MARCH 2015 NEWS
First of all the club dinner. The Wellow golf club proved to be a good venue. The food was good and plentiful, and for those of you who chose the Spicy parsnip soup will agree it was rather hot and spicy.
Many thanks to Simon Hall from the Andover Whs for an excellent after dinner speech. He talked about a long career in cycling, telling us about his triumphs in cyclo cross and time trialling, also some of his longer time trials - 24 hours on a tandem (I don’t know how anyone could spend that long on a bike, I have ridden some 12 hour TTs and that was more than enough). He also talked about all the good work he does as an ambassador for Naomi House. For those of you who don’t know, the club made a donation to Naomi House.
2014 Trophy winners.
President’s cup. Alan Bigwood.
10 and 25 champion and 10 handicap. Pat Lafford.
Best vet all-rounder, fastest 10, 25 and time trialist of the year Dave England.
Ladies and Ladies vet best all-rounder, 10 & 25 Vet and Ladies champion. Claire Newman.
Senior and Vet Cyclo-cross champion. Vernon Moore.
10 Handicap champion. John Sanchez-Bisson.
Club person of 2014. Vernon Moore.
And the most sought after trophy…. The Wooden Spoon. Pat Lafford
Geoff Shergold Memorial Cyclo-cross 28th December 2014
Many thanks to Gary Evans for making the trophy.
Well done Kerie and team on another successful cyclo-cross promotion! The Geoff Shergold Memorial cross attracted good fields on a sunny but chilly day. Two of Geoff's oldest friends, Vernon Moore and Gary Evans, competed for the Crabwood championship, with Vernon taking the win.
Jody Crawforth (Hargroves Cycles) set the early pace and by the second lap he had started to establish a lead which he held onto until the end, finishing nearly two minutes clear of second place rider and team mate Matt Macdonald. The 34year old rider from Guildford led a trio of Hargroves riders over the early stages of the race before Andy Hargroves started to slip back as the pace increased at the front.
Many thanks to Kerie and the team for all the hard work on a chilly day.
Social Rides
Sunday 19th April. Black Horse at West Tytherley
Sunday 3rd May. The Wheatsheaf at Braishfield.
Sunday 31st May. The Brushmakers Arms at Upham.
Riders to meet at Redbridge at 09.30 or The Plaza, Romsey at 10.00. Or at the pub at 12.00 for lunch.
2015 time Trials
Open 10 TT Sat 11th April 3pm HQ Elm Tree Ringwood. Shout out for helpers please. Pre-entry only online at www.ctt.org.uk or on CTT entry form to Claire by Tuesday 31st March.
Club TT dates
Thurs 16th April – 10 - P164c
Thurs 30th April – 10 – P164c
Thurs 7th May - 10 – P164c
Thurs 28th May – 10 for 2-ups and solos – P164c
Thurs 18th June – 15 – P164/15 (inter-club)
Weds 24th June 25 champs in BDWCA event P128/25
Tuesday 7th July – 10 P164c (NFCC event - inter-club)
Weds 29th July – 10 champs – P164c
HQ is Parc Pale car park on B3056 SE of Lyndhurst, except the 25 which is Bartley lay-by on A336. All evening events start at 7.00pm.
Darts
It was a mixed season for the Crabwood darts team. The first half of the season we played like Southampton FC, we won four and lost one. The second half of the season we played like Pompey lost four and won one. We managed to finish 3rd, with Antelope B team winning the league. Well done to Pat”The Power” managed to get to the final of the singles competition, but alas he was beaten. However he did manage to win the award for the highest shot out.
A tandem rider is stopped by a police car.
"What've I done, officer?" asks the rider.
"Perhaps you didn't notice sir, but someone named Claire fell off your bike half a mile back . . ."
"Oh, thank God for that," says the rider - "I thought I'd gone deaf!"
A request from John Carrington
I’m hoping to start a cycle-polo team at my local secondary school. When I first joined Crabwood there was a thriving polo league in the city and a lot of the polo riders proved to be very good at cyclo-cross also. I would like to be able to stage a demonstration match in the grounds of the school on one of their astroturn pitches or a tennis court. Now my recollection and knowledge of polo is very sketchy. I do remember that the handlebar would turn 300 deg (along with the front wheel!) Because of this there was a fixed wheel and no brakes – I’m still not entirely convinced of the benefit of this set-up. There are many more things I do not know – for example, is the goalkeeper allowed to stop the ball with his hands and his bike? Is there an off-side rule? Are there corners awarded – how is the game started? If there is anybody out there with even the tiniest information please get in touch, John Carrington (02380 774897). Basic details like what sort of stick is used and the type of ball? – anything! Is it a contact sport – within reason (like wheel-chair rugby?)
And finally - Club subs are now due. So please pay up.
Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the future of the human race.
-H.G. Wells
That’s it for now, next newsletter in a couple of months. Alan.