Tour de Lanza 2010
Last year the Hardie Clan upped sticks and headed to Playa Blanca after the first Cross race for a bit of family/training time, this seemed to make all the difference as on my return I managed to get a win at the Mugdock Cross :)
Last year I certainly needed to up my game as the legs were a bit dull in the first race. This year we returned to Playa a week later for some of the same as last year, bit different as I have already started coming into the form with a win in the series so this trip was more about maintenance of the legs and chillaxing instead of trying to get some form.


This worked out great and it's been a cracking week in brill weather with the family and a bit 'o' biking to boot, this year runs consisted of about 1hr in duration up to 2 1/2hrs which was more than ample. The biking was made even better as I hooked up with good friend and bike nut like myself Fraser who through Facebook seen I was heading out at the same week, was great to get out with a mate in a different part of the world :) The Femes climb out of Playa is always better with company in tow, a bit of suffering shared never seems as bad lol!


So as I write this descending into Glasgow I am sure the weather will be slightly colder/wetter than the 28/29 we have enjoyed over the past week :) Being in the Lanza Sun should have set me up for the rest of the Cyclocross season in good stead, let's have it!!

From The Rules velominati.com :
"The purpose of competing is to win. End of"

Strathclyde SCX Rd3 17/10/10
"What a difference a week makes"
Scottish Cyclocross Round 3 was at Strathclyde Country Park organised by East Kilbride Road Club and what a cracker it was both in course and result for me.
The days going into this race I was active resting as the race at Plean I felt jaded and unable to push on to challenge James for the win, active meaning just rolling about on road and cross bike without thinking about pushing.

Coming into this race I had a few ideas up my sleeve which is a sure sign I felt good, the past two rounds I have not even thought about the tactics and only about finishing. The Race started with Dougie Shearer getting out front which suited as my first tactic was not go for a ballistic start to put myself in the red to quickly! After the first lap I moved to the front and it was packing up behind, I had noticed a couple of attack points on the warm up laps and one was a steep bank after a sharp right turn which was a bit slippy and rooty.
This is where I attacked and managed to get a good gap which I then built on each lap to the finish getting win no1 of the season under my belt :)


Only fly in the ointment for me in the race was not concentrating coming in to the finish area last lap and dumping it, doh! Funny as it's only when your not pushing the turns when the off's happen lol!

Well done to all the East Kilbride crew for putting on a great race and great course :)



1st Craig Hardie Hardie-Bikes.com
2nd Paul Newhnam Leslie Bike Shop
3rd Greig Walker Edinburgh Road Club

How to climb an SCX banking from Steven Turbitt on Vimeo.

Pics via Stevie Turbitt / Marty more info from http://www.scottishcyclocross.org.uk/

Scottish Cyclocross Round 2 @ Plean 10/10/10
Onto the second round of the Scottish Cross at a smashing course run through a country park with a bit of everything fun, fast, run up, hurdles and brutal uphill section every lap :)

Again for this second round I would be seeing how it turned out as it will take 3/4 rounds for the body to wake up and ping! Off the start I realised that the legs were a bit flat as I could not even get the holeshot with Paul Newnham taking the honours, after the first few laps the old legs felt better than expected.

After a few digs each James Fraser Moodie caught the three of us and passed riding into the distance. Rob Friel did chase on which I could not go with so sat at my own pace, Dave Henderson then passed and I hung on till he drove on to drop me and pedal away, this was where I thought the podium was gone again this week until coming round to see Rob stopped and another podium handed to me (hard lines Rob)
So another podium which is far better than how I'm going at the mo but the season is yet young, after a bit of rest the ping will come :)
Roll on Round Three to get another podium? but on what step ;)

*This round was a bit harder than normal as I had a big off on the Friday before going to work practicing, I was pushing a bit hard lost the front end at speed and ended upside down in the trees :( Not making excuses (well I am really) but I was still feeling bit knocked up even by Sundays race ha! Violins out lol!



Pic via Stevie Turbitt and more from www.scottishcyclocross.org.uk And video via Stevie Turbitt http://vimeo.com/15750919

Scottish Cyclocross Round 1 @ Meadow Mill 03/10/10
First round of the Scottish CycloCross kicked off at Meadowmill Nr Edinburgh and I was up for it but in the mind that I would probably not have great form, this would come out as it pushed on through the 1hr of lactic acid!

The start kicked off and I managed to get the holeshot stringing the field out over the first lap, this was short lived as Stu Wearmouth caught me up on the second lap where I then proceeded to dump it on a concrete patch bashing my knee, Stu went on to pull away not quickly but enough to get a gap every lap.

I then got caught by another two riders in Steve Ward and Rob Friel, after that I was consolidating forth in the knowledge that the podium may not be a go'er today :( Once into the later stages of the race Rob Friel had a puncture handing the last place on the podium to me, it was hard lines for Rob as he was looking good for third and I was not catching.

As this was my first Cross race of the season I have work to do but knowing that as the season goes on the form will come.


Pic via Stevie Turbitt and more from www.scottishcyclocross.org.uk

Well its been a while for blogging but as the new Cyclocross 2010 season kicks off I will have some posts up here now and again. Two rounds down already phew!! I'll have a few reports going up in the next couple of days.

Still more to come with Rounds 7 - 10 + the Scottish Champs

Stay tuned!

Round 7 Dundee 2009 Scottish Cyclocross Series
My race was a good one but my forth really does not tell the story as I turned myself inside out to get it. From a spectator's point of view by the sounds the race was a cracker to watch! I did manage to get within 5sec of the lead but the running killed any gained time I got every lap, the lead stayed the same throughout but 2nd to 6th was chopping and changing every couple of laps.

On the bell lap I was in 6th and could see 4th and 5th dissapearing up the course, with one all mighty push and probably the hardest I've pushed all season I got on to the track behind Iain and Bruce. Once on the wheel of Iain this is where Bruce went and I followed then attacked off the last bend coming round Bruce to get a well fought 4th, once through the line I fell not being even able to hold myself up !!

Even though I was going for the win I think the forth place does do justice to me as my running is certainly not up to others, that is what cross is about though as a winner overall has to do it all.

Well done to the all the organisers for putting on a great race.

On to Rd8 this weekend at Irvine for another where I will look to keep my run for the series

Craig.

Round 8 Irvine Scottish Cyclocross Series
From the British Cycling Website:
Junior rider Kenta Gallagher demonstrated his absolute talent this weekend by putting on a dominant display in the Open Race, taking a commanding solo victory ahead of some classy cross racers. Behind, Gary Macrae put in a storming ride to take 3rd overall and the win in the Vets category, whilst Ruth Fraser-Moodie continued her winning ways in the Women's category with an excellent ride that also placed her 29th overall.

With no split fields at this round an impressive field of 90 riders made their way down to the actual beach for the start of the Open race! And what a sight it was as the peleton charged towards the holeshot, a deep ‘n' loose sand run up and over a dune! Whilst the lead riders got through safely, many behind were briefly caught up the bottle neck.

Up front, Gallagher soon had the field stretched out and coming into the sand sector for the first time already had daylight between him and the chasers. From here there would be no looking back - extending his lead each lap, he soloed away to a fine victory.

Behind the chase was certainly on as National Youth MTB Champ Grant Ferguson bridged up to Craig Hardie. For several laps neither could shake the other until a sore back forced Ferguson to retire, leaving Hardie to ride on solo for a well earned 2nd place (and 1st Senior). No easy feat given the strong cross winds.

A larger group of riders including several riders in the running for the Series overall took up the battle behind. This group soon slimmed down to just 4 riders - Paul Newnham, James Fraser-Moodie, Bruce McLeary and Steven McInnes. However, after slower starts, Gary Macrae and Paul McInally then worked their way up to this group and it was race on! Macrae quickly moved to the front and pushed the pace hard, opening up a small gap a few laps later with Newnham and McInnes following around 10 seconds down. Macrae, who after admitted to "feeling very good" kept the pace high and held the gap to the line to take an excellent 3rd place overall and win in the Vets race. Bravo! McInnes managed to open up a small gap on Newnham through traffic on the final passage of the sand sector which he held to the finish, picking up 4th overall. Newnham took 5th overall just ahead of a fast finishing McInally.

Behind Macrae, James Melville rode a solid race to take 2nd spot in the Vets ahead of Steve Nicholson in 3rd. In the Women's race, Ruth Fraser-Moodie started strongly and kept the pace high, stretching her lead throughout the race to win comfortably from Maddy Robinson in 2nd and Gillian Palmer in 3rd. Gallagher's overall race win also bagged him the 1st Junior prize ahead of Matthew Hamilton in 2nd and Jack Taylor in 3rd.

2009 Scottish Cyclocross Championships
As the Champs are not counted to the series I was going to have a crack at going all out and see what happened, after what seemed an age being held on the line getting cold I got off to a good start holding on to Kenta's wheel for say 10m After this I seemed to keep him pegged for the first lap before he tore away and then there was a re-group of three consisting myself, Dan Whitehead and Paul Newham. Not knowing that Kenta had pitted, changed a wheel and then got going again I got a real fright as he came tearing past us all up the steps at full pelt!!

This is the point where Kenta flew and we all just looked at each other, I had already tried to go with him early so I thought one of my companions would go but it looked like they would not or more likely could not go with his pace! The guy has got one pace which is FLAT OUT!! After this we then exchanged 2nd place back and fourth for a few laps until "Wavey" Davey Lines came up to our wee group, I kept an eye on this and as he made contact I went for it and put in a good attack but Dan and Paul came back to me bringing Davey.

So two laps to go and I thought most of our group of four were swinging and it looked like a sprint for second was on the cards, Davey on the other hand had other ideas and went on the attack which none of us could cover. On to the last lap and Dan put in a dig which I covered and which also got rid of Paul meaning myself and Dan were going for the Bronze, I had a picture of the podium in my head at that point and there was no way I was going to be off it!!

The last section before the finish I managed to get a good line down into the off camber bit and then into the running section I thought Dan was going to kill me as he is by far the better runner, I gave it eyeballs out and waited for Dan to come past but to my surprise I got the gap and pushed on to descend round into the finish chuffed to take a well earned Bronze

Round 9 Sat and 10 Sun on Mull the Cross at the Castle
Well that's it for 2009 and what a way to end it on the beautiful Isle of Mull. Going into these last two rounds I knew that a good couple of performances would give me the overall.

Arriving on Sat I felt good and was looking for a top three to make the series solid. In the race it was a close one with Dan Whitehead, James Fraser Moodie and myself fighting for the win, towards the last lap James got away from me slightly and held on till the finish.
Dan had a puncture but was well up to front before it happened and as always in Cross it is not always about just fitness but how you ride also as Dan would find out on Sunday to!

So with my solid second place I was begining to think about the series but knew it was not a given just yet.
At night after working the points out I discovered with all the dropped rounds and wins between James and myself there was only 14 points dividing us. Now instead of rolling round for a finish on Sunday it was going to be a full on effort to secure the title with 40 points for a win.
A couple of things I worked out was :
1. James wins and I finish fifth or worse then James takes the title
2. James wins and I finish forth then it is a tie but James takes title on race wins
So no pressure then!! third or better it was and in Cross it can be owt to do with you when something happens.

Sunday dawned bright and crisp and with a different course it was going to be a faster race due to firmer conditions and a flowing course.
I tried to put out of my mind about the series and concentrate on the race, I was going all out for a win so then it would not matter where James placed. The race started well with me and Dan getting a gap and then me getting a gap on Dan, I then went through my usual mid race lull where Dan re-joined me and the two of us started racing for the win.
At this point James was in third but not gaining so I was quite happy at that moment, Dan was really going for the win after his puncture on Sat and I was covering him well. Going down though a tricky bit on the course Dan caught his pedal and fell leaving me to run over his bike! At this point I let him get back on before we continued on together.

After this I pushed on and it looked like Dan was tiring a bit but it did not matter as he got another puncture! I then pushed on and rolled over the line knowing not only that I had won the race but secured the Scottish CycloCross Series :)

Inverkeithing 15/11/09
A very different race this was in the conditions that is, I arrived to have a practice lap and realised that it was going to turn into a bog so just tickled round. Once started young fast man Kenta Gallagher made a break and got away from me although not by much and I felt very good and started pulling him back, this is where I started getting bother with my rear mech.
After having to stop and try and bend the hanger back to get some gears I dropped back to forth and had one gear left! If I had been able to finish in forth then I would have been well happy but as I came round the news was that Kenta had dropped out with a broken mech!

All going fine chasing Kenta on the first laps

Not far off disaster, check the mud on the bike!!

So up to third and wishing for the last lap bell but on the second to finish lap my mech hanger gave up and that was that a DNF! I was well disappointed as I had felt like the win was on the cards. So no points at this round but still looking good in the series as you can drop 3 worst from the 10 rounds. Full report here - ScottishCycloCross.org.uk

Glenmore 02/11/09
On to Sun and the course was on the same lines as Sat but it started wet this time, after getting the holeshot on the Sat I was looking to do the same and as it went I did but just not by the same margin (second day legs!)



After the first lap I was in second with Dan Whitehead pulling a few seconds lead and that was how it stayed till the end with Dan getting the win and myself in second, not a bad weekend and great points for the series. Check out the full report here - ScottishCycloCross.org.uk

Wow 2009 what a year!
Right were was I, yes up to Round 4 of the Scottish CycloCross Season.
Here goes - Glenmore 01/11/09
This was the first of the two rounds on the weekend so staying fresh over the two days was going to be the key. The first race day dawned dry and the course was riding well as the first races got under way. Once the Senior race was ready to go the sky's were threatening but no rain yet.
The race stated and I got a fantastic start getting the holeshot and a good lead going on to the first lap.





After this the rain came down which made the course sketchy in bits but great fun also, there was even a small double jump which was great fun!! I pushed on and got the win which was fantastic and I felt strong throughout. Check out the full right up at ScottishCycloCross.org.uk

More coming.....

After the first CycloCross race I flew out for a week Family/Mini Training Camp which would hopefully set me up for the next few months, below is the next chapter going forward:
Lanzarote - 15/10/09 till 22/10/09
Off to sunny climes at this time of year is a bit weird as March / April is always the usual time I go, but some dry warm miles is just the ticket for getting some form for the rest of the Cross season as it runs all winter. The week I went out was spent doing shorter harder sesh's with a few 3 1/2 hours flung in to. I am a bit fatigued from the week but this should set me up for the rest of the year.
On to Mugdock park this weekend for round 3 of the SCX series and I am sure it will be slightly cooler than the 28 degrees that I have been used to this past week!

Photo from Keijo Teras

Mugdock - 25/10/09
First race back from the holiday was always going to be a shock to the system and I was expecting it to be a suck it and see how the form was. After getting back from Lanzarote I was still in holiday mode till the race because arriving at the race site I realized that I had left my kit bag at home DOH!
I had driven to the race with my warm up kit so at least I had clothes to race in, I then had to find someone to lend me a helmet and gloves. Once I blagged the pieces I needed then the racing was on!

The course at Mugdock is high on Tech so some may say it suits someone like me but I was in doubt as to my form, I might not have worried as I ripped round and bagged the win!! Spot on for my first race back and a bit of a suprise really but great.
One thing that wasn't so pleaseant was driving home in my soggy kit as I had no change of clothes after forgetting my kit bag!!
Full Report from ScottishCycloCross.org.uk

Update time
Well time for an update, long overdue you may say but I have been very busy in the shop and racing / training CycloCross for the last few months so time has been tight!
After the Grass Track season had finished I took a break and did not train till about the middle of September.
Once back in the groove my first CycloCross race was at Plean Country Park Nr Stirling and below is the small report from it:

Lactate Hour is back - Plean 04/10/09
My first CycloCross race has been and gone which was at Plean Country Park nr Stirling, this was going to be a test of my fitness which I have been building heading up to this.
As this was my first race of the year I did not want to be at my best which is exactly what happened, this bodes well for the rest of the season with a cheeky week in Lanzarote and I should race myself into form.

Photo from Torks.co.uk

So the race itself went as I expected with the usual suspects coming to the front of Kenta Gallagher, James Fraser Moodie, Me and the ever charging Paul "I've not been doing now't" McInally :) Once the race went on I faded a bit, well quite a bit! and still managed third so this is a good start which should see me get better through to the latter part of the season. A full report here: ScottishCycloCross.org.uk

Keeping it going!
This weekend past was at Crieff Highland Games and I was feeling confident but you never know until you get off that start line. As it happened I started well but from there the legs started to fail on me to the point I was just going round at the Deil where I got fifth. So not to bad day with the results considering I was not at my best, the season is coming in to the sprint finish with a few rounds left just hope the legs remember that!

800m OPEN CYCLING MK TIME
1st Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay SCR 1m 21.47secs
2nd Tim Allan, Glenrothes 25m
3rd Darren Howitt, Glenrothes 55m

1600m OPEN CYCLING MK TIME
1st Tim Allan, Glenrothes 40m 3m 04.38secs
2nd Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay SCR
3rd Kevin Barclay, Glenrothes SCR

3200m OPEN CYCLING MK TIME
1st Tim Allan, Glenrothes 55m 6m 08.06secs
2nd David Mathieson, Newburgh 125m
3rd Kevin Barclay, Glenrothes SCR

DEIL CYCLING
1st Kevin Barclay, Glenrothes
2nd Tim Allan, Glenrothes
3rd Neil Withington, Carlisle

Anyway that was the racing but I had another job on the day with delivering a fixed wheel Dawes mono to a certain Ewan Mcgregor who is a top bloke and is getting right into fixie's.
I even managed to get him to push me off in one of the races!

Scottish Champ
After Inverkeithing we were back on Grass for Perth Games and my legs were feeling good on the day, After winning the first Race I knew that today was on and with the 1000m Scottish champs next I was up for it, as it happened I was pushed all the way to the line by an Oliphant but not Evan this time his brother Lewis, so close was it that the judges conferred and I got it by a tyre width! So three wins on the day and the Scottish Kilo Champs medal not to bad a day!

1000m Prizes

1000m OPEN SC. CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIP MK TIME
1st Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay SCR 1m 49.59secs
2nd Lewis Oliphant, Edinburgh SCR
3rd Alan Clark, Thurso SCR

1600m OPEN CYCLING MK TIME
1st Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay SCR 2m 36.46s
2nd Lewis Oliphant, Edinburgh 65m
3rd Neil Withington, Carlisle 50m

3200m OPEN CYCLING MK TIME
1st Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay SCR 5m 26.44s
2nd Alan Clark, Thurso 25m
3rd David Mathieson, Newburgh 115m

4800m OPEN CYCLING MK TIME
1st Lewis Oliphant, Edinburgh 120m 8m 18.25s
2nd David Mathieson, Newburgh 125m
3rd James Melville, Dumbarton 120m

DEIL CYCLING
1st Neil Withington, Carlisle
2nd Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay
3rd Lewis Oliphant, Edinburgh

Up to speed
Another double weekend of Games past and the legs came back a bit after feeling like lead last week, I knew after my training in the week that the form was still there from a couple of weeks ago but maybe just tailing off a bit.
Inverkeithing Highland Games is run not on Grass but a red cinder track which makes cornering interesting as the bikes do move about underneath you a bit, the key is to let the bike move and not to be be to rigid, easier said than done once there are 7/8 bikes around you it makes for a few buttock clenching moments!

The one race I wanted to win at Inverkeithing was the 6400m Scottish Champs and I was feeling strong but Evan Oliphant got it on the line although I think I pushed him all the way. The other events were good for me but I was a bit frustrated in not coming away without a win on the day.

800m OPEN CYCLING MK TIME
1st Tom Hunter, Falkirk 125m 1m 03.94s
2nd Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay 40m
3rd Brendan Roe, Valleyfield 60m

1600m OPEN CYCLING MK TIME
1st Darren Howitt, Glenrothes 140m 2m 17.30s
2nd Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay 60m
3rd Brendan Roe, Valleyfield 85m

3200m OPEN CYCLING MK TIME
1st Darren Howitt, Glenrothes 300m 4m 57.88s
2nd Tom Hunter, Falkirk X
3rd Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay 100m

6400m OPEN SC CHAMPIONSHIP CYCLING MK TIME
1st Evan Oliphant,Wick SCR 10m 16.81s
2nd Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay SCR
3rd Alan Clark, Thurso SCR

DEIL CYCLING
1st Neil Withington, Carlisle
2nd Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay
3rd Alan Clark, Thurso

Bag of Spanners
Wow what a difference a week makes! after getting four firsts at St Andrews Highland games I struggled at my next Games at Bridge of Allan last Sunday.
This week there was a big field of bikes so for the 800m race there was heats with three riders going through to the final, I got drawn in the heat with Evan Oliphant and both of us did not make the final due to our handicaps!
The rest of the races during the day were a slog for me as my legs felt like lead all day, if this is the worst weekend I have it will be not to bad with three third places in the bag.
Bridge of Allan results:
800m - no final
1600m - 3rd
3200m - 3rd
Deil - 3rd

On a good note I was out on a training run tonight and the legs are feeling like they are mine again, here's hoping for some form for Sat - Inverkeithing / Sunday - Perth.

St Andrews Highland Games
Travelling up to St Andrews on Sunday things were looking grim as the rain bounced off the ground, once at the games circuit the rain started to go off and blue sky was even seen.
So going from being virtually cancelled in the morning the Games kicked off all be it a bit on the slidy side :O As it turned out the day was good for me picking up four straight wins, the first for me this season, the form is there I will just have to hang on to it for a few weeks.
St Andrews Results:
800m - 1st
1600m - 1st
3200m - 1st
Diel - 1st
Ya Beauty!

Was at first Highland Games of the weekend and it ended up quite good for me. St Andrews is tomorrow but looking at forecast it may be a non starter :( If it goes ahead maybe it will be a bit of cycle speedway :))

Airth results:
1600m 1st
3200m 2nd
4800m 5th
Diel - 2nd

Grass Track Racing
After last weekend with my off into a car all the week was spent recovering and trying to get the inflammation down and keep the muscles moving. I knew I had a big weekend ahead with three Highland Games Grass Track meetings one after another. Lying in a hospital bed last Sunday it seemed like it was not going to be, the body is a fantastic tool and by Wednesday I was getting better and to be honest amazed after the impact I had.
The first Games was Balloch at Loch Lomond and this was going to be my tester, I faired good through the day and apart from the standing starts where pulling up on the bars was sore I felt good.
Results:
800m OPEN CYCLING MK TIME
1st James Melville, Dumbarton 50m 1m 31.37s
2nd Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay SCR
3rd David Mathieson, Newburgh 55m

1600m OPEN CYCLING MK TIME
1st James Melville, Dumbarton 70m 3m 26.28s
2nd Tim Allan, Glenrothes X
3rd Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay SCR

3200m OPEN CYCLING MK TIME
1st Tim Allan, Glenrothes X 7m 21.41s
2nd David Mathieson, Newburgh 90m
3rd James Melville, Dumbarton 85m

DEIL CYCLING
1st Tim Allan, Glenrothes
2nd Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay
3rd James Melville, Dumbarton

*All the races are handicapped (apart from Deil) as the MK is where the rider starts from and the SCR is the scratch man who starts behind on the finish line. The X is someone that does not have a mark and the handicapper will give them one on the day.

On to Thornton Sunday and I was starting to feel better again although some riders were missing as there was a Games on the same day in Roseneath but I was still having to catch up coming off my back mark
Results:
1600m OPEN CYCLING
1st D Howitt, Glenrothes 60 2m 48.73s
2nd D Mathieson, Newburgh 80
3rd F Morris, Glenrothes

3200m OPEN CYCLING
1st C Hardie, Dalgety Bay SCR 2m 56.40s
2nd D Mathieson, Newburgh 90
3rd F Morris, Glenrothes X

4800m OPEN CYCLING
1st C Hardie, Dalgety Bay SCR 6m 15.20s
2nd D Mathieson, Newburgh 95
3rd D Howitt, Glenrothes 85

DEIL CYCLING
1st C Hardie, Dalgety Bay
2nd D Howitt, Glenrothes
3rd F Morris, Glenrothes

Last race for me was Burntisland Mon the 20th and this was going to be a cracker with 10 bikes and everyone racing at a similar level apart from two Pro's Alex Coutts and Evan Oliphant. This was a different games for myself also as I was not off scratch which went to Evan, I felt good throughout the day and was getting better but was struggling to get the better of Evan. The Deil was the last event and last chance for a result, this event is run off together after a rolling start so it is mano mano to the line if you are left after everyone else is eliminated.

The Deil panned out well and I managed to stay on Evan's wheel till the last corner which was a bit dodgy, I dived into the inside and Evan went wide, it was then a drag strip to the line where the Judges had to decide who had got it and I am over the moon to say I got it by a tyre width!! This will go down as one of the best win's of my Grass Track career.
Results:
1600m OPEN CYCLING
1st Alan Clark, Thurso 50m 2m 45.31secs
2nd Tim Allan, Glenrothes 80m
3rd Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay 60m

3200m OPEN CYCLING
1st Evan Oliphant,Wick SCR 5m 45.09secs
2nd Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay 100m
3rd Tim Allan, Glenrothes 140m

4800m OPEN CYCLING
1st Evan Oliphant,Wick SCR 9m 27.88secs
2nd Alex Coutts, Burntisland X
3rd Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay 130m

DEIL CYCLING
1st Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay
2nd Evan Oliphant,Wick
3rd Tim Allan, Glenrothes

Evan Oliphant leading out the pack.

Photo from Marty Steele

Me leading out Alex Coutts and Alan Clark
Photo from Marty Steele

On Sunday morning I was on my way out for a spin when I hit a car and had a trip in an ambulance to A&E, after getting checked out with x-rays my injuries were not as bad as first suspected (broken arm). I am just a bit banged up at the moment and should be recovered in the next couple of days. Bikes hitting cars with a squashy tomato sitting on it is not a good combo :(