NEWS ARCHIVE

In the first bike race for 44 years, Bo'ness and the Dig In Around the Dock proved to be a massive hit with the best racers in Scotland taking on a challenging 2 km off-road circuit in what proved to be a nail biting charge for the top placings.

The hour long race saw Scottish International racer and Commonwealth Games medalist James "JMAC" McCallum from the London based Rapha-Condor-Sharp team, storm the Quayside to snatch a hard won victory over Endura-Pedal Power's David Lines and GT Bicycles reigning Scottish Champ Gareth Montgomery. 

Further down there had been initially a ten rider peleton that had broken off the front of the race and this was trully battered to pieces by the top trio by race end.

There was also winning glory in the ladies class with International racer Eileen Roe from the IBIS team taking spoils ahead of Velo Club Moulin top girl Maddy Robinson and emerging female racer Morven Brown from Dales Cycles in Glasgow.

The course which was probably the flattest on the Scottish Calendar, had some very unique features such as a stretch of slippery Pave to negotiate, as well as hurdles, adverse camber and steps and a bridge crossing. 

The 100 strong field saw close racing as well as some thrills and spills throughout the day, with a large crowd in attendance to cheer the riders on with the added help of plenty of ringing of cowbells to spur the valiant pack of riders on their way.

Scottish cross racing seems to now have fully evolved into it's own growing scene and attracts riders from, road, MTB and even track racing. The best thing that I notice is the growing number of newbies that it is also producing, which is ever so healthy.

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The event saw some riders travelling overnight from England and the Highlands to compete in the last race in the Scottish Cyclocross season.

Myself and Dave Hamill who were putting together the event for the first time,  could not have asked for a better turn out from the riders and local community who supported the event, and were quick to heap praise on the people of the town for supporting the race.

"I cannot thank our event partners enough, we have had so much support from the bike community and the likes of local business such as Belgica Furniture and the Falkirk Community Trust for stepping up on the day to support us, I would also like to add a huge thank you to our officials, marshals and Medical support as well as the townsfolk who came along on the day".

The event which looks like it could become a regular fixture on the cycling calendar was sponsored by Hardie Bikes in Fife, Pedal Power in West Calder as well as prizes from Velo Club Don Logan, Shand Cycles, Velo Club Moulin and Jimmy Smellie..

Race Results- Dig In Around the Dock Boness 29th Jan 2012

1st James McCallum-Rapha-Condor-Sharp

2nd David Lines-Endura-Pedalpower RT

3rd Gareth Montgomerie-GT Bicycles

4th Ben Greenwood-Vanilla Bikes

5th Gary McCrae-Leslie Bikes-Right Move Windows

Women

1st Eileen Roe IBIS

2nd Maddy Robinson VCM

3rd Morven Brown Dales Cycles

Junior

1st Callum Foster Leslie Bikes Right Move Windows

Race report courtesy of John McComisky, image courstesy of Ian Henderson.