AYR Roads/Harry Fairbairn Cycling Club’s annual Turnberry Circuit took place last Thursday.

The Turnberry circuit is the oldest club event in Ayrshire and is held over a sporting course that takes in the coast road from Doonfoot to Pennyglen, before heading down by Culzean to the turn at Turnberry.

The course is a testing one with the drags at Castlehill at Croy and the Ballyhilly out of Turnberry favouring the climbers. The event is based on a handicap system that allows riders of varying abilities to compete for the coveted trophy. The good thing about a handicapped event is that there is no seeded rider. This makes the outcome more interesting with everyone having a good chance of winning.

John Gemmell did just that when he won with a handicap time of 1 hour 8 minutes and 35 seconds. John has been going well this year, not only in time trialling but in Cyclo Cross and Mountain Bike events, where he has won a number of championship races. The second handicap time was that of Bobby McGhee in a time of 1.09.24. This was despite a nasty crash on the descent of Newark Hill, with Calum MacDonald third in 1.10.38 and Scott Knox fourth in 1.10.57.

Strong performances delivered significant improvements from last year's event, with Ross Milvenan taking more than six minutes of his personal best for the course. The fastest in actual time was Calum with a stunning ride of 1.13.03 for the 28 mile hilly course.

A special mention needs to be made of the club’s three ladies who competed; Toni McIntosh, slowly returning to form; Aileen Fisher who improved by nearly six minutes from last year and Charlotte Robb, the club’s new recruit to the ladies ranks.

Eighteen riders took part with two failing to finish due to a puncture and mechanical problems.

Other handicap times for the event were:

Robert Kelly 1.11.39l; Duncan McArthur 1.12.04; Steven Maclean 1.12.15; Jim Smith 1.12.43; Alex McAllister 1.13.38; Tony Garnett 1.13.46; Iain Fisher 1.14.08; Toni McIntosh 1.14.57; Ross Milvenan 1.15.30; Aileen Fisher 1.15.43; Archie Arthur 1.17.27; Charlotte Robb 1.26.21

The Turnberry Circuit was a forerunner to the 25-mile Time Trial on Sunday.

Staged over the fast West Ferry Course at Bishopton and promoted by Glasgow Green CC, The Roads club fielded seven riders.

All had performed well on the Thursday night and were hoping to record good times on Sunday, provided the weather held. They were not disappointed four riders broke the hour with four personal bests recorded. Ayr Roads were the fastest Ayrshire Team on the day and Calum MacDonald the fastest Ayrshire rider, clearly showing that the mid week and week end training miles are paying dividends. The winner of the event was Alan Thomson of the RT Racing Team in a time of 50.45

Ayr Roads times were: Calum MacDonald 56.00 personal best; Michael Curran 57.12; Alex McAllister 58.17; Harry Brawley59.48 pb; John Gemmell 1.05.35 pb; Archie Arthur 1.05.54 pb; Aileen Fisher 1.08.57.

Sunday sees the Roads Club on home roads when competing in a 10 mile Time Trial on the Eglinton Course.

The results of the Youth thre-stage race in Donegal are awaited, where young Ollie Kelly is competing.

Meanwhile on the touring side, Saturday saw the biggest mileage of the week recorded, when Dave Allan recorded 125 miles on a one day tour taking in the Nith Valley to Dumfries and returning via Moniaive. On Sunday 12 club members took to the eastern byways of Ayrshire.

Insert Photograph. (3 attached)

John Gemmel winner of the Turnberry Cup

Calum MacDonald overall winner

Ayr Roads Club at the finish of the Turnberry Circuit