EVERYONE knows of Clachnacuddin FC and the Clach Social Club, but there is another Clachnacuddin Club which doesn't hit the sports pages so often these days – the Cycling Club. Last year it celebrated its 75th anniversary, but undoubtedly its hey-day was in the years after World War II. And although the club drew its membership from all over town, there were several Merkinchers at the very heart of the action – such stalwarts as Isa and Bill Gunn.
The couple between them held most of the club's posts several times over – everything from touring secretary to timekeeper/recorder, not to mention the usual committee roles. Now life members, Isa and Bill, whose father was a ferryman on the Kessock Ferry, remember those days fondly.

“The '50s and '60s were the halcyon days,” says Isa. “As many as 60 would turn out for our social events which were always held in the Caledonian Hotel.” The pair recall notable Merkinch members such as Jock Glass and Tom Skinner, who famously cycled with a young workmate through Switzerland and south through Italy in the early '60s.
The Gunns, who now stay in Kinmylies but in those days lived in Upper Kessock Street, were a truly “cycling family”, and their two children also went everywhere with them, riding all over the country.

Perhaps the highlight of Isa's cycling career was her famous achievement of 1950 when she rode from Perth to Inverness in 6 hours 59 minutes. Of course, the A9 was a good deal longer and rougher in those days, although much emptier of traffic as well. She still treasures the silver dish she received in recognition of that “Outstanding Record Ride”.
Although the official foundation of the club was in 1924, before WWI there had been a group of local cyclists, of whom George Cossar and his friend Owens from Clachnaharry were famously successful. Indeed, George, who worked in the timber industry, is remembered for cycling to Peterhead for a job interview, and back the same day!

Today the C.C.C. may not have the wide social attractions of earlier years but, despite dwindling membership, it has had several British championship successes in the last dozen years – and Eddie Alexander came fourth at the Seoul Olympics. And on the national scene John MacMillan is president of the Scottish Cyclists Union and Ivor Reid is Scottish Track team manager.