Race reports 2017

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Race report supplied by S Spellacy and B Morrell:

Early March and Messrs. Morrell and Spellacy find themselves holding up the Dumfries CC honour at the Border City Wheelers 25mile hilly time trial at Calthwaite. Brian was sporting a smart new skinsuit in the DCC colours while Stephen took a more conservative route with the day's clothing.

Changeable weather during the weekend had us pinned to the weather channel. However, we had no need to worry. The weather on the day was fine, 8 deg temp and a 10-12mph southerly breeze. The course, new to both Brian and Stephen, was fast and undulating and would be more than capable of producing a good time given the right conditions.

With both DCC competitors returned, bikes packed away and coffee in hand the times came in. Stephen, in his first 25 TT for two years, got round in 1.09.02, finishing in 26th place and with plenty to look forward to as the season unfolds. Brian, meanwhile, rode strongly to finish in 1.07.04, less than a minute away from his PB - a promising result for his first event of 2017.

Well done to both on what was a great day's racing. Full results here:

www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-results/14548#anchor

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Another busy weekend for DCC! The usual Saturday morning club ride, which is very well-attended each week, was complemented this weekend by a successful Sunday morning club ride. These Sunday rides are being trialled over the coming weeks and should offer even more opportunity for riders to get out riding with the club.

Shaun Wylie and Fraser Bradford McGill took part in the 'Race to the Sun' sportive, riding through the night from Carlisle to Edinburgh. Just for fun, they then rode back to Dumfries, covering over 180 miles in total! Hopefully we'll hear more about their experiences - feet up tonight for those two!

Meanwhile, Stuart Garner has been competing in the ArranMan Triathlon on the Isle of Arran - another of the epic and very demanding events that Stuart takes on. We await news of how he got on!

We have two race reports from those competing in time trials this weekend, Esther Hamill and Brian Morrell rode in the VC Glasgow South 10 mile TT, while Stephen Spellacy represented the club at the Velopreda Tour of Cumbrae TT, winning his age category and finishing an excellent 6th place overall:

Windy A77:

On Saturday, as Dumfries sweltered under a raging sun, Newton Mearns was cloudy with a strong SW wind blowing up from Ayr. The famous A77 '10' course, high and exposed on the Fenwick Moor, is renowned for wind and those entered in this VC Glasgow South event would certainly experience the full force on the way out. It was certainly a 'game of two halves' with the first five miles into the wind and the ride home with a welcome wind behind. Two Dumfries CC riders took part - Esther Hamill was out second and caught her minute man with ease coming in with a time of 28:39. Brian Morrell rode a respectable time of 25:43, covering the home leg in a rapid 11 minutes. Douglas Watson of Icarus Racing won with an amazing 20:55, over a minute up on the 2nd placed rider. The event was well run by VC Glasgow South. Special mention must go to the catering - outstanding buns!

Magnificent at Millport:

On Sunday, Drumlanrig played host to muddy pluggers. Over in Arran, athletes were spoiling a perfectly good bike ride with a swim and a run. But doon the watter, on Glasgow's favourite day out, the Isle of Cumbrae, DCC was well represented, if not in quantity but in quality. Stephen Spellacy took the ferry across for his first island time trial. And what an event it was! The Velopreda Tour of Cumbrae TT travelled clockwise round the island, just leaving out the town of Millport itself. Conditions were perfect - a light SW breeze off the Clyde and temperatures climbing into the 20s. With over 80 competitors, the contest was hard fought, with overall winner Jim Cusick setting a new course record of 19.19 Spellacy came home in 20.18, claiming an overall 6th place and 1st in his age category, securing a £20 prize for his trouble! Overall a fantastic event.

It's brilliant to see DCC riders getting out and about and enjoying riding and competing. Well done, all! thanks to Brian and Stephen for the race reports.