CYCLING — Fast Times For Local Riders At Time TrialsTHE Cycling Time Trials (CTT) Georgetown League weekly race series has re-started with 83 riders taking part in the first event of the season.
Conditions on the seven-mile route near Houston were ideal with dry, warm air and no wind.
Riders from Inverclyde Velo — Paul Symington, George McCarter, Derek Robinson and Danny McLaughlin — had all signed up along with GTR – Return To Life rider Matt Hennon and Patricia Baird, now riding with Ecosse Performance Cycling Coaching.
Stalwart Inverclyde Velo time-keeper Alex Hunter was on duty at the start with his trusty stopwatch and organisers Geoff and Linda Smith timed the finishers.
Taking full advantage of his early season form, Matt Hennon rode a solid race crossing the line in third place with a personal best time of 15:09, 10 seconds quicker than his previous best.
Next home was Paul Symington with another fast ride, stopping the clock at 16:01 followed by George McCarter (16:31), Derek Robinson (17:14) and Danny McLaughlin (17:47).
Patricia Baird also rode strongly, crossing the line in 17:55. This was a great start to the league for all the riders.
The next open event was the CTT 25-mile Scottish District Championships hosted by Glasgow Green Cycling Club and held on the West Ferry course between Bishopton and Port Glasgow.
With a full field of 120 riders, including one tandem duo, the race started at 8:30 with the last rider setting off at 10:30. The conditions were close to perfect; dry, warm with only a slight headwind that strengthened as the race progressed. With reports of plenty of fast times from the early starters, it was clear it was going to be a fast day on the course.
Ecosse Performance Cycling Coaching rider Patricia Baird, above, proved the reports to be correct with a time of 1:04:28, shaving 56 seconds off her previous best for the course, taking the Vet 50 category and adding another CTT medal to her collection.
Still enjoying his early season form, Matt Hennon, above, set off at 10am and averaged just over 27mph, stopped the clock with a personal best time of 55:27, chipping 39 seconds off his previous best for 25 miles set in 2012.
Repeating their wins at the CTT 10-mile championships were Matt’s team mate Douglas Watson and AeroCoach rider Victoria Smith with fantastic times of 49:43 and 55:23 respectively.
