Callendar Park Cyclocross - 5th October 2014

Post date: 08-Oct-2014 08:38:01

As the weather turns colder and wetter there is some consolation for the keen cyclist, it heralds the start of the cyclocross season!

With a couple of pre-season non-ranking race out of the way the first of the SCX series got underway at the fantastic Callendar Park in Falkirk. The entries have again swelled this year, with a record breaking 467 riders on the day. Sign on could barely cope with the numbers but it all got sorted out in the end.

There was plenty of representation from Perth with Perth United, Tay Titans, Perth City Cycles and Bicycles.com riders all in attendance and, most importantly, all cheering each other on.

First Perth United rider was Rory McGuire. Racing as a first year U14 rider Rory showed his usual excellent skills and even more speed to come in an impressive 7th place.

The Women, Veteran 50+ Men and Junior race was next, with cyclocross first timer Alan Wilson apparently having a great time at his first cyclocross race. An excellent 17th place was the reward, well up in the first half of the field and with surely more to come from Alan as it suits his all round strength and fitness. Anne Chisholm showed much improved skill and put a huge effort in to stay away from the chasers in a field of 9 to come home 3^rd Veteran lady and won a podium place as her reward, superb stuff. The unprecedented field of 30 women was great to see and will hopefully encourage even more women into the most accessible branch of cycle racing.

Alan, riding well in his first event

Anne, on her way to a podium finish

Posing on the podium with 2nd placed Brenda Callander

138 riders took to the start for the Veteran 40+ Men, with Barry McGuire, Gordon Chisholm and Alistair Little all making great starts. Thanks to Ally's fantastic CX courses on Wednesday evenings we were all well prepared for the technicalities of the course and all had storming rides. The placings of Gordon in 8^th, Barry in 9^th and Ally in 36th did the club proud and bode well for the next race at Strathclyde Park.

Ally, on the charge

Gordon and Barry could hardly be seperated, it was this close all the way!