Fife Century Road Club 50

Chris Smart led a men’s podium clean sweep for GTR - Return to Life p/b Streamline in the Fife Century RC/ SVTTA 50 Mile Scottish Championship, while Joanna Patterson (Wahoo Le Col) won the women’s event by over three minutes.

Smart, aged 42, took his fifth victory of the season by completing the undulating course in a time of one hour, 46 minutes and 25 seconds.

The WE50/01 saw competitors start near Dunshalt before briefly joining the B937 to join the A91.

Competitors then completed a long out and back leg along the rolling A91 past Auchtermuchty and Gateside to the turn at Yetts o’Muckhart.

On the return leg competitors continued to the roundabout with the A92 before turning for the finish.

Smart showed his form by winning the Merlin Cycles Classic Series round four earlier this month.

The veteran rider also won the 50 Mile Scottish Championship when it was last held in 2021 and retained his title in emphatic style.

In a podium clean sweep for GTR - Return to Life p/b Streamline, Douglas Watson finished second in 1-47-58, while Ray Wilson finished third (1-50-48).

Spindata had predicted a victory for Smart in 1-46-44 but he bettered that time by 19 seconds.

“It was good, but I’m tired now,” said Smart. “It’s always hard up there, that course in savage. It’s up and down all day on a rough road surface, but I prefer harder courses to the drag strips so it suited me.

“That’s the first time that we’ve finished in the top three as well so that’s fabulous. I knew we could do it and we had a good chance of stacking the podium.

“We’ve got Ray Wilson back in our team this year and he took third in his first Scottish Championships for us.

“The 50 title was definitely one that I wanted to defend and hopefully I’ll do well in the British National 50-mile Championships in July.

“I think that is being held on a sporting course as well, but it won’t be as tough as the one today.”

In the women’s event Patterson was a clear winner recording a time of 2-00-20 which was 3-27 quicker than her nearest opponent.

The 34-year-old, from Renfrew, won the National 100-mile Championship and was runner-up in the National 50-mile Championship last season and showed her form to take a clear victory.

Claire Weller (Tri Harder) was second woman stopping the clock in 2-03-47 ahead of Alexandra Hayden (Vanelli-Project GO) in third (2-06-15).

In the road bike competition Sharon Bird (Peebles Cycling Club) was the quickest stopping the clock in 2-11-19.

After finished second overall Watson was also the quickest veteran on standard with the 49-year-old’s time being reduced to 1-44-19.

Derek McMillan (SVTTA) was the second veteran on age adjusted time in 1-48-15, while Angus Wilson (Dundee Thistle) was third (1-48-27).

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.

Results
1 Chris Smart (GTR - Return to Life P/B Streamline) 1:46.25
2 Douglas Watson (GTR - Return to Life P/B Streamline) 1:47.58
3 Ray Wilson (GTR - Return to Life P/B Streamline) 1:50.48

Women
1 Joanna Patterson (Wahoo Le Col) 2:00.20
2 Claire Weller (Tri Harder) 2:03.47
3 Alexandra Hayden (Vanelli-Project GO) 2:06.15

Road bike: Sharon Bird (Peebles Cycling Club) 2:11.19

Veterans on age adjusted time
1 Douglas Watson (GTR - Return to Life P/B Streamline) 1:44.19
2 Derek McMillan (SVTTA) 1:48.15
3 Angus Wilson (Dundee Thistle) 1:48.27