Club Notes - 26th July 2003

The lull in activity within the club reported last week got worse with only two members racing at all last weekend. We did manage to spread it out over two events though, early riser Dave Bridden taking part in the Derby Mercury R.C. held on a slow variant of the A25/11 course that took in roads that bore distinct similarities with those of Cheshire, this prevented Dave from making any improvements on his earlier times recording a solid 1-08-25. YT preferred a lie in however this limited my options to the Macclesfield Wheelers Graham Wardle Memorial 50, well I have to get my miles in somewhere. With the exception of a strange sporadic shower that despite only lasting a few minutes managed to soak all competitors but at different points on the course the weather conditions were good, however I could only muster a 1-58-38 slowest this year, cold comfort that even if I had managed a 57 I would still have only managed to claim third behind John Waddilove's 1-55-31 and John Meyers 1-55-41.

Thanks to newcomer Graham Hill we did manage 3 riders in the Congleton C.C. on Tuesday, Graham renewing his battle with Dave Butterworth, this week Graham definitely taking the advantage with a time of 25-12 to Dave’s 25-40. YT stayed on target with a win in 22-06, Wednesday and I was on my own for the Macclesfield Wheelers 10. In the past number of weeks I have squeezed an extra few seconds and was hoping that I might just sneak into a 21minute ride, however with gusting winds and sudden squalls it was more a case of staying dry which the entire field managed just! So instead I had to settle for a win in 22-28 finishing a handful of seconds up on rising young Macc' rider Dan Knight who finished in 22-48.

What of our own rising youngster Adam Kenway you may well ask, well his success down at Newcastle Track are well documented, but impressions behind the scenes hint at even greater successes for a start Leek Cycle center proprietor and ex pro Gary Thomas as been guiding Adam with training sessions and from accompanied rides informs me that the old phrase “dances on the pedals” may well have been coined with Adam in mind with his ability to climb plus his lightweight makes him a favorite for the club hill climb next Monday (4^thAugust), so it’s lucky for the seniors that he is still a Junior/Schoolboy.

And it’s not just Gary that Adam as been impressing, Chris Pyatt who is one of the organisers at the Newcastle track league, and a multiple Olympic cyclist, so he should know a good thing when he sees it as entered Adam in the National Schoolboys track championships later in the year. To this end Adam will be trying the Manchester velodrome for the first time in the week, hopefully I will be able to let you know the first impressions.

Finally as mentioned previously the club birthday is on the 3^rd of August and as there is yet to be an official launch of our sponsorship with Den Engel Bar & Restaurant this year will be a low key affair with just a few drinks and a birthday cake up at the club house from about 1.30 onwards. Also as mentioned earlier the club hill climb will take place on Monday 4^th, congregating at the bottom of Gun hill for a quick or not so quick in some cases sprint to the top. First rider off at 7.00pm signing on 6.15 onwards usual enter on the line rules apply.