2023 Hugh Dornan Memorial road race: report and results

James Jobber (EuroCyclingTrips) won the 2023 Hugh Dornan Memorial road race (National B), round 2 of the Scottish National Alba Road Race Series.

Featured image: Ian Henderson

Summary

The Hugh Dornan Memorial Road Race is organised by Lomond Roads Cycling Club on a scenic but tough circuit of the Rosneath Peninsula in Argyll & Bute. For the first time this year, separate events were organised for men and women, covering distances of 120km and 70km respectively. The day was fine and mild with little wind to add to the challenges of the hilly course.

The men’s race attracted 46 riders. There were numerous attempts by riders to get away off the front with some small groups getting up to 20 seconds of a gap. Nothing really stuck over the first 3 of 4 laps of the 30km circuit.

That changed on the final lap when a 5 man breakaway escaped. The group include James Jobber (EuroCyclingTrips), Greig Brown (Vanelli-Project Go), junoir rider Finn Mason (The Cycling Academy), Ben Pease (Moonglu Race Team) and Alba Series leader Craig Paterson (Spokes Racing Team).

The group worked really well together and averaged between 30 and 32mph from Rosneath to the bottom of the final ascent of the Whistlefield climb, making it almost impossible for the chasing group to catch them.

The 5 men opened their sprint halfway up the climb to the finish, with Jobber taking the win ahead of Pease and Mason. 4th place for Paterson was enough for him to return the Alba Series lead.

The Regional A women’s race – round 2 of the Scottish Scotia Road Race Series – attracted a smaller field of 10 riders. Two were distanced and on their own from early in the first lap, leaving 8 riders to complete the 2+ laps as a group. In a close sprint finish from this group, Heather Shanks of North Argyll Cycling Club took the win, with Kim Baptista (Ayr Roads Cycling Club) in second place and Arianne Holland (Alba Development Road Team) in 3rd.

Lomond Roads Cycling Club would like to thank sponsors The Wee Cruin, Tempus Apparel and Williams Bros Brewing, as well as the many volunteers. Their support was critical to the success of the event.

Huge thanks to Richard Burchmore for drafting this report.

Results

Pos	Rider	Age	Team
1	James Jobber	Senior	EuroCyclingTrips
2	Ben Pease	Senior	Moonglu Race Team
3	Finn Mason	Junior	The Cycling Academy
4	Craig Paterson	U23	Spokes Racing Team
5	Greig Brown	Senior	Vanelli-Project Go
6	Neil Scott	Senior	Deeside Thistle CC
7	Ben Mewes	Senior	Moonglu Race Team
8	Matiss Robertson	U23	Ribble rechrg Race Team
9	Daniel McDermott	Senior	Moonglu Race Team
10	Samuel Carrotte	U23	University of Aberdeen
11	Tarn Fynn	Senior	JG Cycles CC
12	William Taylor	Senior	GFTL
13	Finn McHenry	U23	The Cycling Academy
14	Max Lutz-Atkinson	U23	Ribble rechrg Race Team
15	Gavin Dempster	Senior	Torvelo Racing
16	Matti Dobbins	U23	Zappi Racing Team
17	Archie Ellen	U23	The Cycling Academy
18	Cameron Muir	Senior	Wallacehill CC
19	Hugo Lutz-Atkinson	U23	Ribble Collective
20	Alastair McNicol	Senior	dooleys cycles
21	Daniel Halliday	Senior	Private Member
22	Jesse Dawson	Senior	Vanelli-Project Go
23	Christopher Mellor	Senior	ICRT
24	Liam Scott Douglas	Senior	JG Cycles CC
25	Alan Dean	Senior	Edinburgh RC
26	William Dykes	U23	Spokes Racing Team
27	Thomas Gelati	Senior	Kelpie Racing
28	Andy Brown	Senior	Velocity 44 RT
29	Graham Hollinger	Senior	Torvelo Racing
30	Kevin Barclay	Senior	dooleys cycles
31	Andrew Bruce	Senior	Vanelli-Project Go
32	Fergus Robinson	U23	Ribble rechrg Race Team