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The Fiery Cross, Round 1, Wheels
of Callander |
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27th
October 2002
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After days of torrential rain Round 2 of the Kinesis/SiS
Scottish Cross League visited the new course at Wheels of
Callander which had proved to weather the storm well and
produced
a very fast yet slightly muddy race for the 44 racers who
lined up on the start line. The Venue has among the best
facilities
in the League with Hot showers and Bike wash facilities,
commentary was provided by the ever willing Jammie Johnstone
while Glasgow
Mountain Bike Club's Allistair Ross turned out with his mobile
Disco to liven up the day with a mix of hot tunes.
 The
tough Callander course, which always provides a challenge,
was amended this year with the addition of an extra loop in
the forest. A long grass climb took the riders to the highest
point from where a short technical downhill section led them
on to the new forest loop.
The race kicked off with Gareth Montgomery (Ride On) setting
a blistering pace to lead round the first lap. It was Steven
Jackson (GMBC) however who was at the head of affairs going
into lap 2 along with round 1 winner Dan Whitehead, Iain
Nimmo
(Merlin/Rocklobster), James Melville (Glasgow United) and
Steven Couper (Glasgow United). The long grassy climb on
the
second saw Gareth fall off the pace while Jackson, Nimmo
and Whitehead formed a 3-man break.
By the fifth lap Jackson was tiring on his mountain bike
as Whitehead and Nimmo began to dominate on they're cross
bikes lapping in around 6 minutes 20. Making the new course
almost 2 minutes longer than the previous year's. Montgomery
remained 4th whilst the battle for fifth was
lead by James Melville with Kenny Kentley (Velo Ecosse)
and Steven
Couper chasing.
Into the 6th lap, Nimmo and Whitehead had opened
up 30 seconds on Jackson who was now adrift and alone in 3rd.
The two front runners remained neck-and-neck with only small
gaps opening as Whitehead, a top hill runner, chose to run
the entire length of the 250m grass climb and covered the
ground as fast as Nimmo who chose to ride.
 Three
laps to go saw Nimmo change to his Mountain Bike, which possibly
proved a bad move in the muddy conditions as Whitehead opened
a gap to start the penultimate lap. Nimmo then traded the
MTB back for his now clean cross bike which he used to his
advantage to close the 15 second deficit he had lost to Whitehead.
The last lap saw the 2 riders back together with Whitehead
leading. Nimmo chose his moment well, as Whitehead dismounted
to begin his ascent on the grassy climb, Nimmo dug deep on
the pedals and pulled out a 10 second gap on the hill runner
by the start of the technical descent. The Merlin rider held
the gap to take the win, covering 11 laps in 1:09:27 Whitehead
crossed the line 14 seconds down to secure second place. A
lone Jackson held it together to retain third place 1:16 down
on Nimmo. Ride On man Gareth Montgomery finished 4:55 down
in 4th place with James Melville @ 7:29 in 5th
and the last rider to remain unlapped.
The woman's race saw Sarah Gillingham (GMBC) unchallenged
throughout and completed 8 laps in a time of 1:12:12 with
Fiona Walker (GS Corsa) taking second. With top Juniors David
and Robert Wardell missing it was left to Douglas Shearer
(Stirling Bike Club/Wheels) who got off to a good start and
managed to maintain his lead over Alastair Millar (Rik's
Bike Shed) throughout the race - both these riders are regulars
on the Cross Country scene and it would appear that they
are
both keen to stamp their authority on the Cyclo-Cross scene
as well. Shearer held his lead to the finish line completing
10 laps in a time of 1:10:13 Millar lost a lot of ground
and finished 1 lap down on Shearer to take 2nd on
the podium. It was a double for the Shearer family as Douglas's
sister Kirsty took the win in the youth category. Cameron
Ralston came home tops in the sprogs race.
 The
next round of the League is this coming weekend at Sighthill
Park in Glasgow on the traditional parkland cross circuit
which has hosted many Scottish Championships, Glasgow Mountain
Bike Club are the hosts with Pete Siebelt doing the organising,
entries on the day, details call Pete on 0141 563 3260. For
series results and to keep up to date with all the Scottish
racing visit www.24-7mtb.com
or www.stirlingbikeclub.org.uk.
Photographs | Race
Results | Feedback
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