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Midlothian Round 6
Norman Dale Trophy
 The
6th Round of the Scottish Cross League, hosted by Midlothian
RT was held on the Medowmill circuit East of Edinburgh.
 The
youths race got off to a storming first lap with Douglas Shearer
(Stirling Bike Club/Wheels of Callander) setting the early
pace leaving Robert Wardell (Sandy Wallace Cycles) and Allistair
Millar (Full Mental-Ricks Bike Shed) to do the chasing. Wardell
got ahead in the second lap and held his lead for the duration
to take the win by a mere 8 seconds. Douglas Shearer (Stirling
Bike Club/Wheels of Callendar) came in second after looking
strong on the last lap and almost threatening Wardells win.
Allistair Miller (Full Mental-Ricks Bike Shed) held in for
third.
The senior race saw the biggest field of the season with
75 starters. The course, which was mainly flat with a good
mix of single track and open sports fields, stayed very rideable
despite the previous weeks rain.
 Jonothan
McBain of the host Club Midlothian led out the first lap on
his fully rigid 17lb single speed Klein Adroit (one of the
originals) Johnny managed to stay up front till the start
of the second where the effects from his previous nights Birthday
celebrations took over. It was at this point the race started
to fragment with George Buchannan of Glasgow United taking
the initiative into the severe headwind to lead out the second
of the 7 minute laps with Iain Nimmo (Merlin-Rocklobster)
bridging the gap to hold his wheel. The gap was short lived
as a chasing bunch of Frederick Morriston (CC Abeits) Dan
Whitehead (Cannondale), Stevie Jackson (GMBC/Alpine) and Gareth
Montgommery (Edinburgh Uni) pulled things back together before
the start of the third only to see Morriston and Nimmo break
away into the headwind with Whitehead and Jackson chasing
as Montgommery and Buchannan fell of the pace. Halfway round
the third saw an unlucky Morriston forced to retire with a
snapped chain which left Nimmo out on his own with Whitehead
chasing from around 50 yards and Jackson holding third.
 Whitehead
closed the gap with two laps remaining. The two riders locked
going into the last lap, Nimmo led into the Headwind with
Whitehead sitting in. It was on the turn though when Nimmo
made his move, using the tailwind on a short steep technical
down he hit the gas opening up a couple of seconds. As the
Merlin rider kept the hammer down for the remaining half lap
the gap widened for Nimmo to take the win by 25 seconds to
lift the Norman Dale Trophy and also secure the overall series
with one round remaining. Whitehead held second while Steven
Jackson put in a strong ride on his MTB to take third while
Buchannan was never far away in fourth.
 Going
into the last round next week at United's venue in Balloch
Jackson, Montgommery and Frenchman Morriston are left to battle
it out for the second and third positions. While in the woman
Christine Allan (GMBC/Alpine) looks to have sewn things up
with some consistent results while Sarah Gilliam (GMBC/Alpine)
looks favorite to take 2nd leaving Ruth McGavagin (The Edge)
winner of the last two rounds and Carol Martin to battle out
third.
In the Youth Series Allistair Millar looks set to take the
title with Douglas Sheerer lying second and Robert Wardell
could be the man to topple young Dean Martin from third spot,
Dean is only 10 yrs old and shown his worth among the big
boys, all I can say is thank goodness I'll be a vet by the
time this wee guy goes senior! The Junior series has been
very disappointing with only four riders from six events,
must be a big message in there to our governing body?? Stephen
Patterson is however one Junior who isn't lying around with
his PS2 as he leads the table with Dave wardell in second
and Stirling Bike Clubs David Brennan in an unjustified third
from doing only one round!
 Catch
up with the action this Sunday 2nd December at Vale of Leven
Industrial Estate near Dumbarton Race starts 12:00pm Tel Allan
Quinn on 01389 720798 for details.
 The
series presentation will take place after the race in the
Truly Fayre Cafe situated next to the course, this will include
the presentation of hand crafted trophies for each Category,
Trophies specially crafted at Glenochil Prison, prizes also
in abundance clothing, tyres & accessories donated by : HARDIE
BIKES / PEDAL POWER / WEST END CYCLES STIRLING BIKE CLUB
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GLASGOW UNITED / MIDLOTHIAN RT
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