After a flurry of activity earlier in the season, where I profiled and reported on several amateur and pro/am races, things have died down a little on the blog. It’s a question of time, and I fear I would be making a rod for my own back if I tried to be a results service.

However, The Moray Stage race was held at the end of July, and as a new race I thought I would take a look at it. There are only a few amateur stage races in Scotland, and also being further north than what I am familiar with is also interesting. It is a cat2/3/4 event, giving the riders in the middle of Scotland’s pecking order a chance for glory and points.

The excellent photos come courtesy of Donald Mackay, a member of the Moray Firth CC and a helper on the day.

It’s good to have a big local event for the Moray, Clach, Forres, Cromarty and East Sutherland riders – clubs I admit I don’t know much about.

I don’t know what this structure is, but you’re in oil country up here

The first stage was a 4.3 mile flat prologue back into Cromarty, and it was won by Peter Ettles of Sandy Wallace, a strong time triallist whose name I have seen a lot on results sheets and websites elsewhere. He was maillot jaune going into the first road stage, a hilly 50 mile loop the same afternoon.
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The Billy Warnock Memorial race is coming up, held this year on 7th August and run as usual by Falkik Bike Club. The race is named in memory of a former rider and racer, as is often the case with Scottish Road Races. Being a relative newcomer to the Scottish scene, I always wonder who these people were, so I have asked a few contacts for their thoughts on Billy.

Billy was diagnosed with cancer in his late 50s and passed away shortly after, but the race perpetuates his memory.

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After helping promote the Davie Bell race, which took place down in Ayrshire last Sunday, it was a shame to be unable to follow it, either from the side of the road or online. Although the reports and photos have all been published, it didn’t feel right not to give this event a nod. The use of two 5 mile sections of dirt road has proved to be a big success and the main ‘soundbite’ from the post-race coverage was winner James McCallum’s comment that this could be a future classic, even to rival established races such as the Rutland Classic.

There were some great race pics from Christopher Johnson, the organiser from Ayr Roads CC. Click on each to find your way to the Picasa Gallery and check out the others.

Endura Racing’s Callum Wilkinson and Rapha-Condor-Sharp’s James McCallum, two of Scotland’s pros, before the race hit the dirt.

Hitting the fire roads, in the spirit of off-road pioneer Davie Bell – Peter(?) Murdoch of Cyclelane, Eddie Addis Velo Ecosse, and Ali McNicol Bicycleworks prominent in the break.
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