Aiden strikes gold in Hill Climb Championship
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Caithness Cycling Club concluded its 2019 racing season with the annual Hill Climb Championship on Scrabster Hill.
Aiden Love took the men’s gold with a clear 22-second advantage over Colin Earnshaw, while Adam Smith pipped Mark Munro by just one second for the bronze.
Rhoda Kennedy was again on good form to win the ladies’ title, while Debbie Larnach took silver.
Results: 1 Aiden Love, 6 min 08 sec; 2 Colin Earnshaw, 6.30; 3 Adam Smith, 6.36; 4 Mark Munro, 6.37; 5 Rhoda Kennedy, 6.48; 6 Sandy Christie, 6.52; 7eq Debbie Larnach and Alistair Miller, 7.12; 9 Gary Angus, 7.34; 10 Phil Cartwright, 8.13.
Rhoda Kennedy and Alasdair Washington travelled to Aviemore for the Cairngorm Race Weekend. Rhoda competed in the scenic 14-mile Mackie Trophy on Saturday, held on a narrow and undulating course once described by writer Nigel Tranter as one of the most beautiful roads in Scotland.
The ladies’ race was well supported and there was close competition between the top three riders. Rhoda took third place in 37 min 52 sec, behind Orkney’s Olga Hamilton (37.43) and Michelle Esson (Forres, 37.47).
The following morning Rhoda was joined by teammate Alasdair Washington for the Kincraig “10”, held in cool conditions with a tough headwind to the turn. Again very little separated the fastest ladies, led by Michelle Esson in 25 min 22 sec, Jennifer Noble (Ythan, 25.45) and Olga Hamilton (25.45), with Rhoda fourth in 26 min 1 sec.
Eighty-two-year-old year old Alasdair Washington clocked 27 min 28 sec but missed the veterans’ prize on age standard. This was taken by 55-year-old Peter Ettles (RT23) , a former world veteran track medallist, with a superb 21 min 55 sec.
