Trophies for Washington after comeback from hip operation

Caithness Cycling Club rider Alasdair Washington travelled to Stirling last weekend for the annual award ceremony of the Scottish Veteran Time Trial Association.

In December 2018 he fell on ice while out cycling and had a full hip replacement that Christmas Eve, but he believes that excellent medical treatment enabled him to make a very good recovery and six months later he was racing and getting back to form.

Early in August he retained the Scottish veterans’ 100-mile championship and then the best all-rounder championship, based on a rider’s best times at 25, 50 and 100 miles.

Last weekend he was presented with the two trophies and also certificates for Scottish age records for an 82-year-old at 10 miles (27 min 9 sec), 25 miles (1hr 9 min 7 sec), 50 miles (2hr 25 min 9 sec) and 100 miles (5hr 6 min 42 sec).

"The medical staff, at Raigmore and in Caithness, were first class and I had wonderful support from my wife Fiona and from club members," Alasdair said.

"Winning trophies does give incentive but, for me, the main benefit is to be back racing and being active. Winning is dependent on all those better riders in the world not being there!"

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