises up to almost 1500 feet. The bunch continued to follow the Black Glen Burn before descending to Ballantrae for a well earned lunch. Thirty sunny miles were clocked up upon returning to Barrhill.