IRVINE will host the Cycling Time Trials British National 10 Mile Championship over the weekend of September 1 and 2.

Many of the best riders in the UK will descend on the Eglinton course to race against the clock over 10 miles.

Some of the riders have recently brought home medals from the 2018 Commonwealth games in Australia, and some others competing for their country at the recent European Championships in Glasgow.

British stars Hayley Simmonds and Harry Tanfield will ride, along with local hopeful and Commonwealth Games medallist John Archibald. The hot favourite to take the title however is Polish rider, Marcin Bialoblocki, who this year has broken some long standing British Time Trial records, as well as riding for Poland at the European Championships. Defending champion Dan Bigham will also attend. In total there will be 85 juveniles, juniors and women racing on the Saturday morning, and 145 men taking part on the Sunday morning.

This is the first time ever that the championship has been held in Scotland. A Scottish district of the CTT was created in 2016, and as a result the championship has been brought to Scotland to showcase what Scotland has to offer in terms of facilities and organisation. The race was awarded to a joint application from Fullarton Wheelers and Ayr Roads/Harry Fairbairn cycling clubs to run the race on the well established Eglinton 10 course.

A flat out and back course should see some very fast times over the weekend, with the fastest riders easily breaking the 30mph average speed barrier. The course record of 19 minutes 37 seconds is expected to be broken. The course utilises the A78, heading Southbound from Elginton Interchange to the Papermill roundabout, where the riders turn to head back for the 2nd half of the course.

Information for local reporters, a road closure will be in place outside of the entrance to Eglinton park on both the 1st and 2nd of September to allow a safe starting area for the riders. There will also be availability for spectators to get up close to the riders as they set off on their individual efforts.

Time Trials are run as an individual race, one rider at a time trying to set the fastest time over the course. Riders are set off at 1 minute intervals. Race HQ is within Eglinton Park.

For further information please contact race organiser Michael Curran, mobile 07827331680 or email: ctt10champs2018@gmail.com

THE circuit of Loch Ken promoted by the Dumfries Cycling Club has become an event favoured by time trialists from north and south of the border. Set in the midst of ‘bonnie’ Galloway it mirrors the classic circuit of Lake Windermere, and could well succeed in becoming a replacement for this once iconic event.

It’s 25 mile relatively flat course was well supported by Ayrshire teams last Sunday, when more than 70 competitors assembled at the picturesque village of New Galloway with five Ayrshire teams competing. The strong contingent from the Glasgow clubs were race favourites, both for individual and team awards.

On the day, the predicted forecast proved correct with Chris Smart of the Georgetown Racing Team taking first place in a time of 54 minutes 41 seconds for the course.

His team also took the Team Award. The fastest Ayrshire team was the Loudoun Road Club, who beat the Ayr Roads/Harry Fairbairn team by 58 seconds. The Ayr Roads pair of Alex McAllister and John McKie, however were rewarded with a first and third place in their race category.

The times for the Ayr Roads contingent were led by Calum in a time of 1.02.27 closely followed by Alex in 1.02.31. Harry Brawley, 1.05.22, John McKie 1.05.31, Archie Arthur 1.08.41 and John Gemmell 1.11.02.

The fastest Ayrshire rider was Mark Skilling of Carrick CC in a time of 58:37.

With the British National 10 mile TT Championships in two weeks' time, the GRT Team will be hoping to perform well against Britain’s best.

Meanwhile, the weekend saw The Roads Club taking to the hills, in preparation for the Ayrshire Alps Sportive next week, when seven members recorded a century ride that included The Mennock Pass and a stop for re-fuelling at the highest pub in Scotland, before returning to home roads via Crawfordjohn.

Ayr Roads own Man o' Miles, Dave Allan also logged a day run of over 100 miles, when he took in the Newton Stewart circuit, returning via the Knowe and Girvan.

Sunday also had a group of eight members take to North Ayrshire roads with their destination Largs.