Ross-on-Wye and District Cycling Club: Dinner & Prize awards Night

sent to Ross Gazette

Cycling Club Prize Dinner

Friday night saw Ross-on-Wye & District Cycling Club hold their annual prize giving and club dinner at the Chase Hotel. In the very relaxed atmosphere the 60 plus guests were greeted by club chairman Taff Lavington. After dining the important stuff started. Guests of honour this year were Robin and Frances Field. Robin is the district secretary for Welsh Cycling, as well as being on the national committee, and Fran has been stand in treasurer for more years than she cares to remember. Between them, they have helped and supported Ross for many years and were more than happy to help present all the prizes and trophies.

Club race secretary Paul Stephens presented the awards section, everyone who raced gets a mention and certificate, not everyone can win but it shows your efforts were noticed. First of the major prize winners was Tony Price who won the Handicap 10 prize. This event gave everyone in the club a chance as everyone should finish in the same time based on previous performance.

Similar to the football division tables, Jon Airey won the blue category, Tom Knight the green cat, Max Suff the yellow. Clive Chappe won the Veterans cup for riders over 40 years of age in the open race that Ross hosted.

Jennifer Hill won the ladies Best all-rounder, with Matthew Fallon proving to be a popular winner winning the Junior Best all-rounder as well as the Hill Climb cup. Will Bevan won the top accolade of Senior Best all-rounder, even though he’d only ridden the minimum events (a 10, 25 and 50 miles) with an average speed of 26.7 mph. This was enough to walk away with Jack Morgan 10 cup, The Don Woodman 25 cup and the 50 cup. Paul Stephens won the Veteran best all-rounder pushing the younger riders all season also securing the Mountain 25 cup and the kilometre sprint. He also won the Riders’ Rider cup voted for by the rest of the club which was a complete surprise, and an honor indeed.

Dennis Beard was surprised to have a special award in recognition of his achievement last year in the Welsh 12 hour event, becoming the oldest ever finisher, beating several far younger riders in the process. His secret was stopping for a quick pub lunch with an army of family and supporters. In his endeavors he managed 168 miles, not bad for an 84 year old!

The Hall cup went to wobbly Bob Hill, presented by President John Hall for work he has done for the club in the last 12 months. Tom Knight won the entertainment award – every wife/mother/girlfriend hates this one, Tom won it with lots of misfortunes during the year, but the best was demonstrating a cycling machine in a shop when the rear of his trousers burst revealing more than most people wanted to see. With a new season approaching the serious training has started, but there’s also a social rides section. For more information about the club log on to http://www.rosscc.co.uk/