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Glorious sunshine and super‑fast conditions greeted riders at Eglinton Park, Ayrshire, for the Scottish 10‑mile Time Trial Championship / Steve Donaldson Memorial, hosted impeccably by GTR Return to Life. With Scotland’s smoothest tarmac and barely a breath of wind, the stage was set for a day of exceptional racing -and the riders delivered.
The Open Scottish Championship was won by Ollie Pemberton (GTR Return to Life) in a blistering 18:43, securing the national title by the narrowest of margins. He edged out Graham Hollinger (Torvelo) by just three seconds, with the ever‑resilient Dougie Watson (GTR) completing the podium - a remarkable return to form for the “comeback king.”
Ollie reflected on his ride:
“Last week’s win at the Royal Albert CC 10 on the same course gave me confidence it would be a good test today. It was super quick again, with a bit of a tailwind on the way out, so the plan was to stay controlled and not get too carried away early on. Big thanks to our injured team boss Chris Smart - his message was simple: anyone can go fast with a tailwind, so it was all about making the return leg count. Delighted to take the win, the Scottish title, and keep it in the team for another year.”
The female Scottish champion is Beth Macrae (Jaden Vive le Vélo), stopping the clock in 22:23 to take a confident victory ahead of Miriam Gilbride, with Margaret McMillan securing the bronze.
Beth shared her excitement:
“I’m very happy to win my first Scottish title. Conditions were super fast today so I had to pace it well on the outward leg as sensations were good. On the way home I went full gas. I’m super happy.”
In the Open Road Bike category, the title went to Ben Newton (Torvelo) after a powerful and controlled ride.
The Female Road Bike crown was claimed by Frances Butler, adding her name to the list of champions on a day defined by speed and precision.
A huge congratulations to all medalists and category winners, and sincere thanks to GTR Return to Life, the volunteers, and officials who delivered a superb championship event in perfect racing conditions.
If you’d like, I can also prepare a shorter social‑media version or a more narrative feature for club newsletters.