Race Report from Dundee Thistle 25 TT 12/8/06 - Race Report from Ian Adams  

We are all used to having the actual event being the most difficult part of the day but due to some fairly sparse start instructions finding the start and sign on was almost as hard.  The weather in Angus was much nicer than the typically grey driech morning in Aberdeen although a fairly stiff breeze was present.  Former local lad Andy Duncan informed us that it’s always nice down that way, it’s just a pity that its so close to Dundee !  Three Ythan lads lined up at the start, Ian Adams, Steve Argo and Andy Duncan, Carol Middleton had decided to rest on her laurels after posting a PB over the distance earlier in the season.  

The course appeared to be a fairly simple out and back from Glamis to Coupar Angus, the first mile was downhill which unfortunately meant that the last mile was uphill (not steep by any means but it was going to hurt after 24 miles.)  After the initial hill the course was gently rolling but the breeze had picked up and riders were getting blown about a fair bit.  The only tricky part of the course was negotiating the two roundabouts at the turn.  As usual Ian displayed his impressive bike handling skills by crawling his way around the turn like it was covered in ice.  Stevie however pushed a little too hard and almost took a spill.  The return leg meant the riders were into the wind and most riders mentioned that they should have probably have pushed a little harder on the way out.   

The final climb proved tough following the long slog into the wind but sniffing PB’s pushed both Ian and Stevie to dig in.  By this point Andy was using language the likes of which I have never heard before and was suffering from cramp. After asking where it started to get tough for him “about mile two” was the answer!  Stevie managed to come in under the hour which was a good effort as he had been wounded by a wasp at the start line.  Apparently this wasp was around the size of a budgie.  I don’t believe that but due to Mr Argos sub-hour time I think that wasp stings  may contain performance enhancing drugs, look out for me poking sticks in wasps bikes before the confined 10’s in future!  

1 Alan Dow .. Sandy Wallace Cycles .. 56.53
2 Phil Brown .. Deeside Thistle .. 57.09
3 Brian Sproul .. Dundee Thistle .. 58.01
4 Alan Mill .. Cyclesport .. 58.24
5 Stephen Argo .. Ythan CC .. 59.39
6 Derek Clark .. Dundee Wheelers .. 1.0.58
7 Ian Anderson .. Dundee Wheelers .. 1.1.29
8 Alan Taylor .. Perth United .. 1.1.29
9 Graeme Walsh .. Sandy Wallace Cycles .. 1.1.31
10 Ian Adams.. Ythan CC .. 1.3.57
11 David McCallum .. Dundee Wheelers.. 1.4.21
12 Graham Jones.. Edinburgh RC .. 1.4.34
13 Brendan McCabe.. Aberdeen Wheelers .. 1.4.41
14 George Godfrey.. Dundee Thistle .. 1.4.58
15 Ross Clark .. Deeside Thistle .. 1.6.12
16 Peter Clark .. Deeside Thistle .. 1.6.16
17 Iain Watson .. Aberdeen Wheelers .. 1.6.52
18 Andy Duncan .. Ythan CC .. 1.8.10
19 Robert Ivell .. Kiveton Park CC .. 1.12.06
20 David Kirton .. Kennoway RC .. 1.20.22