2006/2007 Annual Report
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2006/2007 Annual Report |
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Day-to-day running of the DA has continued with many active and committed volunteers who, as the following paragraphs will demonstrate, have achieved a great deal on behalf of the membership and the CTC.
The Shrewsbury Midweek Section met on Tuesdays and Thursdays and was organised by Bryan Roberts. It was a fairly uneventful year, spoiled only by poor weather in late winter/early spring, which resulted in 6 Thursday rides being cancelled, although only one Tuesday ride did not take place. Rider numbers continued to compare unfavourably with figures recorded over the years 2002 – 2005 when on average twenty riders turned out each week over the two days. But, this year there was an improvement over the 2006 figures (17.3 compared with 15.7 in 2006.) Bryan acknowledged the efforts of his sub committee for supporting him in producing the rides programmes, but drew attention to difficulties in getting leaders for the first time, particularly onerous given a programme for the year of 102 rides. Bryan expressed his thanks to 5 stalwarts who led many of the rides. Car assisted rides continued to be popular and the group organised two in the winter programme and five in the summer programme. Several Midweek riders took part in the “Day of Rides” at Sundorne Sports Village on 12 May. The outcome was disappointing as only 2 members of the public turned up because of the atrocious weather. For the third year, Terry Egglestone ran his coach trip to Derbyshire in September and as in previous years, participants enjoyed good weather. Unfortunately, the numbers from the cycling fraternity were insufficient to make the trip viable, so Terry had to fill the coach with others. Bryan was appreciative of Terry’s efforts. Bryan continued to monitor the average speed of rides during 2007. He found that, in general, leaders were sensitive to the riding abilities of their companions and adjusted speeds accordingly. He continued to urge leaders to be aware of their speed.
The organiser and leader of the Telford Section was Steve Holloway. The Section continued to meet at 09.30 every Sunday at Wellington Leisure Centre. More than a dozen new riders attended the rides over the year and the Section gained at least 4 new regular riders, representing a 30 per cent increase in the average number of riders on club runs over the previous year. This growth included an increase in the number of female riders joining the Telford Section. The use of photographs on the DA website illustrating mixed gender cycle activities and some networking with other local cycle groups, contributed to the increase and also lowered the average age of groups. The summer rides list included a structured programme of introductory rides on the first Sunday of the month and the Tuesday evening rides proved popular with the regulars. The Section was also involved in providing and contributing to local cycle events during national ‘Bike Week’.
The Sunday Freewheelers Section, organised and led by Bill Dorrell, arranged a total of 132 rides made up of 70 day rides of varying lengths, 36 morning rides and 26 “X” rides. The average numbers of riders were 7 in the day events and 6.5 on the morning rides. Following the death of Nigel Stanley in January, 8 riders met at the Tree Site in May for a picnic and a month later 8 friends, including Nigel’s wife, camped at Broome, the site of several camping weekends organised by Nigel. On 16 June, 16 riders rode to Westhope to join other friends and members of Nigel’s family for the internment of his ashes. The weather took its toll of planned camping weekends in May and July, but the weekends to Broome and Newcastle in August went ahead. Bill praised all the ride leaders who had made the programme of rides so successful; to Kate Westgate for her careful planning of the Easter weekend and to Hazel Nowell for her successful August weekend camping at Newcastle-on-Clun. He also thanked his rides committee for their work in compiling and producing the runs list.
There is an active and successful South Shropshire Section. Malcolm Oxenberry is the contact for this group.
The 60k and 100k “Long Mynd rides took place on 31 March and were organised by Ken Knight. The 101 entries were slightly down on 2006, but nevertheless there was a good turnout on a fine, but windy day. The revised course, substituting the Burway for Asterton Bank was well received. A couple of tandems dragged themselves up the climbs and survived the descents and 79 riders met the challenge of this very tough audax. Ken thanked all who supported him in organising the event.
The 166k and 200k “Four and Three Rivers Rides Audax” events were jointly organised by Ken Knight and Alastair Dargue and were held on 12 May. This year saw a revised route and a change of venue. The 69 riders who set out from the Shrewsbury Sports Village appreciated the facilities available. The classic climb of Bwlch-y-Groes was reinstated which proved popular with the riders, despite the storms that drenched them on the summit. Two abandoned the course and the rest completed apart from 4, who having reached Baschurch after 150k, failed to complete. Ken and Alastair thanked all who helped to make it a successful day despite the weather and they acknowledged John Nowell’s struggle to organise a family event alongside the audax.
John
Hamilton organised a number of events. “Wrekin to Sea Audax” was held in a very
wet week although the weather was fine for the second running of this event. The
sun even came out in time for the Elan valley and the run over to Borth. Good
weather meant there were some excellent views over to the Lleyn on the descent
down to Borth. Entry numbers significantly increased compared with 2006, with 26
starters. All but 2 successfully completed the course. The event included, for
the first time, 2 riders on fixed wheel and a woman rider. Overall an excellent
event and from the comments received later, one that was well on the way to
classic status.
This year was the 250th anniversary of Thomas Telford's birth and “The Irish
Mail Audax” was devised to celebrate Telford’s birth with a 250-mile ride across
the wilds of Snowdonia to Holyhead, returning to Shrewsbury along Telford's
coach road,
built to deliver the “Irish Mail.” Being just before Paris-Brest a bumper
entry of 50 riders exceeded all expectations. If the weather was kind for
the 300k it certainly wasn't for the “Irish Mail” and whilst Shrewsbury (and the
rest of the country) basked in glorious sunshine, Snowdonia and Anglesey
caught the edge of a storm in the Irish Sea and subjected riders to 13 hours
of Welsh water torture. By Lake Vyrnwy a steady drizzle was falling, which
increased to steady rain by Coed y Brenin and raging torrents of water
running down the road between Beddgelert and Llanberis. Thirty-five riders
started
(including tandems, tricycles, recumbents and fixed wheel) and 25 survived the
experience although taking rather longer than John had anticipated. The first
rider arrived shortly before 04.00 on Sunday morning and the last two arriving
at 10.00 with 10 minutes to spare. Due to the difficulties of parking for the
100-plus field in Ironbridge “The Discovering Shropshire” audax relocated this
year to Upton Magna. The new venue proved a hit with everyone and the modified
routes remained as scenic (and undulating) as before. A slightly murky start
gave way to a brighter afternoon and enabled the 100 starters to enjoy the
countryside and quiet lanes of South Shropshire and the borders. John was
appreciative of the efforts of all those who supported him in organising the
rides, but his own personal contribution in organising and extending the range
and variety of audax events must not go unacknowledged.
The 2006 Easter Tour, based at Bangor Youth Hostel, was organised by Kate Westgate. A total of 23 people joined the tour, including a three year-old child. The break was advertised as being “4 nights’ accommodation, great company, wonderful cycling, awesome walking and perfect weather” and indeed this all proved to be true. Many chose to have some meals provided by the hostel (cheaper than eating out in pubs and of reasonable quality.) The group seemed to divide itself into hard and fast riders/walkers and ordinary mortals. Friday’s ride involved a 39 mile circuitous, but scenic, route to Caernarvon with a loop to the south and back along Route 8 before returning to Bangor. Saturday was walking day. All walkers set out along a very popular track up to Aber Falls after which it divided with most people taking a leisurely amble down the other side of the valley. Four people took a higher-level walk, which had breath-taking scenery and wild ponies; in all about eleven miles. The Sunday event was a 42 mile ride to Anglesey, via Route 5. The ride included a pretty route to Beaumaris where there was early coffee followed by a sensible, if unexciting route, to Ariel Mon. After lunch, the route took in Llangefni and minor lanes to Pont Marquis. An extremely well organised tour by Kate and three days of glorious weather made for a very successful Easter event
Malcolm Adams and Dot Lovett organised the Thursday evening rides around Shrewsbury from 3 May to 9 August with 15 scheduled rides, plus 2 rides for children. Sixteen were ridden, 13 in dry conditions and 3 in wet conditions. One hundred and eighty two riders were recorded for the 16 events, making an average of 12 per ride. The maximum number per ride was 19 and the minimum was 3. The total number of miles ridden was 243 giving an average of 16 miles per ride. Over the three-month period 8 new riders took part and Malcolm passed their names and addresses to the Membership Secretary to follow up membership.
Sections became involved in organising rides in response to the “Cycling for Climate Change Week” in July. Places of interest included, Wroxeter Roman Vineyard and Walford College.
Mid-week riders organised two Christmas parties. Arthur Broadhurst organised a lunch for midweek riders at Roden Garden Centre and Dennis Raybould took charge of the regular gathering, open to all members, at the Railway Inn at Yorton
Peter and Anita Crofts organised a well attended evening at Radbrook Community Centre on 16 December. A ceilidh by Terry and Margaret, a generous buffet and numerous raffle prizes contributed to the successful event
A photograph evening took place on 27 February with an illustrated talk on cycling in Cuba by Sue Johnson together with a viewing of some of the DA’s fascinating historic slides of the war years converted to digital format by Ken Knight. Marion Knight prepared the food, based on a Cuban theme. A presentation was made to Bert Catchpole for his efforts in annotating the original slides.
Thanks are due to everyone who organised or took part in a social event.
COMMUNICATION
Brian Wilde continues to maintain the DA website, www.cycleshropshire.org.uk. His work on maintaining the site is invaluable to the efforts to promote cycling in Shropshire.
Anita Crofts remained very active in producing “Cycle News.” Section secretaries distributed the newsletter to some members and it was available at cycle shops and other points in Shropshire. Hazel Nowell organised the postal distribution of “Cycle News” and the “Rides Programmes.”
Ken Knight, who invites contributions from local cyclists, continued to edit and print “Wheelmarks”, the DA magazine. Its issue date is concurrent with the publication of the six-monthly rides lists. John Nowell compiles the “for the record” and “for the diary” sections.
The “café and pub list” is a list of suitable friendly lunch stops recommended by members and leaders. John Nowell coordinates this invaluable document and the latest version is on the website. The “café and pub list”, rides lists and newsletters can be downloaded from the DA website. Details of forthcoming events, reports and photographs help to create interest in the club.
All rides leaders, DA officials and event organisers are registered as volunteers with HQ. There are 82 registered volunteers. The total DA membership as at the end of September is 703.
REPRESENTATION
Emrys Jones represented the DA on the committee of CTC Cymru and Dennis Raybould undertook a similar role on the committee of CTC West Midlands.
A number of CTC members attend the Shropshire Cycle Forum
Much has happened over the past year with activities to suit most abilities and needs. The DA committee welcomes members’ ideas to expand the programme in 2008.
Thanks are due to the outgoing President, Martin Beardwell, who also chaired the DA committee. His leadership and ideas for initiatives to promote cycling in Shropshire has been a feature of his tenure in office. Thanks are also due to retiring committee members, Hazel Nowell a, for her sterling work as membership secretary and to Paul Rapson and to the Vice Presidents and to Phil Guy for being auditor in 2006. The DA committee enjoyed continued support from Telford and Shrewsbury members throughout the period of the report.
OTHER MATTERS
Sadly two deaths occurred in the year: Nigel Stanley and Fred Lang.
Fred died in hospital on 29 April at the age of 94. He was a great clubman and regular supporter of the midweek group. Nigel, who died on 31 January aged 72, was a long-standing CTC member and had held all the major posts on the DA committee.
There is nothing to report in the areas of “… cycle proficiency training, road planning, road safety…” (Annual Report Guidelines) and the “…principal matters requiring attention in the coming year” revolve around diversity in membership, programmes and opportunities.
Hon. Secretary