IT was a busy weekend for members of Ayr Roads/Harry Fairbairn Cycle Club as they competed in various events across the country.

However, the most impressive ride came from Graham MacLeod who bravely took part in the South West 300. This gruelling event was a real test of endurance with riders covering a distance of 300 miles in 24 hours.

This is the frst time in 20 years a club member has ridden such a distance. The route took in most of the sights of the South West taking in the Solway Coast and Mull of Galloway before heading into Galloway Forest to admire the stars. Riders then headed east into the sunrise with a climb to Wanlockhead before returning down Dalveen Pass and back to Dumfries. Graham completed the full course with a phenomenal time of 18hours 33minutes, in the saddle. Fellow Ayrshire cyclists Gary Currie, JP Baxter and Paul Mcgimpsie also completed the challenge. The main charities to benefit from this ride was CHAS and Cancer Research.

Tony Garnett travelled in the opposite direction to take part in the Cairngorm Sportive. This event covered 98 miles largely within the boundaries of the Cairngorm National Park. It took in the heights of Cairngorm and the North of the Spey Valley and then back up an alpine style climb to finish at the ski centre. Tony came a creditable eighth place overall with a time of 5hours 24 minutes.

Five members crossed the water to the Isle of Cumbrae to participate in the annual around the Island time trial. Members had to battle with a strong headwind on the east side of the island. Times recorded were – Craig Allison 21.50, Aileen Fisher 24.56 (fourth-placed woman), Iain Fisher 23.44, Scott Knox 21.29, and Archie Arthur 24.46. Aileen and Iain Fisher also competed in the afternoon’s hill climb, with Aileen recording a time of 7.12 (second-placed woman) and Iain finishing in a time of 6.44.

Alex McAllister headed to Laurencekirk to ride in the Scottish Veterans 25mile TT on the A90 course. The wind proved to be difficult but Alex recorded a time of 1hour 35seconds.

Calum MacDonald and Harry Brawley participated in the Royal Albert Cycle Club individual TT at Stirling recording times of 22.19 and 23.40 respectively.

To finish off the weekend competitions, John Gemmell and Fraser Tait competed at Loch Ore Meadows in round three of the Scottish Mountain Bike Cross Country competition. John gained a second place in the super vet category, while Fraser came 9th in his category.

On a more leisurely note the Sunday run racked up the miles with 13 leaving Beresford Terrace heading out to Straiton, climbing up Tairlaw, down the Nic o’balloch, a coffee stop in Barr, then up Pinbraid Hill to Lendalfoot and back by the coast road.

The midweek bunch took the train to Barrhill, then rode to the Mull of Galloway and back – a distance of 70 miles.

This Tuesday is the fourth league event of 2018, Ayr Roads members will be doing 10 laps of the Monkton Sprint circuit, and they will meet at 6.30pm at the Aerospace Park, Monkton. This event sees the debut of the clubs new gazeebo, an exciting event not to be missed.