Stirling Bike Club Summer Cross Race
Plean Country Park
Summer it was not! Thunder and Lightning
coupled with torrential rain from early morning wasn't
enough to discourage the 37 riders who turned out for the
first
Cross
in the Scottish season.
The course remained rideable and fast although some of the lightning
was possibly a bit close for comfort. The start saw Chris
Cole (Midlothian RT) driving the pace with Iain Nimmo (Merlin/Rocklobster)
hot on his heals, followed by Junior rider Robert Wardell
(Sandy Wallace). By the second lap Nimmo had taken the lead
along with James Frazer Moodie (Pedal Power) leaving Cole
and Wardell to do the chasing. By this point Sarah Gilliam
(Glasgow MTB) was dominating the womans race.
The rain was now quite simply a continuous torrent with some serious
lightning overhead. As officials considered stopping the race
after a tree was struck near the first aid point Nimmo was
carving a lead at the front with Moodie chasing in second
and Cole regaining to challenge Moodie.
With
two laps remaining Cole had passed Moodie and closed down
Nimmo, the two riders now together Nimmo landed an untimely
puncture leaving Cole to go it alone. A quick tube change
kept Nimmo in contention for the final podium place and mixing
it back with Wardell who was holding 4th among
the seniors.
 The final lap saw Moodie pull in a tiring Chris Cole and pass him
to secure the win by 20 seconds. Nimmo in 3rd managed
to twist his chain with half a lap to go leaving young
Wardell
to romp home 3rd among the seniors and win the
Junior race in style. Kenny Kently (Velo-Eccosse) muscled
in on Nimmo's misfortune to grab 3rd sprinting
by the Merlin rider 20 yards from the finish line.
Gilliam
remained unchallenged in the woman's event with Julie McInney
(Stirling Bike Club) second. Douglas Sheerer (Stirling
Bike
Club) took 2nd in the Junior's while his sister
Kirsty did one better and won the youth woman.
Thanks to Dave (on the sauce) Wardell for the pic's, apologies
for
not reading out the full results (oops), they will be posted
here very soon.
Highlights of the day
Angela's Carrot Muffins (superb) and watch out for them at a race
near u...
Steve
n' Andreas Pizza and Quiche (Quality)
Watching
the kids race and witness young Emma Scott win in her first
ever event and now looking forward to the Champs, a name to
watch for the future!!!
Wake up call of the day:
The
reminder of how tiny and insignificant we are compared to
the might of the weather.
Big thanx to all who helped out and those who turned out, Cheers from all at Stirling Bike Club.
Results
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