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Leek Cyclists’ Club/Den Engel’s Belgian Bar had two main events last weekend Sunday the 20^th was the Muffin ride more of which later this was followed on Tuesday by the clubs 25-mile championship

But first some thank you's. The club is affiliated to the Manchester and District and also the Burton and District Cycling Associations, as part of the latter the club provides marshals for the B.D.C.A. 100 mile time trial a chore standing on a roundabout suffering abuse from drivers who have had the journeys extended by half a minute or so! However it is only once a year so it’s a bit disappointing that once again it’s the same folk who turned out especially as 4 out of the six aren’t even in the club these were

Paul ‘Whiz’ Whiston and his brother Gary, Pat and Dave Bridden. From the club we had Andy Bain who gave up part of his holiday and Yours Truly. The absentees from this list of regulars are Graham and Brenda Halden who were at home preparing things for the muffin ride. Any way thanks a lot from a rider who realises that if no one stood on corners we would have no races to take part in.

Enough of my soapbox and some good news, we had a record number of riders this year for the club 25. Ok it was only 4 but that is 25% more than the previous two and considering the weather.

I thought we did good especially when there were only 20 odd total number of riders despite holding the event as part of the Macclesfield Wheelers and Congleton Cycling club inter club challenge event that can usually generate double that amount of riders. For our part Andy Bain, Marc Briand and Dave Butterworth joined me. Dave wishing me to point out that when he started it wasn’t raining, after all he does have a reputation to live up, to be honest though Dave I think a good soaking was almost inevitable although the strong winds that lashed the course may have kept the rains off. Ah yes the course glad you asked. The course was two laps of a rolling (read hilly) circuit that took the road towards Macclesfield from Congleton before turning left at Gawsworth and crossing via Siddington out onto the Knutsford- Congleton road then turning left into Congleton and back onto the Congleton-Macclesfield road once more. I gave up playing spot the tailwind after the first lap but all four of us finished. Dave in 1-13-46 and nearly doubling his annual mileage at the same time. Marc was next at 1-08-30.

Closely followed by Andy Bain who came in 1-08-01, YT finished in 1-02-54 slowest this year and considerably slower than last years 58-47 on the same course. I would like to say it was down to the weather but it didn’t slow Roger Wren who I was piped by a few seconds last year and who recorded a time of 59-08 this year. Also dropping back from 2^nd place overall to 5^th with two of those in-between Congletons' Karl Austin 1-01-38 and Macc’s Gary Knight 1-00-20 having ridden the 100 I mentioned earlier. Next club championship is the 50 on the 24th of July that should be interesting as yours truly.

At the moment YT doesn’t even think he could complete it but someone’s got to go up against Rich Brookes who as he can’t compete mid week must be targeting it and on his current form must be favourite to win still we’ve got a month! Next Monday the 7^th is Club Night hope to see you there.

Many thanks to Graham and Brenda Halden who once again organised the Summer (sic) Strawberry Muffin Riders. 12 riders followed Graham on a circuitous tour around some of the more picturesque minor roads in the Staffordshire Moorlands, finishing up at the Club HQ - Den Engel at midday for hot and sumptuous muffins courtesy of Brenda. Read Graham's report for more details.