Australian Pursuit Races, July/August 2001

APR #1: 10th July 2001

Report by Paul Winter

The event started from the car park at Mintlaw Academy (thanks due to the rector, who at this point knows nothing about it!). The course ran from the Academy through Brucklay and New Pitsligo to the turning point at the Y junction with the Banff/Fraserbugh road, a distance of exactly 11 miles. The course is comparatively flat (compared to the Ellon course that is!), with only a few gentle undulations in the vicinity of New Pitsligo. There was a slight easterly breeze that effectively removed the advantage given on the return leg by the overall slight downhill gradient. A little drizzle and occasional rain seemed to serve only to lubricate the less well maintained bikes as most competitors seemed well pleased with their times.

The nine competitors were divided into three start groups based on their most recent times on the Ellon course. The first group (Dave Harrison, Donnie and Lorna) started at 7 pm and their departure was the signal for the other two groups to launch a verbal (but good natured) attack upon the organiser, complaining that the first group had far too big an advantage and they would never catch them. However, the organiser informed them that in that case they were going to lose (to hell with arbitration and democracy - long live the dictator!). Meanwhile, out on the road, Dave, an ex rugby prop, with shoulders like a prize bull, was always at a disadvantage drafting Lorna, whose super-sporty profile makes Concorde look like a tin of beans. As a result, she and Donnie escaped Dave's clutches seven and a half miles into the race. Lorna then went on to escape Donnie as the second group came through, but to no avail, as they dropped her before the turn and by eleven and a half miles Donny was back in contact. Both then worked well together until shortly before the finish.

The second group (Bill, Dave Allan and Graham) started 4 minutes later, Bill and Dave sportingly managing to drop Graham within 5 minutes of starting. They then went on to pass all the first group fully two miles before the turning point.

Alan, Russ and Andy in the final group, started eight minutes after the first and were in close formation until shortly before the turn, when Alan and Andy managed to escape. A death-defying manoeuvre on the wet and slippery turn enabled Andy to get Alan off his back wheel, but a lung-bursting effort by Alan, up hill into the wind got him back on tow where he stayed for quite a while.

The early lead established by Bill and Dave was never seriously challenged and Dave went on to win the sprint for the line by one second. Andy, who had the fastest time (56 min 35 s) came in alone, shortly after in third place with Alan a mere 18 seconds behind very nearly upsetting the form book. However, an inspired Donny took the formbook ripped it up and threw it out the window! Russ caught Graham in the last few miles but could not escape him. Then, in the penultimate mile, as they overtook Lorna and Donnie, Donnie managed to jump on Russ and Graham's tail, dropping Lorna in the process. At one stage he then briefly flirted with the ludicrous idea of leading out from Graham. However common sense ultimately prevailed and by hanging on to the leading pair like a mariner on a capsized boat, he was still in contention with 50 metres to go. The ensuing sprint for the line, with advantage lost, won and lost again caused sufficient consternation amongst other road users to stop the following traffic (really!) and resulted in the three finishing with little more than a wheel spoke between them. As a consequence of Richard Skene videoing the finish, the three could just be separated in space, but not in time, hence the result sheet gives all three the same finishing time. Given the organiser's lack of thought and arbitrary decision about who started when, it is quite remarkable that a rider from each group should finish in the same bunch.

A slightly disconsolate Lorna came in alone in 7th place, followed ultimately by Dave. It only emerged during the post-mortem held afterwards at the 'Country Park Hotel' that Dave has never ridden more than 12 miles before.

Thanks are due to Malcolm Hogg, who first aquainted himself, albeit briefly, with the club last year. An excellent organiser, without his help at the start, the ensuing chaos would certainly have degenerated into total anarchy. Credit is also due to Richard Skene, absent from the club for two years now. He turned up at short notice and I'm sure some inconvenience and recorded on video, the various dramas at the finish line, an act of mercy that was surely responsible for the organiser not getting lynched.

Result

APR #2: 21st August 2001

Report by Paul Winter

The second running of the Mintlaw - New Pitsligo 22 mile APR on the 21st August was held under less favourable conditions than its predecessor a month earlier. Overcast skies and blustery winds greeted the ten riders at the start line, with the constant threat of rain fortunately never materializing.

The ten were split into 4 groups based (loosely) upon ability, with the first group setting off a full ten minutes before the last. Out on the road all of the groups were working well, with old hands Steve Argo and Mike Harper putting in quick and fluid turns in the scratch group. This enabled them to catch first Eck Whyte then Donny McLean just after the turn at New Pitsligo, Lorna having broken clear earlier (must have been those illegal tri-bars - Ed).

Donny managed to hold on valiantly as Charlie Allan was also caught. Despite a few powerful turns at the front Donny started to feel the pace and drifted off the back as Charlie took a more conservative approach to towing the group. Further down the road Alan Yeatman was ploughing on alone in a fine solo effort. Lorna was next to be caught by the Steve / Mike / Andy Turner / Charlie group, and managed to tag onto the back for quite a while until the pace was upped once more on one of the headwind drags.

As the riders approached the finish it was clear that the scratch men were not going to catch the leaders on the road, with Dave Harrison having to wait for over two minutes for the second person to cross the line. With around 3 miles to go the Steve / Mike / Andy / Charlie group could see the lone figure of Allan Yeatman looming on the horizon and set about quickly reeling him in.

Mike made a dig with about 1 mile to go but Andy was quickly onto his wheel to close the gap. With the line in sight and nobody wanting to lead out the sprint Andy swerved off and braked, forcing Mike to come through. Mike lead all the way to the line to be pipped in the last few metres by a fast finishing Andy, with Charlie coming past to take 4TH on the road. Steve and Mike finishing together, having dragged the group for most of the return leg. Allan Yeatman survived by the skin of his teeth to take a fine 2nd place.

With several lone breaks and 'bunch' sprints a fine time was had by all - especially in the pub afterwards when Charlie got in beers for essential fluid replacement!

Result