What a start to the season for The Mighty GGCC!!
2015 promises to be a great season for all GGCC members and after only 4 weekends of racing in what is a packed calendar, GGCC has already had its fair share of success and it’s great to see how our club and its members are representing across the region and tasting success.
After a strong track season where GGCC were the most ‘winning’ club, we moved to the road.
First up was the aptly named Ice Breaker TT! A cold, cold day with strong winds and freezing temperatures. GGCC were out in force that day with a massive field representing and we walked away with 2nd, 3rd and 4th place in the Vets! It was the start of the podiums and results that's for sure! Well done to Allan Dickson, Neil Gardiner, David and Craig Dymock, Paul Bailey, Keith Morley, Iain Martin, Vince Wells, Mark Gallagher, Michael Dougall, Ross Dymock and Gavin Dempster!
Next came the Musselburgh 3-up TT across in the East, where GGCC had 2 female teams competing in very challenging and windy conditions, along with a solo rider. Chapeau to Lorna Ferguson, Fleur Stoops, Chris Murray, Ellen McDermott, Elizabeth Adams, Claire Hamilton and Andy Dobinson.
We then moved onto The Galston Hilly TT where Lorna Ferguson took a phenomenal 3rd place in the women’s category! A tough early season test!
The road season then started with an absolute bang with a number of GGCC’ers taking part in both the Cat 3, 4 race and the E, 1, 2, 3 race in Gifford. Our very own Gavin ‘No Drama’ Dempster took the win…….. yes the win in the 3, 4 race and walked away with 15 points!! That’s how you start a season! Gavin then travelled to Berwick the following Saturday, to compete in another road race he had targeted as it was hilly and after a battle and a chase secured 3rd place so 2 results in 2 races!!
The following weekend the GGCC racers were in force at Crit on the Campus in Stirling……well…….we went and we conquered with Ricky Warnock absolutely dominating the final sprint in the Cat 4 race to become the Crit Champion! In the women’s race we another 2 phenomenal results!!…..Ellen McDermott was 3rd overall mixing it up with National Champions and Lorna Ferguson came in 5th. This meant that Ellen was in fact the 1st Cat 3 and Lorna the 1st Cat 4!! WOW!!
There were definitely a few bottles of champagne sprayed on the podium that afternoon!
While some of the GGCC’ers were racing and winning the Crit, Elizabeth Adams absolutely dominated the first round of the SXC race up at Cathkin Braes……..and WON! Another podium for GGCC so as weekend go……it certainly was a belter!
It didn’t stop there……………we had several GGCC’s including Ray Hicks, Paul Bailey, Michael McPartlin and Sean Webster taking part in the Strathclyde Duathlon……proving that we aren’t just good at riding bikes!!
Next up was the First of the WOSCA road races, the John Gordon Memorial. Another strong field in the Cat 2, 3, 4 race in brutally tough conditions! The lads did really well in this tough 58 miler and Gavin Dempster secured his Cat 2 licence with a phenomenal 4th place! What a result and what a start to what we are sure is going to be a great season.
There was success in the Dunoon Ride & Run event too, with Paul Bailey and his partner securing 1st place……..GGCC just can’t help getting on that podium!!
Last up was The Lang Whang Hilly TT….again in brutal winds, rain and extremely cold weather! A tough 30 miler so congratulations to Iain Martin, Vince Wells and Andy who represented and got very respectable times in a strong field.
Each and every rider should be very proud and GGCC is very proud to have such success, and remember all of this happens on top of the best club rides in the area with the best and most supporting members.
Whatever you ride, whatever you take part in, wherever you go and whatever you do……….ride safe, have fun and we wish each and every GGCC’er the best 2015 ever!
Chapeau!
From All the Team @ GGCC