Christine hits early season form

Shetland Wheelers cyclist Christine McLean was the first woman home in both her recent events on the UK mainland.

Last weekend she took part in the West Cheshire District 10-mile TT, riding a course based around the busy A483 near Chester.

The frosty 1°C temperature did nothing to deter over 100 riders lining up at the start and McLean was off number 20, after spending considerably more time than usual trying to warm up.

Having passed the two riders who set off one and two minutes before her by halfway she knew she was on to a good ride and finished in a time of 24:19 minutes, almost a minute ahead of the second-placed woman Jill Hume of Port Sunlight Wheelers.

The previous week McLean had been competing closer to home in the Aberdeen District organised presentation time trial. The course is held on a 16-mile hilly circuit around Gairlogie to the west of the city.

Again it was a chilly start but conditions were bright and dry with little wind to contend with. There was a good turnout with 50 riders and McLean’s time of 42:10 minutes made her first woman, over four minutes clear of second-placed Deeside Thistle rider Shelley Farrar.

The district presentation awards followed the event and McLean, who has just taken delivery of a new time trials bike, collected the trophy for Best All Rounder Lady rider for 2008.

She said the Shetland Wheelers club was grateful to Shetland Island Council and NorthLink Ferries for assistance towards attending the south events.

Meanwhile the Shetland Wheelers’ home season got off to a fine start last Thursday evening, with light winds giving the riders fast times and a series of new personal bests over the 10-mile Tingwall course.

Colin Smith recorded the fastest time of the night, knocking 13 seconds off his previous best, and was closely followed by Andrew Grant and Scott Jamieson who also recorded very fast times.

John Robinson also recorded a PB while Maurice Fraser and Bonar Barclay notched up very impressive times for their first attempt at a time trial.

But it was Shane Winson who showed what a winter of triathlon training and a new bike could do, reducing his best time by an amazing three minutes 52 seconds in his first outing of the year to drop right into a mid-25 minute time.

Results: Colin Smith 23:37; Andrew Grant 23:58; Scott Jamieson 24:10; Shane Winson 25:25; Robin Atkinson 26:43; Maurice Fraser 27:20; Bonar Barclay 29:00; John Robinson 38:37.

The time trials are run each Thursday, meeting at 6.15pm at the Tingwall Hall for a 6.30pm start.

Anyone who would like to set their own mark to compete against is welcome (helmets are compulsory).