Lochaline round 1 19/11/06
The Off Beat Bikes sponsored West Highland Wheelers Winter League commenced with a testing 14 mile course at Loch Aline. Jake Willis from the Sunart Oakwoods Project marked out a route to put the early season frontrunners through their paces.
The course climbed for over 7 miles to around a thousand feet where the snow lay thick and treacherous – not for the faint-hearted. An off-camber, slippery technical descent then followed with several sections easily capable of swallowing front wheels whole as demonstrated by several mud splattered contestants. A blast back along the fire road above the Sound of Mull before a short piece of singletrack took the riders to the finish.
Ben Thompson came in first, just 11 seconds in front of Steve McEwen. Jim Melvin was a career-best third with Colin MacTavish and Graham Brookes tussling over fourth and fifth. Jamie Maxwell opened his account with a promising sixth place. KT Tuer took line honours for the girls with Colleen Foggo in second. A special mention to Duncan Gunn who persevered to earn himself a double hot chocolate at the Café on the Pier.
Several new faces joined the crew and thoroughly enjoyed the Lochaline Experience. Next round is at Duror on the 3rd Dec. Thanks to Jake, Jim and Jenny Maxwell and the café ladies who restored warmth and feeling to the riders at the finish.
- Ben Thompson 1.10.41
- Steve McEwan 1.10.52
- Jim Melvin 1.15.46
- Colin McTavish 1.19.37
- Graeme Brooks 1.22.40
- Jamie Maxwell 1.24.49 1st Junior
- Andrew Foggo 1.25.06
- Angus McSween 1.25.55
- Kate Tuer 1.29.11 1st lady
- Mike Thouless 1.29.32
- Davie Gunn 1.29.33
- Colleen Foggo 1.34.36 2nd lady
- Andy Rogers 1.37.40
- Chris Ellis 1.39.42
- Alasdair Smyth 1.43.31
- John Thompson 1.49.11
- Marian Austin 1.50.50 3rd lady
- Nigel Bailey 1.52.05
- Keith Maclure 2.02.44
- Fiona Gunn 2.05 17
- David Mee 2.06.17
- Ross Larvin 2.13.52
- Alison Heger 2.14.17
- Maggie Thompson 2.19.05
- Duncan Gunn 2.59.59