vicky begg

Mmmh, not so sure about the validity of that gardening centre excuse Mr McLean. Glad to see that someone was willing to grass on you though. The fine weather is making things grow all of a sudden though!

Great evening for events last night. Paul McD and I representing the Johnstone Wheelers last night at the Moscow Circuit - turned out to have around 35 - 40 riders, no doubt the good weather brought everyone out. Not sure what the winning result was - all three groups piled home together, having come together in lap 2! Although I was dropped in the final few miles, I suspect that Paul would have finished well with the bunch. I left before the results due to lack of any lifts back to Glasgow and had to make a final sprint for the train at Stewarton!

I'm coming along to this...

Tony Carrigan was back on the triathlon scene yesterday, coming in 10th male senior and 13th overall out of 83 competitors in the NOVICE category I was third lady, 18th overall out of a whopping field of 166 competitors in the SPRINT category. Alan McLean was a mysterious no-show. I'll be hoping he has a good excuse for not turning up.

The Wheelers were well represented at Ayr Duathlon yesterday, held in the pleasant surroundings of the agricultural college at Auchincruive. That's a 5k run, 20k bike, 5k run Alan Maclean achieving his long awaited dream of a podium position - 3rd male vet (in the hotly contested vet's section this is no mean feat!). He was 7th male overall. 1 hour 19m 28sec. Tony Carrigan in his first duathlon event (somebody told him running was easy!!) . 1 hour 39min 49sec. Myself 2nd lady. Had a bit of a mechanical mare on the new bike, including having to get off on a hill. 1 hour 25min 09sec. It was well run and round a good route on the bike - hilly, windy, all left hand turns. Why aren't more time trials held on these roads? They may not give the fastest times but everyone has to ride the same route and the best rider still wins.

Yes, if it weren't for the beady eye of Robbie Robertson spying the BCF logo... Although you could say that Ian (and Jim) also gained something - a full minute on their time - Bertie Bonus I think! Was it windy? Never noticed in Stevie's slipstream!

Tch, will have to find another contender..

So I finally have my new stealth bomber ready to ride and had a go on it at the weekend. Just need to get the attitude right to go with it as I now have no excuses relating to the bike for not going well... George, do you want to do a two up again?

Yes and a convincing win it was too, I don't remember anyone passing us, though I may have blinked once (but just for a sec). The two behind us must just have vanished into thin air.

Tony, the confined's have been Wednesday thus far, ie last night, and in combination with GRC. Vicky

Two -up: George, I will be along tomorrow still unfortunately without the new steed (its getting bits cut off so that I can reach the gear shifters). I was planning on riding with just the road bike set up on my Trek (can't be bothered trying to fit tri bars back on for one night) - if you don't mind dragging me along I'll ride with you.

I've entered this too, hopefully I'll get set off in the first group!

Myself and riding buddy Karen G. watched in wonder as the fast group shot off like a possessed race bunch from the car park, dropping casualties from the word 'Go' (even in races there is a neutralise zone to allow riders to form a pack), heading straight through the red lights at the road works and then splitting all over the shop up through Beith. It certainly seems as though most groups broke up and cut the route short, and one chap even told us he had been at the MAGNUM CENTRE in IRVINE (the mind boggles). Having decided from early on to make our own way round, we did enjoy the ride making a few mistakes with the route, cursing the weather and generally wondering whether we were in fact the only nutcases who did the whole 67 miler. Glad to hear that some others did the whole distance, though like us, made some of it up. The money raised is fantastic! Well done.

My condolences, Jim, having met Karen at the presentation only recently the news is indeed very sad and most untimely. Yours Vicky

What's the update on the 2008 confineds? I know there was talk of combining some club events on the mid week stuff.. When are our events likely to start? April?

What a spectacular bunch you all were on Saturday night, truly representational of committed athletes.

Myself and Kerry Lang were out in Hamburg last weekend competing in the World Triathlon Championships representing Great Britain. Kerry at Elite level working as a domestique (she so should have ridden her own race as the other girls swim/bike was rubbish) for Andrea Whitcombe and Michelle Dillon. Kerry worked as a true team player, giving up her own excellent placing to try and work on their behalf. Look out for Kerry in further qualifying races at ITU (Internation Triathlon Union) level in line for next year's Olympic team. Myself in the half way to ancient (30 -34) Age Group Sprint Championships. I came fifth in my Age Group, twelfth overall out of 197 ladeez in the Sprint race. Needless to say I passed quite a few folks on the bike, and just managed to hang on in there, as usual, on the run. The website is www.hamburgcityman.de There are videos and pictures of the event.

Sorry I haven't been around at confineds. I was at the World Triathlon Champs last week and this week and to follow have some important family stuff (Dad - operation - heart, say no more) to be concentrating on. May manage to pop along but can't be relied upon.

Sorry I couldn't make it and sorry for not letting you know after my rant the other week about turning up... I was bed ridden with rather a horrid case of food poisoning combined with chest infection on Tuesday. Is that the 10TT's finished?

I can't a manage tonight - massage after work.

So a few (4) of us turned up last night to be faced with a rather lonely effort along the West Ferry. It was very windy, though bright and sunny. Times were all taken by riders themselves, ranging from, 34mins - 24mins. I forget the details. Just a note to say that I for one find it really difficult to be motivated when attendance is sporadic/poor and there isn't even a hint of competition in the air. We all appreciate that attendance depends on lots of factors in our busy lives and that the weather this year has been pretty awful, but it's pretty awful to turn up and wonder if you are going to be on your own at a club night too having made the effort to get there either by car or bike (in some cases from over 10 miles away).

Well, what can be said about the weather? It was unfortunately rather a wet feature of the day yesterday! The ride on the other hand was great - the Cowal peninsula was a tough but spectular choice of route. Of those of us who left at 8am, many had never ridden the Loch Striven or Otter Ferry roads and were suitably humbled by the hills. We had one rather nasty crash victim in Robert Heron, who was able to get back on his bike only to find his bike unable to get back on the road!! A local hero rescued him and brough thim to Strachur where he was able to catch the broom wagon home. A split occured at Ardentinny loop with a few hardy mountain goats heading round the final steep climb, while others headed for the ferry some stopping for lunch at the Coylet (leaving behind a soggy trail of evidence). Across the water, the fine weather continued as we got the heads down for the final 17 miles to Erskine. Karen G then puntured on the sodding slip road to Bishopton, by this time hysteria had set in due to 'trench foot' style symptoms as we fumbled around in the p***ing rain to fix the punture and get the last few miles completed. Not sure whether the BBQ ever happened, sorry I didn't come in for it if it did but the homing instinct had kicked in by @ 4pm and Maryhill beckoned. Thanks for organising this again.

What weather forecast have you been looking at, Kenny?? Are you having a laugh??!!

I should be there - nice night

Hi all, Do any of you have children interested in triathlon? Glasgow Triathlon Club has arranged three days at Belahouston Park as follows.... Together with triathlonscotland we have organised three training sessions for juniors and would now like to start promoting these. The sessions are designed to encourage participation and will focus on fun and skill learning. They are open for kids between the ages of 10 and 16 and will take place at Bellahouston Park on the following 3 Sunday’s. June 24th July 22nd August 26th The normal format will entail a short swim session between 8:30 - 9:30 followed by a bike and run session 10:00 - 11:30 on the tarmac cycle track (any type of bike will do as long as they have a helmet). Only requirement for the swim session is that the kids can swim 50m. All sessions will be coached by qualified and disclosurescotland screened coaches. For the time being these sessions are free of charge. This is the ideal way to start generating more interest from juniors and providing better sessions for our current youngsters. If you wish to go / have kids who want to go / know people who might come along please let them know. If your coming please let myself or the triathlonscotland development manger John lunn know - [email protected] John D -- John Dargie triathlonscotland National High Performance Coach BSc (hons) physiology and sports science BASES accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist (physiology) MOB: 07738042310