Holly Run

Big Chief Harwood

Holly Run 2013 was once again a great success, organised by our one and only Dave Harwood.
With all thing considered eg. the weather, the plan was formulated to take in the New Inn Short
standing.

A few of the tribe, still waiting for a few

Well this was the point the sweat was pouring out from the climb up the hill. After a brief lemonade. the 30 rider group (aprox, to many to count) then made their way to The Ostrich at Newland. Here a few were a little ore enthusiastic with an extra ale. Oh how they suffered up the next climb to Sling before the descent to Parkend, where you guessed it, another ale or 2 for the hard core. At this point we had our fist mishap of the day, Dawn un-clip her shoe only to go straight over unclipping the wrong foot. I think it hurt but she put a brave face on....

Tom The Power Knight pulling in the power bulge

The bull started about here

After leaving the Fountain the race was on. Cookie chose his wheel carfully.This was where the next mishap happpened,Wayne failed to select the right wheel, clipping James in the process doing a little tarmac inspection. I suspect this one hurt a lot, but a brave ace was once again used. Was it a bad wheel, to much beer for the given situation or was t tiredness from the plane home that morning from China.

Anyways after a quick photo shot out side the Courfield beer flowed like it as going out of fashion. Paula did us a fantastic Chrimbo meal which hit just the right spot. As the afternoon went on so did the numbers.

Chips and Ice cream, works every time aparently

 Tony the Tiger was picked up by hi other half, a small peloton rode back to leave the hardcore group. Richard showed his uni days weren't wasted taking all on, on the pool table till Angela took the smile off his face.

The chairman doing a beer dance

Thanks all for great company. Happy Chrimb, and see some of you Boxing day.

Cooling the tongue after talking us to death

then Julie talked us to death

Pool king till Angela took him out

you can see the wobble

New Winter ride start time

Hi all

Discussion last night, touched on start times for the Sunday club rides. 

trialled a few years back, we feel it wiser to start the ride at 10:00am, which 

would hopefully give any ice a little more time to thaw out, making for a safer event.

Phil & Rich discussing the merits of an early start

Vintage Tankard

The Team

Not sure how but ended up team manager for the Vintage Tankard Team. As I chased up volunteers, kept some motivated after the technical end of season, and with key players away, I knew we had a fair team. First blow came when Jerry phoned to apologise, work had got in the way of play. 

I also looked at the opposition and thought it was going to be real close this year. No closer than that. Their “T thousand Terminator” had his name down (alias Alan Matthews), I’d caught him out training hard. Every time I spotted him he’d say “Only done a couple of miles, first time in 3 weeks”. In the end a family commitment kept him out of the equation. 

Clive & Chris watch on as Sam waits patiently for everyone to smile

The rest of the Forest team looked really good on paper, Jared currently flying, Adam’s becoming an all-rounder, and Digby’s never happier than when he’s spinning like a madman. I know Richard and I are a match from the Newport, but was not sure about some of the names I’d not met before. Well you could have knocked me sideways when the Newport scalped the Forest, more about that later…..

The motivational talk must have paid off; Will took glory with the win, first blood to Ross. The course suited us well being so flat. I did think Will would have gone a smidge quicker especially as he’d taken Sarah down for an inspection, with Sarah testing out my clip on tri bars (things I do for the win). 

The Missile landed in second spot, not bad for someone who’d been off the bike for a little while. The Destroyer became Ross’ third counter. Another on paper lacking miles this year, but the month prior, had taken his place on the squad seriously putting a few rides to work and back in. amazing what 2 miles a day can do. 

Next was the surprise, Wobbly Bob taking some good scalps. I knew he was going well as he’d been like a man possessed on every outing recently. I was going to give him the rider of the day, but alas Bob came clean to say there was a technical with his time, and he’d not gone that quickly in reality. More about what I think happened later, but he does get the Honesty Cup award, well if we had one…

Humming Bird legs Fallon, probably found a flat course more of a challenge, lacking any hill. He was however equipped with dads best race machine, still putting in a fantastic ride. 

Hard to believe Millie was so far down the field, having annihilated all comers at some points of the season. I got the impression he was feeling tired, but every bit helped. 

Next up was Richie, what a fab ride if you do the workings. Over 10 miles, Rich is down about 5 minutes over the winner. Over 21 miles, he’s not lost a lot at all. This will now have him thinking and looking at his S.W.O.T. analysis. Interesting to see how many email back to know what I’m on about. 

Last of the Ross finishers was Sarah. I could see some disappointment in her face afterwards. Fear not young maiden, as with little Fallon, flat courses require lots of stomp, a different variety to the one that helps you leave everyone up the hills. It all comes with power, technique and plenty of the Monday night sessions. 

Anyways, as most know, I was side swiped, failing to finish, and for a second year fail to make the team, and that’s why we always need more people for such eventualities and things like punctures. 

What I think happened with Wobbly Bob’s time was, as I got back to the finish my injuries distracted Sammie who was helping Gareth to time. She much preferred along with Joey to cut my skin suit and scrub at my wounds, telling me I needed to go to hospital (along with everyone one else). 

Thanks to Wobbly Bob  & The Destroyer, they helped me afterwards to get changed. They thought my lucky underpants were class, if only I’d been wearing them prior to.   

Hungry

Knowing what I know about hospitals, I was going to have my piccy taken with the team before enjoying a good Sunday roast. I knew I would starve to death in a hospital.

A cracking day, that aside, the Phoenix did a fantastic job of hosting. Got the feeling it’s our turn next year.

Rider of the day ended up being riders, as Will couldn’t make his mind up who deserved it more, so put your hands together for The Missile & The Destroyer, neither having done very much this year.

Well done all.

1)W.Bevan                      Ross-on-Wye CC              00:48:00

2) S.Walker                     Ross-on-Wye CC              00:51:11

3) R.Lawton                    Newport Phoenix              00:52:26

4) G.Carter                      Ross-on-Wye CC              00:52:56

5) R.Hill                          Ross-on-Wye CC              00:53:04

6) D.Rusling                    RDFCC                             00:53:21

7) M.Fallon                      Ross-on-Wye CC              00:53:25

8) A.Taylor                      RDFCC                            00:54:10

9) J.Batts                       RDFCC                             00:54:43

10) S.Millard                    Ross-on-Wye CC              00:55:00

11) A.Hodgson                 Newport Phoenix              00:56:59

12) D.Kealaher                 Newport Phoenix              00:59:01

13) R.Holtham                  Newport Phoenix             00:59:08

14) J.Linden                     RDFCC                          00:59:10

15) S.Burnett                    Newport Phoenix            00:59:12

16) G.Snowball                Newport Phoenix              01:00:05

17) R.Harrington                Ross-on-Wye CC            01:00:20

18) S.Cosker                    Ross-on-Wye CC             01:03:16

19) A.Pollard                    RDFCC                           01:03:16

20) R.Newth                     RDFCC                          01:03:22

21) G.Pinder                    Newport Phoenix              01:03:56

22) C.Aberdeen                Newport Phoenix             01:04:27

23) C.Davies                    Newport Phoenix             01:10:29

24) P.Gray                        Newport Phoenix            01:13:29

25) P/Stephens                 Ross-on-Wye CC              DNF

The Hill Climb, AGM news and Vintage Tankard impotant stuff

This is easily the hardest event of the year, the one that makes every part of the body hurt after such a short distance. This event most definitely suits the lighter bodied individual -  that’s it, got my excuses in early. 

Days of Pain for our Jerry, a blast from the past

A very short club run went out from Ross through Whitchurch, Harewoodend down to Hoarwithy. This event seems to get as many spectators as riders, all ready to battle the Col de Alt Bough. With little Fallon kicking butt in the Forest enduro (so I’ve been informed ,3^rd in class) and Jerry probably working, this gave Turbo Will an easy win. That said, he looked like he was blowing bad at the ¾’s stage, but managed a slight smile as he crossed the line. Adam the mountain biker on his nice new road bike had a cracking ride. 

Every now and again, you see someone special, Sunday we saw 14 year old Thomas hit the hill hard, just getting the better of dad Jeff who also put in a fantastic 

time, both looking very pleased afterwards. 

He’s a sly ol Fox That Destroyer. Says he’s not been on the bike all year, and then pulls a 14 out of the bag!

Man on Fire Lavington looked smooth as he approached the finish line; time reflected how his form has come on over the last few events. I watched Tim blast out of the traps, very fast over the first section up to Peb & Siz (Siz turns up every year to see if anyone can beat his club record) expecting him to blow up bad, but looking at the times  he was still there at the end, also looking pleased with his ride. 

Sarah had one mission, that was to beat The Racing Snake, which she just about managed. She did look a little disappointed not to have had the chairman’s scalp though. Gazzer found the challenge tough, commenting afterwards about how it had hurt. Having ridden to the event and afterwards with Vergil, am wondering if he blew up as he was on the money on all the other hills. I have no excuses. For next year I will be getting rid of the little spinny gears and hitting it on the big ring – Power shall rule!

Wobbly Bob must have thought he was still on the club ride, a whole second behind me. Nick the builder/decorator saw us at the start and decided to dust his bike off and have a go. Talk about an impromptu decision- work or ride the bike? Hope to see him out again when the work’s finished. 

Every event has to have a lantern rouge, this went to Bill, we had to put the stop watches away and get the calendar out. Not 100% sure he was trying as hard as he could have been. If he had time to heckle the cheering crowds at the finish, he had too much air left.

Thanks to Sammie for starting everyone, Steve Millard pushing off, with Julie at the finish.

Rider of the day is shared this week. There were 2 really good rides, Young Thomas & Adam both put in awesome performances, both in their first race.

Only 2 events left this year The Vintage Tankard on the 6^th of October & the Boxing Day 10, on Boxing Day…

We have a nice team for the VT, everyone more than welcome - better to have too many rather than lose due to a technical problem with a mechanical or puncture.

This year Phoenix are the host club and the event will take place on Sunday 6th October, starting at 10.30 AM, on the current 15 mile TT course starting from the Pump house but including an additional loop around the

Goldcliff circuit. Very Flat J  The event HQ for the day will be the Rose Inn, Redwick where there will be a get-together following the Vintage Tankard. (Matt are you riding, and can we have the Tankard Back). More info here http://rdfcc.org.uk/wp/ai1ec_event/vintage-tankard-%E2%80%93-uc612-hilly-lydbrook-15?instance_id=

 If you’re eating

 Not on the attachment is a Vegetarian option which is Lladenny Bake,
Glamorgan Sausages, Cheese and Brocolli Pancakes, and Welsh Rarebit
These meals will come with all the vegetables listed on the attached menu
without the meat for the same price.
Further details of these vegetarian options can be obtained by ringing the
pub on 01633 880501

Please could all meal orders be returned to Dave Kealaher   (dave.kealaher@uwclub.net) by midday on the 28^th September and he will make up a spreadsheet with names and choices to supply
to the pub.   

Pub will open at around 11.50 with food served around 12.30 and they will
give us the one whole room if meal orders sufficient
This can be a great social event even if you are not riding as Marshalls
will also be required, so come along and support and also book a meal, as
this event has been running quite some years now with the Phoenix also in
it's 60th Year!!!

  The AGM date is now the Booked for Thursday 17^th October at the Larrupers centre Ross for 8:00pm, so no ride that night. Everyone should make the effort to turn up, this is your club, help steer it in the direction you’d like in the future

1	Will Bevan	1:45
2	Adam Matchette	2:08
3	Thomas Goulding	2:09	Come Try It
4	Jeff Goulding	2:11	Come Try It
5	Graham Carter	2:14
6	Mark Lavington	2:19
7	Tim Newland	2:23
8	Sarah Cosker	2:25
9	Gary Downs	2:31
10	Mark Herriot	2:39
11	Paul Stephens	2:40
12	Bob Hill	2:41
13	Nick Le ray	3:02	Come Try It
14	Bill Reay	3:33