Club Notes - 11th May 2003

Bank holiday caught me on the hop again so here are two weeks worth of reporting, I will try to keep it brief, succinct even! Starting with Saturday the 26^th of April. Morning and Mark Poyser along with Stuart Cope started this years TLI season off in fine style with Stuart covering the sporting course to claim 9^th place. Mark however continued to demonstrate his excellent form by taking overall victory. Later it was a case of mixed fortunes in the Manchester District 25 mile championship with our youngest rider Adam Kenway forced to retire from his first 25 after only ¼ of an hour due to a puncture, Marc Briand fared better recording 1-01-15 but tempered his effort for a second race on Sunday.

I was our last counter and despite the gusty conditions managed to record a 57-10 to finish 6^th but well down on the 55-16 by the event winner Jimmy Froggat Dukinfield C.C. Sunday and as mentioned previously Marc Briand decided to celebrate his birthday by riding the Glossop Kinder Velo mountain time trial aka the Adoiror a 26 mile romp up and down and around Derbyshire taking in some lovely scenic climbs on the Glossop-Chapel en le Frith, Rushup edge-back to Chapel and Glossop course. However Marc and ex pat Pat Kinch weren’t into sight seeing and the pair recorded times of 1-28-03 and 1-22-15 respectively Pats time good enough for a top 5 placing. The event was won by Cherry Valley RT’s Ian Dalton in 1-13-38.

Tuesday and a rather damp conditions kept the numbers down for the 2^nd Congleton 10 allowing yours truly the only Leek representative to claim a second win in the series with a time of 22-59 although Congletons rider Karl time of 22-35 made the winning margin a lot smaller. I jibbed out of the Maccesfield Wheelers event preferring to work on the old car instead of getting another soaking, however Club President Kevin Pickford and Adam Kenway carried the banner, Kev stating that it was actually dry for the events duration if a little breezy Kev managing a consistent 28-42 whilst Adam avoided more punctures to record a creditable 24-21 not only winning the junior section but also claiming second overall behind Macc's premier rider Roger Wrenn who finished in 22-27

Bank holiday weekend saw a spread of riders both in courses and days nearest first on Saturday was Stuart Cope who rode well in the M. & D.L.C.A 10mile event on Cheshire, however I have no times.

Still on Saturday and Marc Poyser and Phil Gayes traveled up to the O25/1 for the Sheffield Phoenix CC. A course favored by a lot of riders for reputedly fast times, but conditions do have to be right and every time I venture up there it’s blowing a gale, despite my absence the pair reported that it was still a bit windy however both riders acquitted themselves well with Phil just missing out on a sub hour ride at despite having trouble with a loose tri bar. Marc now adding another course to his tally for under the hour rides with an impressive short 58 minute ride, that could have well been a 57 minute one if he had not taken a wrong turn near the start!

Time for a quick reminder I need the times either by e-mail, text, written or something as the old memory is not up to recording times, positions etc from just being told in passing or on the start line for other events!

Sunday and I was accompanied by Dave Bridden for the Stone Wheelers 25. Dave once again suffering the consequences of doing the same event as me, both receiving a battering on the windy Stone–Rugley course. Dave still managed to stay consistent at 1-10-49 whilst I slipped a few minutes to record a 59-35 but on a day when only four managed to get under the hour I did manage to claim 4^th, 3^rd place being a tantalisingly close 59-32. We won’t mention my being 2^nd fastest Veteran. Stones own rider Barry Charlton won the event from Darren Willets with times of 55-42 to 56-15.

Bank Holiday Monday and I along with Whiz rode up Cac-Tor t to watch the Valiant attempts of Marc Briand and Andy Bain who along with that ex Leek man Pat Kinch rode the Macclesfield mountain time trial. From the kicking that YT along with other lets say more robust club members I am surprised that a few more of our more scrawny sorry lighter brethren didn’t feel like tackling the event. However they may have read the route which started just before Bosley Lights came towards Leek via the old coach rode, due to the road works, a diversion we may be forced to utilise for the 5 but I have got everything crossed that we wont! Any way back to the route and as the riders almost get to Leek they turned left at the crooked chimney up over the top to Meerbrook, then right and up the long drag to the three horseshoes, left and up Cac-tor and down Axe Edge, left up towards the Cat and Fiddle, bearing left at the triangle on to the Congleton road where the last climb of the course up Wildborclough led you to the finish at the Four-ways Motel. The trio all completed the course in fine style Andy with a time of 1-28-35 to Marcs 1-25-14. Whilst Pat finished 5th with a time 1-17-44. The event was won by the ever-present Jimmy Froggat in an amazing 1-13-+04. Having been seconded to marshalling duties then stopped en route to the finish whiz and YT ended up at the Sutton based HQ before returning back with Andy and Marc who had ridden out to the event as well as riding the event. Whizz and me were ready for refreshments by the time we got back so I don’t know how Marc and Andy managed it well done both!

Moving swiftly on to Tuesday and we are almost up to date we fielded 4 of the 12 riders for the latest Congleton 10, this weeks held on the Monks Heath course, not one of my favorites as it involves 2 roundabouts the far one Booths Hall being a tiny one that takes me an age to get round, just ask Mr. Butterworth who re-passed me as I was going round it! As you may have gathered one of the four were

Dave Butterworth venturing out for his first event and turning in a time of 28-26, edging out Kevin Pickford who recorded 29-04. Possibly closer than Dave would have like perhaps he may increase his training, or even start. Phil Gayes continued to battle on with his equipment, with Cheshire road surface once again coming off the victor, I know because they also managed to inflict me with a slow puncture having hit a pothole coming off Chelford island. We both managed to finish despite these tribulations

Phil with a 24-28 to finish 4^th , behind Karl Austin at 24-05 and Macc wheelers rider Steve Jackson 24-01.

My rear tyre held together just long enough to cross the line first with 22-57. Elsewhere on the same night Dave Cooper was our only member to take part in the first TLI road race, finishing well up in his category.

Dave was back in action on Wednesday, as were Phil Gayes and I, this time for the Macclsefield wheelers 10 on Gawsworth, where Marc Poyser and Adam Kenway also joined us. With a strong wind helping to push you back the return leg was considerably quicker than the out leg Leek did have a strong showing of the 30 plus riders we managed to all get in the top 15 Dave Cooper at 13 in 25-04, Adam Ken way 11^th 24-22, Phil Gayes 9^th 24-07, Marc Poyser 4^th 22-58, Kelvin Milward 3^rd 22-38. with just a handful of seconds to Paul Herd in 2nd with 22-36, and winner Roger Wrenn 22-34.

And finally although the new kit has yet to arrive, news as it that it won’t be long now however we have paid the subscriptions so we can include our sponsors name ‘Den Engel Belgians Bar’ on our entry forms we should also have some news on our official launch in the near future, before then though we have the club 5 and Pats reliability ride details next week. Till then regards Kel.