5th Doonbank Trofee proves a winner!

As the mud settles on Rozelle Park in Ayr, we take a look back at the 5th Doonbank Trofee Cyclocross races.

Officially, the event begins at 10am on Sunday morning, but the course build begins the week before with a spot of light pruning.  This year we are most grateful to the 18th Ayrshire Scouts!

Big thankyou to the 18th Ayrshire Scouts group @SWSScouts for their help yesterday at Rozelle Park. Lots of pre race jobs done ! #cyclocross @superquaich @SouthAyrshirePI @Edwards_JL #doonbanktrofee @officialQTS @Fraser_J_ pic.twitter.com/TVI2pBczgi

— AyrBurnersCyclingQTS (@AyrBurners) December 2, 2018

The kit is assembled throughout the week, and then build gets underway with first light on Saturday.
Three vans, two trailers and some assorted hatchback loads of kit arrives. We are onto a winner as we have the awesome Irvine Beach Park National Trophy team from Walkers Cycling on site with us, along with friends from Ayr Roads. It’s a big shift!

But the result is stunning!

Great to be at Rozelle Park in Ayr for @AyrBurners #DoonbankTrofee which is incorporating the @ScottishCycling #SCSouthWest Cyclocross Championships! It’s going to be a great day! There’s something about Cyclocross in Ayrshire – always going the extra mile! #NationOfCyclists pic.twitter.com/L3BuCbcHq7

— Fraser Johnston (@Fraser_J_) December 9, 2018

The activity gets underway with a non-competitive ‘fun-ride’ at 10am

The #doonbanktrofee was a fantastic event today. Superbly organised @AyrBurners, supported and attended. Good weather and just the right amount of mud helped. U12 fun ride was fab. Would like to see more riding it next time. Top class A race competition too. pic.twitter.com/zI6VX81vRx

— James Edwards (@Edwards_JL) December 9, 2018

Everyone received a prize bag, with no instructions…

Then came the U16 and U14s, the first to get a taste of the full course. Patrick ‘Pato’ Kiehlmann rides off the front with ease, using his superb skills to stay mounted on the stair case

Check out Garry Owen’s full gallery for great photos

Some wee timing issues delayed the start of the Quaich, fortunately Mark Young was on-scene to make it all work

And then the Quaich was on!

A joyous occassion for the hosts, as James Edwards pulled off a remarkable win, with club mate Gary Currie riding up to fourth

@Edwards_JL of @AyrBurners gets the bell lap in @superquaich B race at #doonbanktrofee pic.twitter.com/N0fOrTvgMU

— Chris JG 🇪🇺 (@ChristopheJG) December 9, 2018

Alan Anderson has the beats on. They are on loud.

The organiser, fearing troubling letters in the days ahead, asks him to turn it down. Alan obliges, dialling back from eleven to ten-and-a-half… The A race is here!

On the first hurdles Rab Wardell jumps, showing how it is done. After that Gary Macdonald, David Lines and Rab Wardell build a convincing lead.

https://www.facebook.com/craig.mcculloch.908/videos/2221737667870282/

With Cedric Sachet and Hurricane Harry McGarvie chasing hard behind

Lots of drama in the pits as Harry’s Da Lindsay is performing the work of three pit-crew, and the generator is playing up…

The racing is excellent, Roz Newman is building a fine lead to gather series points to defend her Quaich title

Top local snapper Kenny Girvan of Ayrodynamic Tri Club arrives on scene for the action and the podium shots

The racing incorporated the Scottish Cycling South West Champs – c’mon the Hurricane!

@ScottishCycling South West
Men’s Cyclocross Championships

🥇Harry McGarvie @AyrBurners
🥈Chris Nicholson #HoddomVelo
🥉 Marc Anderson #LoudonRC

Congratulations to all and a huge thank you to everyone @AyrBurners and extended team for putting on today’s event – it was ace! pic.twitter.com/ILySoAOhzZ

— Fraser Johnston (@Fraser_J_) December 9, 2018

And some word’s from the man himself:

Great day in Ayr for Round 1 of the @superquaich Series at the Doonbank Troffee. The course changes were great and made for a tough, techy course.

I had a great race, managing to get 8th in the A’s. It was pretty cool to be riding with the big guns… https://t.co/Ys4aNngqfq pic.twitter.com/wISZo5hGC8

— Harry McGarvie (@mcgarvieharry) December 10, 2018

And back at the front of affairs, Gary Macdonald is gracious in defeat to his coach:

Cracking day at the races, round 1 of the super quaich cx at doonbank.
Happy taking 2nd after a solid week of training this finished me off nicely…. 🤢

Brilliant battle with mate and coach David Lines all the way… https://t.co/EgoZxrhvof

— gary macdonald (@Gary_Mac1) December 9, 2018

Some great galleries can be found at the Scottish Cyclocross Facebook pages, and in wide screen thanks to Bryan ‘Two Wheel Army’ Hutton

A few images from @AyrBurners Round 1 of @superquaich great race. Click below link to view my shared Lightroom album:https://t.co/DBI01zfnvs #Cyclocross #DoonbankTrofee

— Bryan Hutton (@baahutton) December 10, 2018

And with that it is over and out:

And that’s a RAP 😎 We hope you all enjoyed the #DoonbankTrofee
Massive thanks to everyone who got involved 👍 See you next year X@officialQTS @superquaich @SPARScotland @KartEspresso @Fraser_J_ @ScottishCycling pic.twitter.com/KtyuZKLdDo

— AyrBurnersCyclingQTS (@AyrBurners) December 9, 2018

The day after the party… pic.twitter.com/QHPZZVq7Af

— Chris JG 🇪🇺 (@ChristopheJG) December 10, 2018

Full results can be found at Sporthive site

And a further photo album featuring the B-race here: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPBnrs3o0pTPXtTjndt8i_OnVfNP54WJJGMeOwyM7lAGqONcG8-DBaMX6YLmYlSXA?key=OGdQc3ViNFZkR2t5czZuTkJxZFF0VGJqMmpfLXNn