Route announcement: 48th Davie Bell
The 48th edition of the David Bell Memorial Race (The Ayrshire Alps Classic) will be run over an 81 mile course featuring the ascents of Carleton, the Screws and the Byne. Based in and around Girvan, the race concludes with four laps of a circuit featuring the Byne and Assel Valley.
Known for being a hardman’s race, the 48th edition of the Davie Bell will not buck the trend with over 1000m of ascent. However, gone are the steep pitches of the Nic O Balloch that favour the pure climbers so well. Instead the steady gradients of the Byne will suit powerful riders who can handle the relentless pressure.
With the riders passing by Victory Park in Girvan six times this should make for a great spectator friendly race. Add to that the beautiful opening gallop to Lendalfoot along the gorgeous South Carrick Coastline… Look forward to the photos!
DATE: 18th August 2013
VENUE: Girvan, South Ayrshire
Ayrshire Alps Cycling Festival
Get your calendars out and put a big red mark on the 17th and 18th August 2013. It is time to go to Girvan!
Thanks to the support of South Ayrshire Council & South Carrick Community Lesiure we have a full weekend of activity in the making, including:
17/08/13 – The Highwayman Challenge Audax. This year there will be a 200km option as well as the 100km. Our 200km has something a wee bit special with trips down the Raiders Road and the Carrick Forest Drive
17 /08/13 – SCCL Youth Criterium. The plan is to get full road closure of the fabled Victory Park circuit on Saturday afternoon to run events for Youth A (u16), B (u14) and C (u12). After years of watching the pros charge down South Park Avenue in the Girvan 3day and Tour Doonhame now is your chance to ride the route in front of a friendly home crowd
18/08/13 – The Ayrshire Alps Classic (Inc 48th David Bell Memorial). Now in its 48th year the Davie Bell has established itself as the top road race in Scotland. Building on the success of 2012 we’ll have a top quality prize fund and an amazing scenic new route taking in the South Carrick coastline, as well as first time visits to the summits of the Ayrshire Alps Cycle Park. Head to Victory Park to see the winner crowned after 80 miles of top quality racing.
We’ll have more information here as it is announced so keep an eye out on the site.
Cheers!
Video Highlights – 47th Davie Bell RR
Huge thanks to Andrew and John at Eventfilms.org.uk for this fantastic race highlights video.
We’ll have a club night to show an extended 50 minute version early August. Cheers all!
Money Talks!
Ayr Roads Cycling Club will present the MS Society Scotland with over £1,000 after all proceeds from our weekend of cycling in Girvan are totalled up! ARCC pledged support when launching the first Highwayman Challenge, a 100km endurance test giving amateur cyclists the chance to ride the circuit of the classis South Carrick David Bell road race.
More than 100 riders rose to the challenge on Saturday. Despite the wet and misty conditions there was a fantastic atmosphere at the event with participants completing the testing course over Tairlaw Summit and the Screws climb comfortably inside the time limit. A huge selection of cycles were used, from fast racing cycles to vintage mountain bikes. There was even a tandem team and a unicyclist!
Crowds gathered by the finish line at Girvan Academy were wowed when Guiness Record Holder Sam Wakeling of Ayr rode into view on his single wheeled machine. “I’ve ridden further before by unicycle, but not in a long time. Today was fantastic, so much more fun to be out in a group than on your own”.
Thanks to Stuart Green for this image of Sam Wakeling and his unicycle
A good number of staff from the William Grants and Sons plant also took to the challenge. Sponsors of the main South Carrick David Bell race on Sunday, they turned out to try the route for themselves. Every single member of their team got a rowdy reception at the end of the event.
Riders reach control 2 at Straiton – thanks to Stuart Green for the image
With participants aged between 13 and 69 it was a fantastic day by all, and the catering especially was highly commended. One participant, Martin Young even suggested that the ladies of ARCC release a recipe book! Over two days the club catered for over three hundred people including riders, officials and spectators. All proceeds too will be donated.
Davie Fulton of Girvan was the first local rider to complete the course and called the event a resounding success. “It was superb, great roads, great fun, great to see so many people out to enjoy themselves. I’m looking forward to next year already!”
The effects of an over exuberant victory gesture didn’t wipe the smile from the face of Paul Ross from Girvan, riding as part of the William Grants and Sons team
Special thanks go to ACS Prestwick Limited for donating a wonderful selection of cycle accessories for participants to raise more funds for MS Society Scotland.
The event was named in honour of David Bell’s popular Ayrshire Post column in which he encouraged people onto their bikes to explore the beautiful Ayrshire scenery. With over 30% of the field hailing from South Carrick, the promoters Ayr Roads Cycling Club like to think its a fitting legacy. Plans to run a 200km route in addition to the 100km are already being discussed!
Race Review. What did you miss?
Rpaha Condor Sharp queue to sign on in Girvan
Rapha Condor Sharp made in two years in a row when Christopher Jennings of South Africa soloed across finish line of the 47th South Carrick David Bell Memorial. A frantic last lap of a fifteen mile circuit around the Byne climb decimated what had been a leading group of ten down to five at the end of a fantastic day’s racing around the hill roads of South Carrick.
Now a National A event, the South Carrick David Bell Memorial is the biggest day-race in Scotland and despite the late scheduling clash with the Smithfield Nocture in London, attracted the strongest calibre field in the event’s history.
The action kicked off in Girvan at 11am with local schoolchildren William Ratchford and Megan Crowhurst waving the riders off accompanied by a piper. With just seven miles before the first sprint at Dailly the Scottish teams seized the initiative and got a quick gap opened up off the front, with Peter Murdoch of Cyclelane overpowering Andrew Whitehall (Velo Ecosse) and Andrew Cox (TheBicycleWorks .com) for the points.
Alistair Kay (Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes.com) on the Straiton circuit
On a short and lumpy circuit close to the old race HQ in Straiton a big split in the field formed, giving 20 riders a clear run up the first GPM of the day at Glenalla. Kit Gilham of Herbalife outdid Michael Cumming and Luke Grivell Mellor (both Rapha Condor Sharp), no doubt quick to escape what judging teams cried a ‘midge epidemic’.
The race high point, the ascent of Nic O Balloch did little to disrupt the rhythm of the leaders and the chasers. Michael Cumming took full points at the William Grant & Sons GPM before the race passed the memorial to David Bell at Rowantree Toll and the long descent to Bargrennan.
The leaders ascend the Midgie Fest of Glenalla
A lead group of established itself on the road to the second Sprint at Barrhill. All four Rapha Condor Riders, Hassan, Gilham and Hawdon (Herbalife-Leisure Lakes), Greenwood (Vanillabikes), Gary Hand (Pedal Power Endura Forme) and Liam Glen (Wheelbase /MGD). Andrew Hawdon took the prime, amassing enough points to take the South Carrick Community Leisure Sprints Trophy.
Meanwhile the pursuiters were holding the gap at under four minutes as riders challenged for the big prizes and points on offer to 20th place. The final GPM of the day at the Screws saw Gilham take top honours for the William Grants and Son’s King of the Mountains.
And so began the first of two tactically played laps of the Byne circuit. Heavily outnumbered, Greenwood of Vanilla Bikes put in a number of efforts to whittle the group down to five who had established a lead of over 1min by the last lap. Sadly for Greenwood both Rapha Condor Sharp and Herbalife Leisure Lakes had two men.
The racing is on – first lap of the Byne. 10 will become 5 very soon
Racing down the Assle Valley, never dropping below 30mph, Christopher Jennings was able to break clear and entered the final circuit of Victory Park with a clear view behind. A very hotly contested sprint for second was just rewards for Ben Greenwood who animated the race so much. Richard Handley trailed home King of the Mountain winner Kit Gilham who took 3rd.
Christopher Jennings wins the 47th South Carrick David Bell Memorial in Victory Park, Girvan
Meanwhile the anxious Girvan crowd waited with baited breath for the remains of the peloton containing local riders Mark Skilling and Kenny Armstrong, both vying for the host clubs ‘Davie Bell RR trophy’. A huge cheer went up the finish straight as the bunch sprinted for the line, Skilling just pipping Armstrong.
Having doused his opponents in Champagne on the finish podium, victor Christopher Jennings was very gracious in his speech, praising the level of the racing and his opponents, and thanking the Girvan crowd for the great hospitality and sunshine!
Our podium celebrations
And so concluded a fantastic weekend of cycling in Girvan, with more than 100 amateurs completing the 100km Highwayman Challenge on Saturday, nearly 80 volunteers aiding the passage of the race on Sunday, and close to £1,000 raised for MS Society Scotland.
Organiser Christopher Johnson praised the support host club Ayr Roads CC had received for the event. “It is thanks to our local sponsors and community that we’ve achieved what we have – South Ayrshire Council and South Carrick Community Leisure have given us fantastic help all along the way. We’ve seen the employees of William Grants & Sons go above the call of duty, taking to their bikes en masse yesterday in the Highwayman Audax and assisting all day today. It’s incredibly humbling to see the work and commitment put into our event, and we thank the racers for putting on such a great spectacle”.
Drew Agnew (on right in yellow), winner of the Highwayman Challenge Retro Bike Competition is awarded his trophy by Brian Nicol of race sponsor Spirit AeroSystems
Ayr Roads Cycling Club are currently bidding for Premier Calendar status in 2013. A full race highlights video prepared by Eventfilms.org.uk will be released later in the month.
Results
47th South Carrick David Bell Memorial Race
10th June 2012
Girvan, South Ayrshire
Promoted by Ayr Roads CC / Harry Fairbairn BMW
1 Christopher Jennings Rapha Condor Sharp 04:02:05
2 Ben Greenwood Vanillabikes .com 00:46
3 Kit Gillham Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com st
4 Richard Handley Rapha Condor Sharp st
5 Robert Hassan Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com 02:53
6 Andrew Hawdon Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com st
7 Gary Hand PedalPower Endura Forme Racing 04:21
8 Michael Cumming Rapha Condor Sharp 07:28
9 Luke Grivell-Mellor Rapha Condor Sharp 08:30
10 Liam Glen Wheelbase / MGD 10:39
11 Kieren Banlin Vanillabikes .com 10:45
12 Neil Taylor Edinburgh RC st
13 Jamie Kennedy Glasgow Couriers 11:21
14 Harry Grey Vanillabikes .com st
15 Alex Coutts RTS Racing 11:25
16 Alastair Kay Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com 11:42
17 Peter Murdoch Team Cyclelane 11:44
18 Alistair McNicol TheBicycleWorks .com 11:54
19 David Lines PedalPower Endura Forme Racing 14:02
20 Edward Addis Equipe Velo Ecosse /Montpeliers st
21 Tim Blathwayt Velo Club Edinburgh 14:12
22 Karl Denton Blumilk .com 14:51
23 Liam Cowie PedalPower Endura Forme Racing 14:52
24 Simon Baxter Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com 15:11
25 Matt MacDonald Equipe Velo Ecosse /Montpeliers st
26 Lewis Oliphant Equipe Velo Ecosse /Montpeliers st
27 Russell Bayliss GS Metro st
28 Craig Adams GJS Racing Team st
29 Richard McDonald Dooleys-Cycles .co.uk st
30 Mark Skilling Ayr Roads CC / Harry Fairbairn BMW st
31 Andrew Whitehall Equipe Velo Ecosse /Montpeliers st
32 Kenny Armstrong Ayr Roads CC / Harry Fairbairn BMW st
33 Rob Wilkins Equipe Velo Ecosse /Montpeliers st
34 Jack Barret Beste Aide / S.C. Duranguesa 21:32
South Carrick Community Leisure Sprint Champion
Andrew Hawdon Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com
William Grants & Sons King of the Mountains
Kit Gilham Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com
Ayr Roads Davie Bell Champion
Mark Skilling Ayr Roads CC / Harry Fairbairn BMW
Local photographer Tog pictures our poster winners William Ratchford and Megan Crowhurst of Barrhill with their fantastic Davie Bell promotional banners!
Dailly Sprint
Peter Murdoch Team Cyclelane
Andrew Whitehall Equippe Velo Ecosse / Montpelliers
Andrew Cox TheBicycleWorks .com
Barrhill Sprint
Andrew Hawdon Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com
Christopher Jennings Rapha Condor Sharp
Richard Handley Rapha Condor Sharp
Glenalla GPM
Kit Gilham Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com
Michael Cumming Rapha Condor Sharp
Luke Grivell-Mellor Rapha Condor Sharp
Nic O Balloch GPM
Michael Cumming Rapha Condor Sharp
Kit Gilham Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com
Robbie Hassan Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com
Screws GPM
Kit Gilham Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com
Michael Cumming Rapha Condor Sharp
Ben Greenwood Vanillabikes .com
2012 DAVIE BELL VIDEO TRAILER
(Warning, contains spoilers!)
Thanks to Andrew and John of Eventfilms.org.uk
47th South Carrick David Bell Memorial: Results
Christopher Jennings of South Africa keeps it in the ‘Rapha House’!
47th South Carrick David Bell Memorial Road Race
10th June 2012
Girvan, South Ayrshire
Promoted by Ayr Roads CC / Harry Fairbairn BMW
| 1 | Christopher | Jennings | Rapha Condor Sharp | 04:02:05 |
| 2 | Ben | Greenwood | Vanillabikes .com | 00:46 |
| 3 | Kit | Gillham | Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com | st |
| 4 | Richard | Handley | Rapha Condor Sharp | st |
| 5 | Robert | Hassan | Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com | 02:53 |
| 6 | Andrew | Hawdon | Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com | st |
| 7 | Gary | Hand | PedalPower Endura Forme Racing | 04:21 |
| 8 | Michael | Cumming | Rapha Condor Sharp | 07:28 |
| 9 | Luke | Grivell-Mellor | Rapha Condor Sharp | 08:30 |
| 10 | Liam | Glen | Wheelbase / MGD | 10:39 |
| 11 | Kieren | Banlin | Vanillabikes .com | 10:45 |
| 12 | Neil | Taylor | Edinburgh RC | st |
| 13 | Jamie | Kennedy | Glasgow Couriers | 11:21 |
| 14 | Harry | Grey | Vanillabikes .com | st |
| 15 | Alex | Coutts | RTS Racing | 11:25 |
| 16 | Alastair | Kay | Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com | 11:42 |
| 17 | Peter | Murdoch | Team Cyclelane | 11:44 |
| 18 | Alistair | McNicol | TheBicycleWorks .com | 11:54 |
| 19 | David | Lines | PedalPower Endura Forme Racing | 14:02 |
| 20 | Edward | Addis | Equipe Velo Ecosse /Montpeliers | st |
| 21 | Tim | Blathwayt | Velo Club Edinburgh | 14:12 |
| 22 | Karl | Denton | Blumilk .com | 14:51 |
| 23 | Liam | Cowie | PedalPower Endura Forme Racing | 14:52 |
| 24 | Simon | Baxter | Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com | 15:11 |
| 25 | Matt | MacDonald | Equipe Velo Ecosse /Montpeliers | st |
| 26 | Lewis | Oliphant | Equipe Velo Ecosse /Montpeliers | st |
| 27 | Russell | Bayliss | GS Metro | st |
| 28 | Craig | Adams | GJS Racing Team | st |
| 29 | Richard | McDonald | Dooleys-Cycles .co.uk | st |
| 30 | Mark | Skilling | Ayr Roads CC / Harry Fairbairn BMW | st |
| 31 | Andrew | Whitehall | Equipe Velo Ecosse /Montpeliers | st |
| 32 | Kenny | Armstrong | Ayr Roads CC / Harry Fairbairn BMW | st |
| 33 | Rob | Wilkins | Equipe Velo Ecosse /Montpeliers | st |
| 34 | Jack | Barret | Beste Aide / S.C. Duranguesa | 21:32 |
| South Carrick Community Leisure Sprint Champion | ||||
| Andrew | Hawdon | Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com | ||
| William Grants & Sons King of the Mountains | ||||
| Kit | Gilham | Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com | ||
| Ayr Roads Davie Bell Champion | ||||
| Mark | Skilling | Ayr Roads CC / Harry Fairbairn BMW | ||
| Dailly Sprint | ||||
| Peter | Murdoch | Team Cyclelane | ||
| Andrew | Whitehall | Equippe Velo Ecosse / Montpelliers | ||
| Andrew | Cox | TheBicycleWorks .com | ||
| Barrhill Sprint | ||||
| Andrew | Hawdon | Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com | ||
| Christopher | Jennings | Rapha Condor Sharp | ||
| Richard | Handley | Rapha Condor Sharp | ||
| Glenalla GPM | ||||
| Kit | Gilham | Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com | ||
| Michael | Cumming | Rapha Condor Sharp | ||
| Luke | Grivell-Mellor | Rapha Condor Sharp | ||
| Nic O Balloch GPM | ||||
| Michael | Cumming | Rapha Condor Sharp | ||
| Kit | Gilham | Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com | ||
| Robbie | Hassan | Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com | ||
| Screws GPM | ||||
| Kit | Gilham | Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes .com | ||
| Michael | Cumming | Rapha Condor Sharp | ||
| Ben | Greenwood | Vanillabikes .com | ||
