Bill Stuart Memorial 10 mile TT – FORRES  08.04.2006

 Only two hardy (stupid) Ythan soles braved the icy winds and infrequent snow showers to take the start line at the Bill Stuart Memorial 10 at Forres.  

Andy Duncan was first away, having dispensed with his trusty fixed wheel bike due to the strong headwind to be encountered on the home leg. He seems to have forgotten how to ride a bike with a selection of gears and didn’t make the most of the outward, wind assisted leg.  He incurred the wrath of the Commisaire for ‘shouting at’ the marshall at the turn. Seems that Andy can’t ‘multi-task’ as he was confused as to where the turn actually was, commencing his turn some 50 yards too early upon sighting a completely innocent bystander at the side of the road with a high-viz jacket on! Clearly pedalling, breathing and thinking about fish suppers, all at the same time, is too much for the chunky one.  

Andy struggled badly in the final mile and a half as he was passed by 3 of the 4 riders setting off behind him, including Russ Craig who was firing on all cylinders, despite the conditions.  

Andy limped home with a 28.11 but Russ kept the Ythan flag flying high with an excellent 24.49. Russ was suitably fired up after having his new team kit mauled by a fashion warden. It transpires that blue isn’t as flattering to the figure as black, apparently. In any case Russ was on fine form and his time was good enough for a share of 4^th place on the handicap and a creditable 10^th overall in a field containing some of the northern half of Scotland ’s top testers.  

(Rumour that the Ythan contingent was depleted because Bill Dallas and Steve Argo were occupied building an igloo and a snowman in their respective gardens has not been confirmed).  

It has been confirmed that Carol Middleton had a hangover, Fiona Duncan was asleep and Ian Adams was competing at Badminton Horse trials.  

RESULTS:

1st    C. Riise (Shetland)        21.53

2^nd    P. Ettles (Forres)            22.43

4^th    V. McLennan (Clach)    23.21

5^th    I. Humphreys (DTCC)   23.29

6^th    C. Duncam (TCG)          23.43

7th   N. Skene (GCRT)           23.46

8^th    A. Martin (Square W.)    24.35

9^th    R. Sewell (Ross-shire)    24.43

10^th  R. CRAIG (YTHAN)   24.49

 WOMEN/JUNIOR/YOUTH

1^st   C. Eagleson (Jr)(Ross-shire)     27.49

2^nd   D. Gunn (Yth)(Forres)             29.01

3^rd   C. McLean (W) (Shetland)      29.24

4^th   J. Nicholson (W)(DTCC)         29.40

5^th   E. Thornell (W)(TCG)             30.25

6^th   K. Moir (W) (Ross-shire)         30.39

7^th    M. Eagleson (W)(Ross-shire)  31.43   

OTHERS

M. Higgins (GCRT)                        25.10

M. Pritchard  (GCRT)                     25.14

D. Harter (Forres)                            25.30

K. Lackie (Forres)                           25.44

M. Skelly (Ross-shire)                    26.05

B. Donald ( Moray Firth )                26.26

F. Toms ( Elgin )                              26.34

G. Lawrie (Forres)                          26.37

B. Gunn (Forres)                             26.49

B. Livsey                                         26.49

R. Wells ( Moray Firth )                   27.14

K. Moir (Ross-shire)                       27.32

M. Howston ( Elgin )                        27.34

R. Sinclair (Cromarty Firth)            27.42

A. DUNCAN (YTHAN)                28.11

P. McLean ( Elgin )                           29.57

P. Hughes (RAF)                             30.27

 Race Report by Andy Duncan