Stirling Bike Club Summer Cross Race
Plean Country Park
Normally a winter sport, Cyclo Cross racing generally takes place in the mud. So to defy all preconceptions, Stirling Bike Club in association with Wheels of Callander who provided the excellent prizes on offer, decided it would be a good idea to run a race in the middle of summer, on what turned out to be one of the fastest courses ever used, and what a success it turned out to be! Not only did the council grant permission to use the park, the park staff and the Rangers cleaned up the race course, publicised the event and even turned out to help on the day. (Top Blokes) The idea of running the race was to promote youngsters into cycling and with a large turn-out proved very successful. After initial rain (well it was a cross race!) the course dried up quickly for both the sprogs (5 to 11 yrs) and senior races. The course for the senior categories was very fast with some excellent bone rattling descents and such was the enjoyment had by the younger riders in the 14 to 18 yrs category, they also opted to pit their wits against the seniors in their race. With last years MTB Master and Junior champions Kenny Kentley (Velo Ecosse) and Gareth Montgomery (Raleigh Factory Racing) leading the Seniors field it started off at a fantastic pace and only Steve McEwen (Stirling Bike Club) could hold their wheels for the first three laps. Andy Ayre (Sandy Wallace Cycles) deserves full credit for being the only rider on a cross specific bike but was first to admit that with the lack of suspension even his teeth chattered on the descents as he struggled to hold the pace set by Kentley. However, it was Montgomery who attacked shortly before the start of the fourth on a long grassy rise to open a gap, but Kentley managed to hang on but could not regain the lead as the Raleigh rider sprinted into the finish and take the win in 1:13:25 for 4 laps.
Youth rider Robert Wardell (Sandy Wallace Cycles) showed his boundless
energy by entering the senior event less than an hour after competing
in the Youth race. Good fortune prompted this decision after he was
handed the Youth race on a plate when leader Alastair Millar (Full
Mental/Rik's Bike Shed) suffered a mechanical just before the finish,
relegating him to second place ahead of Douglas Shearer (Stirling
Bike Club). The unfortunate Millar learning an early lesson in life
that, "it isny over till the fat lady sings!" Credit to
Wardell not so much for his perseverance in that race but a fantastic
fifth
place in the Senior race.
Junior rider and brother of Robert, Dave Wardell (Sandy Wallace Cycles) showed this energy runs in the family. He romped away in the Junior race putting in the fastest lap of the day (17:03) and give Graham Sturgeon (Full Mental/Rik's Bike Shed) and third place Michael Bossard no chance as he dictated from start to finish.  The sprogs race proved a great success. This was capitalised on when both categories were given the opportunity to race twice with a half hour break between races and with all that enthusiasm the youngster took it in their stride!
Race Results | Pictures
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