THE Scottish Veterans 10-mile championships at Blairdrummond, Perthshire, tomorrow looks like being a close encounter with several riders in this age-related handicap event in contention.

Leading the G-force gang (those aged 70 and over) is the remarkable 84-year-old Isobel Campbell of Glasgow Nightingale, who is nearly certain to set a British record time for her age. Others include last year's winner, 76-year-old Jackie Barbour of Royal Albert CC, Willie Cuthbert, 72, of Inverclyde Velo, second last year, John Thayne, Glasgow Wheelers, 73, who was third, Ian Walls, 75, Glasgow Wheelers and Jim Reid, 70, Glasgow Nightingale, winner of last month's 18-mile vet and pacer Boomerang Trophy.

Leading the younger brigade is Davie Millar, now of Glasgow Couriers, who won last year's Senior Best All Round title, was second in the middle distance BAR and took the vets BAR championship with an incredible average speed of 26.947mph, Jim Reid and Robert Taylor of Glasgow Wheelers, Ed Harrison of Dunfermline and District and John Thayne's wife, Johan, of Glasgow Wheelers. Racing starts at 9am.

The veterans' 25-mile championship for the Ben Smith Trophy was won by Willie Cuthbert with a time of 1hr 6min 38sec, an age plus of 17.06sec, Davie Millar was second in 55-26, a plus of 16.45 and Denny Devlin, Hawick CC, third in 1-16, a plus of 15.47. The team event went to John Thayne and Jim Reid with a plus of 27.54.

q PAUL Rennie of Galston, Ayrshire, is to join Brian Smith's Clarke Contracts squad, making a total of five riders.