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Welcome to Issue 28. In
this issue we have:
A Brave New
World… - Welcome – Prizes Galore
Along the
Right Track – Are You Reliable?
The Old Man
gets a Gong
Boggling at
Boggle Hole – If You Were There…
A Brave New World….
If you have
not already noticed on the front cover, we have two more
names joining our original sponsor Don Valley Cycles. They
are Pacy and Wheatley Construction (some of you may already
know Dave Wheatley) and Ziniz Restaurant and Wine Bar of
Bawtry. These two extra sponsors have agreed to help the
club financially over the next three years. The money will
go towards helping to raise the profile of Doncaster
Wheelers locally and nationally. We would like to thank
these sponsors for coming forward to help support us and
committing themselves to a long term partnership.
Welcome
The first
benefit of the new sponsorship is that we have been able to
secure the services of Wayne Randall, who will join our own
ever improving road racing team. This should enable better
team support for them at races, and help to raise our racing
profile. This does not mean it is only the best that will
benefit as without a base of talent we will not survive so
over the coming months we will hope to support the up and
coming younger element of the Wheelers as they try to make
their mark.
Prizes Galore
Many thanks
go to Martin Maltby for his hard work in organizing yet
another successful Prize Presentation evening. I think the
evening and food was enjoyed by all and we hope to have a
similar event on again next year.
Along the Right Track…
Yes, its that
time again, after the two previous trips to the Manchester
Velodrome, the 2004 event has been booked again. It is open
to all riders of every age and ability. Those who have
ridden in the past will vouch that it is a very enjoyable
evening as all abilities will be catered for. A qualified
track coach will be in attendance for the whole two hours
when we will have the track to ourselves. You will be able
to hire shoes, hats and bikes from the track (these need to
be ordered beforehand) so there are no excuses. The date has
been set for Saturday 6th March from 8pm to 10pm.
To book your place call in at Don Valley Cycles and add your
name to the list.
Are you Reliable?
It is hope
that in the New Year a reliability ride will be promoted by
the club. Any offers of help or assistance in running this
on the day will be very much appreciated. More details will
follow but if you can help please contact Martin Maltby at
Don Valley Cycles (Tel: 769531).
The Old Man gets a Gong
At the Prize
Presentation Bud Kendall was awarded Life Membership of the
Wheelers. This was in recognition of his many years of loyal
service to the Club, looking after the younger riders,
taking out the club run on a Sunday and helping marshal at
the many events we run, so that others could race.
If you were there…
The AGM meeting went along as smoothly as can be expected
and for those who attended and even those who were not able
to attend, here are the main points again:
Start: 7:35pm 19
Members present at the start.
Committee: All the main officials were re-elected for 2004
Time Trial Report –
Sporting Course (T. Siddons)
This years event was a District Round of the series and
suffered from low entries (53). It has been applied again
for 2004 on the same date as this year. The event made a
profit of £40.15.
Time Trial Report – Open
25’(C. Green)
Entries were disappointing
(39) with only 30 starters. Thanks were given to all
marshals and helpers by the organiser who is willing to
promote the event again in 2004. The event has been applied
for at the same time of year. Financially the event just
about broke even, although no accounts were available at the
time.
Time Trial Report -
General (T. Siddons)
The Club 10 series was
again well supported with approximately 190 rides being done
over the series. Some discussion took place as to what
variations could be done i.e. circuit, 25’ etc. but for the
time it was left to be the same format for 2004 but with an
increased entry fee due to the increase in club levies from
the CTT. Discussion also took place over the proposed Risk
Assessments to be dome for all Time Trials as proposed by
CTT. This to be monitored. Each club is to be provided by
CTT a set of warning signs that will have to be displayed at
or near any event being promoted.
Road Race Report (M.
Maltby)
Event was a success, with
an average field size but with a quality entry. Thanks to
all marshals and helpers. There was a small loss on the
financial side of the event due to the prize list increase
to try and attract a larger field. The event will be held on
Fri 18th June 2004. A different day to coincide
with the Yorkshire Cycling Week. There will be hopefully be
more promotion for the event due to this and Don Despatch
have offered more funding for the prize list for this event.
Social Secretary’s Report
(M. Maltby)
The 2002 Prize
Presentation and Buffet event made a small loss and was put
down to a clash of events at that time of year.
Doncaster MENCAP Storage
Facility - Rental
The Doncaster Mencap
Society, now that we no longer rent a room of them, have
asked for £52 per year for rental of space to store the
competition rollers. After much discussion it was decided
that a club member would store the articles. They would be
first removed to Don Valley Cycles for sorting out the sent
on for storage afterwards.
Road Race
C. Green offered to
promote a second road race with the help of others in 2004.
This to be coordinated with M. Maltby. Possibly using the
Edlington Circuit.
Boggling at Boggle Hole
A recent Club YHA weekend
trip went to Boggle Hole in North Yorkshire and it is with
great thanks to club member Russell Toft that we have an in
depth report on the event.
“I would just like to
thank all the club members who attended the Boggle Hole
weekend. A round trip of nearly 200 miles. We set off from
Doncaster at about 9am on Saturday morning and hit the hills
of north Yorkshire about 40 miles Boggle Hole. I felt quite
good and my legs were withstanding the miles.
However, the following day
it was a different story. Again setting of at about 9:30am
we now had 40 miles of hills to contend with first. We took
a different route to the one taken on the first leg. This
time we went over the North Yorkshire moors.
There are no gradual hills
there. Five of them I had to walk up, one was a 33% climb (1
in 3) My legs just gave way. I was averaging 10 mph and
after 2 hours we had only covered 20 miles.
As an inexperienced rider
(started one year ago) I was afraid that I would not be
supported by the club members. I didn't need to worry. At
the top of ever hill the group were there waiting for me. At
no time did I hear any one complaining. To the contrary,
they all offered support.
Finally, we made it off
the moors and headed on a relatively flat road South. I
thought I had cracked it. My legs didn't feel too bad, but
we had about 60 miles to go. The pace quickened and I then
knew that I wasn't going to make it. That was it for me.
I would like to thank
Martin Maltby for arranging the Don Valley cycles van to get
me back home. I would also like to thank Steve Maltby for
pushing me about 5 miles to the Cafe where I was to end my
ride. Also thanks to Kev and Stephan for sheltering me
during those last few miles. Also thanks to Alan and Trevor
who were always there for support, helping me up the hills.
Additionally, thanks to all the members who offered there
support and kept asking me how I was. It was by no means an
easy ride.
When you are new to
cycling or a new member of a club you need all the support
you can get. Doncaster Wheelers members do just that. I
don't think that the members have forgotten what it was like
when they first started.
I can honestly endorse the
club and hope that would-be new members are encouraged by my
experiences.”
Well what better advert
can you have to take up cycling with the Doncaster Wheelers.
And Finally…
I will leave all those
that plan to race in 2004 with this final thought:
“Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all time thing.
You don't win once in a while, you don't do things right
once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is
habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.”
Vince
Lombardi
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