On-form Sutherland is weekend champion
THE Babcock International Cycling Weekend, promoted by Caithness Cycling Club, was a highly successful one with some excellent times, superb weather and an overall win for Thurso’s Allan Sutherland.
Event one was a 25-mile time trial held on the Watten road on Saturday afternoon in bright sunshine but with an easterly breeze that made for a hard return leg.
Sutherland was on top form after a winter of dedicated roller training and dipped under the hour to score a personal best by over four minutes.
His winning time of 59 min 57 sec was just 10 seconds ahead of regular visitor Kevin Lackie, of the newly formed Moray Cycle RT.
Torquil Clyde, of Orkney Tri Club, took a fine third place after an outstanding effort to compete.
He had to work the morning in Orkney, then piloted his light aircraft to Wick, assembled his bike and rode the 20 miles into a headwind to arrive at the start with just minutes to spare.
Caithness riders Darren Bain and Dave Morrill took fourth and fifth places while Ross-shire’s Gavin Clark and 74-year-old Alasdair Washington took the handicap and veteran prizes respectively.
Lorna Stanger, the only lady, also made a valiant effort to race as she left Thurso early in the morning to officiate at a swimming competition in Inverness. The event was delayed and Lorna arrived at the start, immediately jumped on her bike and raced.
Results: 1, A. Sutherland, (Caithness CC), 59 min 57 sec; 2, K. Lackie (Moray Cycle RT), 1.0.07; 3, T. Clyde (Orkney Tri Club), 1.3.00; 4, D. Bain (CCC), 1.4.29; 5, D. Morrill (CCC), 1.5.45; 6, N. Carpenter (Forres CC), 1.6.26; 7, A. Washington (CCC), 1.7.40; 8, G. Clark (RRCC), 11.8.35; 9, P. Cartwright (CCC), 1.12.16; 10, Lorna Stanger (CCC), 1.12.44; 11, G. Morgan (CCC), 1.12.52; 12, R. Broughton (CCC), 1.19.23; 13, R. Cormack (Wick Wh), 1.19.46.
The following morning conditions were ideal for the 23-mile Loch Calder Hilly and visitors enthused over the delightful course.
Dave Wilby (Ross-shire RCC) scorched round in 56 min 41 sec, just 24 seconds ahead of Sutherland, with Alan McCaffrey (RRCC) a further two minutes in arrears.
Local riders Bain and Morrill again took fourth and fifth places and Washington won the veterans’ prize.
Stanger had a more relaxed preparation and was fastest lady, while the ladies’ handicap was taken by Ross-shire visitor Katrina Moir.
The main handicap award went to another regular Caithness visitor, Mark Munro, now riding for Cairngorm CC, who punctured just two minutes before his start and managed to borrow a rear wheel. Unfortunately this was not a good match for his bike and he was only able to use half his gears.
Results: 1, D. Wilby (RRCC), 56 min 17 sec; 2, A. Sutherland (CCC), 56.41; 3, A. McCaffrey (RRCC), 58.28; 4, D. Bain (CCC), 1.0.41; 5, D. Morrill (CCC), 1.1.34; 6, M. Munro (Cairngorm CC),7, A. Washington (CCC), 1.5.25; 8, R. Toswill (CCC), 1.6.47; 9, I. Mitchell (RRCC), 1.7.00; 10, Lorna Stanger (CCC), 1.7.47; 11, K. Moir (RRCC), 1.9.11; 12, P. Cartwright (CCC), 1.9.31; 13, Katrina Moir (RRCC), 1.12.24; 14, Martine Hughes (CCC), 1.25.38.
Sutherland was a clear winner for the overall weekend prize.
Earlier in the week the local 10-mile time trial was another first for Sutherland, from Morrill and Bain.
Jeremy Foster scored a personal best to take maximum points in the Handicap League and now shares top position with Heath MacKay and Sutherland.
Results; 1, A. Sutherland, 24 min 04 sec; 2, D.Morrill, 24.47; 3, D. Bain, 25.12; 4, J. Falconer,26.31; 5, H. MacKay, 26.35; 6, A. Washington, 27.34; 7, R. Toswill, 27.53; 8, J. Foster, 28.16; 9, G. Morgan, 28.26; 10, R. Broughton, 29.48. This weekend club members travel to Forres for the Bill Stuart “10” and the 17-mile Edinvale Hilly.