SCXChamps - Round 5 - Irvine Beach

This was my first race at Irvine for 2 years as last year was missed through injury (footballing) so it was great to return.
The course was a new layout but running really fast with old classics like the roller coaster like big dipper and the leg sapping sand pit to traverse.
This season has not been great on the wellness front and a slightly upset stomach didn't help my efforts as I was sick on the move in lap two.
However I managed to steady myself (apart from the fall on the last lap) to reel in a few of my weekly sparring partners to claim 55th.
This turned out to be my best result of the season on what I'd probably like to call my home course.
Next up is the Scottish Championships at Lochore Meadows in Fife which if memory serves is a mud bath.
After that I am finished with the Scottish series as I wont be going to Mull for the final round but hopefully after Christmas I will be taking part in all 4 rounds of the Super Quaich.

SCX Champs 2016 Round 3, Fife College, Dunfermline

For Remembrance Day the Scottish Cyclocross series did its best to replicate the conditions of the Somme with plenty of mud to get in to every bearing of your bike and every part of your body.
By the time the Open race started 500 riders had been over the muck to make it slippy at best hellish at worst.
Again I tried to push hard at the start to get a better spot but the first corner was a massive dismount into unrideable mud.
There were more flowing rooty parts of the course which made up for the mud slog parts and I didnt need to make a bike change which I have had to do in muddy races in the past.
As last week I finished in the 60's (66th out of 100) and was pleased again to be beating some people and reeling in a few that in previous years have beaten me.
It sounds depressing to come that low down a field however the sport is ever increasing its popularity and the guys winning theses races are up to 18 years my junior and really top class athletes with international experience.
The great thing about cross though is that in every race you can have your own wee mini battles....which right now I seem to be winning.

SCX Round 3 Strathyclyde Park

Some unseasonably dry weather greeted the riders at Strathclyde Park for the 3rd round of the Scottish cyclocross series, which made a change from Srathy's usual rain soaked mudfest, where I go home with hypothermia and without my rear hanger.
There were just shy of 600 racers across all the races and 97 in the seniors. The weather made for some fast racing but the gravel climb still bloody hard wet or dry.
I pushed hard at the start to get further up the field at the kick off which I think helped me gain a few places and I had a good strong race beating a few folk I usually just come behind.
61st doesn't sound great but I felt I made ground on the next level of rider and I am 15 places better than the last race so definite improvement. Especially  pleased as once again I went into the race with a heavy cold so I am looking forward to a similar, if not better result at Fife college in Round 4 next Sunday.