Irvine Beachpark Cyclocross

Well, 2nd time running the beach 'cross for Walkers Cycling Club, and what a day! Big turnout of riders and spectators (no doubt helped by the decent weather - just cold and windy this time!). The new course (shorter, more compact) went down well, with a mix of fast paths, run ups, grass, steep ups and downs and singletrack, plus a tiny wee bit of sand (200m or so!) to test everyones legs and lungs. I did feel a bit bad when I was told someone in the youth race was sobbing with the pain, but I'm trying to bring a bit of Belgium to Scotland!

The "saving private ryan" start was nothing if not memorable, not every day you get to race your bike on the beach, but a wee bit congested going up the dunes - we'll need a longer section on the beach in 2010 to thin them out!

Congratulations to Kenta Gallagher on his overall win - he was in a class of his own, and to everyone else who took part, everyone left a bit of themselves on the Ayrshire Coast!

After all was said and done I felt worse this year afterwards than last year (when I'd raced), completely done in, but super keen to race next season, and to put on the Beach 'Cross again!

Neil Walker

Ayrshire Champs

60seconds before the start of the Ayrshire cross country championships in Girvan the rain began to go with the wind and the cold temperatures. Much to everyone else` s disbelief I decide to add a long sleeve tee-shirt, woolly hat and gloves to my attire- it's the done thing in running that no matter how bad the conditions are you wear a club vest and shorts and nothing else. So there I was breaking the built up tradition.

The race itself measured 9.7k with only about 600metres of flattish running- you don't get such brutal courses anywhere else in Britain. It was the first time I have raced cross country in 2years and fist race of any kind in two months.

The first kilometre felt good as I settled in just behind the leader as we opened a gap on everyone else with me feeling slightly smug in my woolly hat as the rain and wind bit in. My lack of race fitness however began to show as I slipped back from the leader and was soon caught for 2^nd and left straggling in no mans lands. Thankfully between the surging uphill and controlled falling downhill I clawed my way back up onto the shoulder of 2^nd place as everyone` s pace dropped of. For the final 3k I sat there hiding in 3^rd until I managed to muster one final sprint to snatch 2^nd.

David Millar	Irvine	m40	1	35.54	Gold, 1st m40, 1st Team
David McNamee	U/A	m	2	37.10	Silver
Kerry Liam Wilson	Girvan	m	3	37.18	Bronze, 2nd Team
Billy Richardson	Irvine	m	4	37.59	1st team
Cameron Wilson	Kilmarnock	m20	5	38.11	1st m20, 3rd team
Jamie Findlay	Irvine	m	6	38.26	1st Team
Alex Allardyce	Irvine	m	7	39.05	1st team
Steve Daye	North Ayrshire	m	8	39.15
Pat Cullinane	Irvine	m	9	39.49
Brian McEwan	Kilmarnock	m40	10	40.04	3rd team

The top 10

David McNamee, International Triathlete

Building the Foundations

Building the foundations with the odd twist. Its now week four of winters training or `base training` and I am finally getting into some decent shape after my end of season break. The first few weeks are always the toughest- getting back to the early rises, cycling in the wet and running with tired legs.

There has been the odd adventure to keep things fresh and last weekend saw me running/walking up Ben Nevis- I have watched the race up Ben Nevis on television before but it's a hell of a lot harder than it looks. Also my survival pack of a galaxy and a bottle of coke didn't impress the seasoned climbers. That and my descending skills leave a lot to be desired- theres a certain part of your brain that you need to switch of before you hurtle yourself down a mountain.

The next few weeks look more of the same just trying to get myself fit and enjoying the time away from racing. I may head to the Kilmarnock cross country in a few weekends time to test the water.

David McNamee, International Triathlete

A Disastrous End

So there I was 18minutes into my World Championship debut and I had just been disqualified as I entered the first transition zone- I had taken my swim cap of at the turn around point in the swim for it was about to fall of on its own. A rule I had never heard about and a rule that has never been enforced. To say I felt hard done by was an understatement. I went on to finish the race with the little motivation I had left.

Overall my first World Championships were a great experience and it has gave me the confidence I am moving in the right direction and have came a long way in such a short period of time.

Two weeks on and after a final race for my French team I am on my rest week for the year and reflecting on the season. At my best I have shown that I can finish in the top20 at the highest level but more often than I would like my weaknesses have been exploited and I toil home a lot further back than I should be. Overall after doing a few international events I am ranked 69^th in the World. A big jump in the right direction but there is a lot of work to do.

New Experiences

So tomorrow morning I'm heading of to Brisbane, Australia for my first experience at a World Championships. I've never been to Australia before and the only other long haul flight for me was to America, but instead of going for a race I went to see Mickey. Base camp for the first 10days is at Sailfish Cove on Mermaid Avenue- I'm hoping its half as relaxing as the name and after 29 hours of travelling I'll need it. The bags are packed and the bike is dismantled after it had been through a quick once over at the shop. In order to adjust to Australia time as soon as possible I'm having a late night tonight in order to sleep on the plane tomorrow.

Afterwards I have two more races to do in France which will have more of a relaxing atmosphere- sort of the equivalent to the Tour de France riders racing at other events after there three weeks of hell. Then it will be out with the waterproofs, dust of the mountain bike and learn the art of riding it again as well as the more graceful art of falling of.

Well I have a few more hours before I can go to bed so I think I'll go and triple check I have everything.

Cathkin Braes - Over & Out!

Been a while since my last post, as I've been kind of busy with a trip to the Bionicon HQ in Bavaria, and organizing Round 5 of the SXC MTB Series, which I was organising as a test event for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Bionicon was awesome, we were picked up in Munich, driven to their "factory", which was basically a big chalet at the foot of the alps - what an awesome place to work. The hospitality was only outdone by the riding - 2 hour climbs (which are easy on these bikes, despite 6" travel!) followed by amazing 20-30 minute descents back into the valley - quite different to the usual trail centre stuff, as these are just walking paths that folk ride bikes down, so pretty challenging stuff, and a but daunting as your guides don body armour and full face helmets at the top, whilst I just put on a waterproof!

The factory tour and product training was a big eye opener, nice to see products being designed for a purpose by a bike riding engineer, and not an accountant! If my German was better (or just existed), I think I'd have asked for a job!

I can honestly say that organising an event is way harder than riding one - you have to put in more hours in the long-term build up to the event, and instead of tapering off, you build up the workload as the event approaches! My body aches in new ways after walking 15 odd miles on Sunday marking out the course, clearing up the course etc, etc.

The event was a big success, with around 300 competitors and a great atmosphere - the feedback from riders and spectators alike will help massively in the development of the MTB trails, and the CG2014 race track. The cross-over bridge (pictured) was particularly pleasing, but stressful - with having to get it approved by the building inspector before we could use it, then camping overnight in the park to guard it!

I'm glad to be having a week off work to recouperate, before getting some training in for the final Rabbie Burns TT Series event next month. I've enjoyed the challenge of TTing this year, but am really missing MTB racing - the prep for Cathkin, and the vibe at the race has given me the bug again - so I'm signed up to ride Strathpuffer 2010 in a pair - should be easier with a friend to share the work with, but somehow I expect it won't be!

Below is a short video compiled by Glasgow City Council of the event. Whilst working with them has been challenging, the event couldn't have happened without their support, so a big thanks to them - particularly Allan MacLean, Tom A'Hara and Jack Devine.

Business Time of the Season

Since I last wrote I have had two average races both in France and down in London. In France it was the 3^rd round of the French grand prix series where my team had its best result of the season on home soil finishing 6^th- it was more relief than anything for before the race we were introduced to all the sponsors who sign the cheques for us to be paid.

London last weekend was part of the British grand prix series where I came 8^th which although I had hoped for more, after a terrible swim I was more than pleased with the outcome. Highlights of the race are on Channel 4 next weekend.

So now to the business end of the season- I have qualified for my first ever World Championships which are to be held in Australia in September where I will be representing Great Britain at the under23 category. I've never been `down under` but I hear the toilets flush the other way round so im fascinated already.

However before I can concentrate on Worlds next weekend is the next round of the World Championships series which is LIVE on BBC1 on Saturday. T he race is on the 2012 Olympic course and with only 7slots for the Brits just getting a start is a major thing. A top30 would be great but just racing on the course give me a great insight on what is required in 2012. So tune in…