Congleton Cycling Club

Sam French
Photo by Ken Norbury

The clubs evening TT season opener, the 9.5 mile circuit of The Cloud, took place on Tuesday April 8th. Thirty seven competitors took on the course in fine but cool conditions. The fastest time of 27:28 was done by junior Alex Braybrooke of Team Velocity WD40. He beat professional Andy Magnier of Velosure Giordana 27:35 into second place with the “podium” rounded out by our own Ben Norbury 28:20. 27:28 is an event record time and may be a course record as well. Ben was also the best club member in the new handicap competition with a nett 25:36.

Best Congleton lady was Sharon May in 43:17. Best Congleton Junior was Sam French in 35:00 and best Congleton veteran was Steve Hulme in 29:24.

Full results can be seen here.  Also photos thanks to Ken Norbury.

There were some sore legs on the start line. Mike Jones and Edgar Reynolds completed the 260 km Tour of Flanders Sportif in Belgium on Saturday and Pete Tatton ran under 4 hours in the Manchester Marathon on Sunday.

The photographs from the Prize Presentation are now available via the Photos tab.

Apologies for the delay in putting these on the web site.

The first of the clubs 2014 Reliability Trials was held on Feb 9th. There was a choice of either a 29 miles or 49 mile route. This year a total of 53 riders participated of which 25 were CCC members. This was a huge increase on 2013 when the day attracted a total of 22 riders. The weather was at least dry, although with a strong SW wind. This helped on the first part of the route which went up to Bosley and then via Fools Nook to Gawsworth and Broken Cross, before heading on to the Wizard on Alderley Edge. The shorter route turned back through Birtles and returned to Congleton by way of Siddington, Newsbank and Giantswood Lane. The longer route went into the wind through Nether Alderley, Ollerton, Middlewich out to Coppenhall before turning back, with a tail wind again, through Haslington, Hassal Green, Smallwood and Astbury, to finish with tea and biscuits in the Rugby Club. There was a set route, but some did their own variations. Mike Jones and Charlie Evans got extra training by doing a deviation which took in the cobbled climb of Swiss Hill in Alderley Edge. They are preparing to ride the Tour of Flanders Sportive in Belgium in April. In a reliability trial riders choose a target time based on either a 12.5 mph, 15 mph or 18 mph average speed, but the strong wind made the fastest target difficult on the day.

The next event in the series is 65 miles on Feb 23rd.

On March 16th Leek CC are staging the Paul Derbyshire Memorial Reliability ride together with their prize presentation. The ride is a 52 mile route into the Derbyshire Dales. Signing on from 8.00-8.15am outside Den Engel, Stanley St, Leek.
Riders off at 8.30am.
Price £7.50 with buffet afterwards @ The Den.
Ride only £4.00
Buffet only £5.00
Advance entries preferred.

A series of six sessions will be on offer to members to learn more about maintaining their bike.

Instruction and tips on maintenance will be given by various club members and others, with the objective of de mystifying simple maintenance tasks.
All sessions will be held as part of the normal club nights on Thursdays in the Rugby Club.

The weather has not been particularly kind over recent weeks, with rain or ice affecting a number of weekend plans, but a few hardy club members have braved the seasonal challenges to keep the Saturday social rides and Sunday club runs going.  However, one fortunate club member was spotted doing a bit of warm weather training in Tenerife recently!

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On Thursday Oct 24th the club held its Annual General Meeting to elect the club committee, set its subsciptions for 2014, and to receive reports on 2013 from its executive officers. Twenty Two members attended the meeting. Club Chairman Bob Norton thanked all of the committee members for their contributions during the year, in particular Tony Elliott who was standing down after fifteen years as the clubs Treasurer and nine as the Membership Secretary. He was embarrassed by a round of applause. The meeting heard that the club membership had risen to 105 (86 in 2012), with a significant rise in its under 18 membership from 6 to 14. There have been increases in all areas of the clubs activities from racing to leisure rides. Bob summarised by saying “2013 was a year of continued growth in all aspects of the club, continuing the trend of the last few years. Activity, particularly racing activity, has increased significantly. Finances have increased, along with membership, and we are now in a very healthy position for the future”.
The officers elected for 2014 were.

The clubs President Tony Willis, and Vice Presidents, Mr S Sebire, Mrs K Biddulph, Mr R Little, Mr and Mrs B Wakefield, Mrs G McCargo and Mr B Fox, were all re elected. Regretfully two other VP’s Mrs Pat Roberts and Mr Bernard Biddulph passed away during 2013.

On Sunday Oct 13^th eleven club members took part in Royals Jaguar “Ride Like a Pro” event from Wilmslow. To some it seemed more like ride like a pro race!

On a cool and wet morning about a hundred riders completed a 41 mile circuit, supported by a Team Sky Jaguar XF. The route went through Mobberly, Ashley, Tatton Park, Knutsford, Plumley, Goostrey, Swettenham, Marton Gawswoth, Broken Cross and Alderley Edge finishing back in Wilmslow. Club riders are shown posing in front of the Sky team car are (from the left) Bob Norton, Sam French, Dave Mulroy, Wayne Powell, Amanda Turner, Joe Langford, Paul Turner, Mark Allen, Andy Farr, and Mike Line.

Registering in the Royals Jaguar Strava Group gives participants the chance of winning a trip to a Team Sky Mallorcan training camp in 2014.

The competitors taking part in the Lyme RC Mow Cop Hill Climb on 13th
October were met with a cold and wet morning to attempt the notoriously
difficult Station Road J9/14 course. The course is a tough 1400 meters
with an average grade of 11.1% reaching 25% at its steepest. All riders
were met with cheers of encouragement by enthusiastic supporters and
fellow competitors at the course’s steepest section, the 1 in 4 “wall”
at the top. Congleton Cycling Club had 4 riders competing in a field of
54. Nick Decker made the prizes coming in a fantastic 5th place, from 69 on the start list,

Nick on the 25% pitch
Photo Ken Norbury

with a time of 4:54.5. Our other rider results were, Ben Norbury 5:39.4, Pete
Tatton 6:09.9 and Mike Jones 6:12.4. Congratulations to all for their
very respectable times contributing to an excellent 3rd place in the
fastest team competition. Tejvan Pettinger won the event with an
incredible time of 4:22 beating the course record set last year by this
year’s 2nd placed Matt Clinton.

Report by Ben Norbury.

Nick Decker

The last of the club’s TT promotions for 2013 took place on Sunday Sept 29th. It was the annual hill climb championship on Mow Lane (Ganney Bank), towards Mow Cop from the Congleton Side. It’s only a mile and a bit from start to finish, but very tough when racing up it. A club record turn out of 26 riders, 22 from our own club made the effort.

The winner was Nick Decker in a club record time of 5mins 39.7secs. Nick is undoubtedly the clubs top hill climber, and later in the day he was competing in the Withington Wheelers event on Peaslow Hill, near Chapel en le Frith. He was riding a special bike which he has built for the hill climb season. It weighs an astonishingly light 5.7 kgs. The other medal places were taken by Ben Norbury in 6:05.9 and Pete Tatton in 6:29.2. The Junior hill climb champion for the second year is Tristan Roberts in 6:52.4. and the Juvenile Champion is Sam French in 7:21.1. The best lady was Denise Hurst in 11:24.8 and best veteran was Peter Smith in 6:44.2, closely followed by Mike Jones in 6:46.0 and Stephen Jackson in 6:47.0. After the event many of the riders set off on a club run to Audlem.

Club members officiating at the event were Georgina Norton (signing on), David McVitie (start timekeeper), Jim Cook (pusher off) and Bob Norton (finish timekeeper). Full results can be found here.

Ken Norbury’s 181 photos can also be viewed via link under “Photos”

Click here to read.

14^th Clubrun to Fairways, Sutton – 31 miles

Bob Banner organised this ride, in surprisingly warm, calm and bright conditions, leading Bev Hambleton, Mark Allen, David Grocott, Peter Hayhurst and David McVitie via Brereton Country Park, Davenport / Dane Valley, Swettenham, Newsbank, Marton, Gawsworth, through and around Sutton village, to Fairways Garden Centre where they enjoyed a late breakfast / early lunch and a rest / chat before returning on the same main route – but this time, mostly downhill – until they were faced with Radnor Bank and then went their separate ways. The riders thanked Bob and wished him “All The Best” for his forthcoming heart surgery.

14^th – Stone Wheelers 25-mile TT on Uttoxeter Course

Our two representatives recorded their best rides of the year: Kelvin Milward – 56:45 and Pete Smith – 57:08. The winner was (as usual) Simon Bridge (Manchester Wheelers) with 49:00.

15^th – Clubrun to Old Ma’s Café – 76 miles

Jim Cook, who led this ride, was concerned about the forecasted gales and rain but he and the six companions had suitable wet-weather clothing and everyone was happy with the dry but windy conditions. Denise Hurst, Charli Alston, Mike Line, Marcus Rohrmann and Jamie Gibbons (Guest), plus Peter Hayhurst (who turned for home near Nantwich), rode at chatting speed, via Hassall Green, Haslington, Weston, Wybunbury and Peckforton, to old Ma’s Café at Gatesheath. They had a lucky escape when a large oak tree crashed into the road only 30 yards ahead – but they managed to stop, just in time, and then formed a chain to hand their bikes over the tree. The return route, mainly wind-assisted, was via Huxley, Bunbury, Calverley, Church Minshull, Warmingham, Smallwood and Astbury where the heavy rain commenced, so they were soaking in no time – but pleased that it had been a dry ride until then.

At the Triathlon World Championships in Hyde Park, this lunchtime, John Broadbent finished 30th (11th Brit.) out of 58 in the 65 to 69 Age Category, in 01:29:31. The Age Category winner (over this Sprint Distance) was Dieter Waller (Germany) in 01:17:18.

Well Done John! (photo to follow)

31^st August

Stretford Wheelers 25-mile TT on Byley Course

Five Members rode this event on the same roads as used for our recent 50-mile TT but in cooler and very windy conditions. Our top three performers all recorded excellent 1hr 1 minute rides, with Ben Norbury slightly faster than Nick Decker, closely followed by Kelvin Milward. Mike Jones posted 01:03 and Peter Hayhurst, 01:19. The clear winner was, as usual, Simon Bridge (Manchester Wheelers) with 53:14. 

Schwalbe Tyre MTB Marathon in Ruthin

Charlie Evans rounded out his MTB season with the Schwalbe Tyre MTB Marathon in Ruthin, North Wales on Saturday 31^st August. The 50 mile route was based around the Clwydian hills, climbing Moel Famau and Moel Arthur and conditions were dry and dusty – rare for North Wales! Due to UK bridleway regulations, such events cannot be run as races, however riders are still timed! He recorded the 12^th fastest time of the day, placing him 6^th in the Masters age group with a time of 4hrs 29 mins.

1^st September

Clubrun to Roaches Tea Room – 45 miles

Fourteen Members enjoyed a windy and tough but pleasant “Autumn” day in the hills. Denise and David Hurst, Dean and Tristan Roberts, John Broadbent, Jim Cook, Sam French, Mike Line, David McVitie and Markus Rohrmann did the complete ride which started with the first leg of our Hilly Reliability (to be held soon due to cancellation last Spring) – up Blacky Bank, Timbersbrook, Cloudside, Rushton, Swythamley, Bearda, Wincle (where Roy Hayhurst headed for home), Allgreave, Gradbach and around the back of the Roaches to the popular venue – where they met Sue Collins, Stephen Kane and Peter Hayhurst who had ridden a more direct route. After the usual nourishment, they returned along the Roaches and down the steep and twisty lane (in ideal, dry conditions) to Meerbrook where they cheered the riders in the Tour of Britain Sportive – but instead of heading up Gun Hill, the Club rode via Abbey Green (saying Cheerio to John Broadbent who lives in Leek) to Rudyard and then Horton, up to Lask Edge (via either short and steep or longer and not-so-steep climbs), where they again cheered the ToB Sportive riders all the way to Biddulph Park – where our riders went their separate ways – homeward bound. Altogether, a very enjoyable day in the Hills!

The Club Run List has been extended through to early November, see the Quick Link on the right.

The Hilly Reliability (much postponed in the early part of this year) has been scheduled for 20th October. It counts for Bob Job points (5 points for finishing within the time window option chosen by the rider and 2 for helpers).

The Club Clothing order form can now be printed for completion on paper (About Us / Clothing) and some copies have been left at the Rugby Club.

The Club Runs list has been rolled forward for the next few weeks, see the hot link on the right.

In order to spread the load of leading the rides and to better cover for unavailability of the most regular leaders, we are always looking for volunteers to take a turn at leading.
To discuss volunteering to lead Sunday rides, please contact Denise. To discuss volunteering to lead Saturday rides, please contact Georgina or Bob Banner.

The A and B ride system seems to be working quite well. So long as the numbers (and a fast group leader) permit we intend to continue this approach.

The main club committee decided on Thursday that the published rules for this year’s Audax events run by Rob and Denise cannot be changed. So we will be giving 5 points to those first claim members who completed (or complete the October events) these and 2 points to helpers at these events.

The Hilly Reliability may yet be run. It would be at 09:30 on a Sunday in the second half of September or early October. We’ll let you know as soon as possible if we schedule this event. It is unlikely that we will run an A ride in parallel with this.

The Audax status for BJ points may be changed for next year (in good time to declare the rules before any points are awarded – so before the end of January 2014).

Of the 77 Entries, 13 Members entered and 11 rode this event in very windy conditions, plus rain for the last hour. Our top 3 riders, Pete Smith with 2:05:23, Nick Decker, 2:07:20 and Kelvin Milward, 2:08:36 won Fastest Team Prize, beating Leigh Premier by 1 minute 1 second. The fastest rider was Charlie Taylor (South Pennine CC) with 1:49:51, followed closely by Simon Bridge (Manchester Wheelers) with 1:50:07. The event was organised by Peter Hayhurst, who was very grateful for the assistance of 17 Members and 7 Guests.

Ken Norbury’s photos of the event (all 581!) are now linked to our 2013 photos.

Nick Decker

The last club evening TT on the JC26 circuit course was run in bright but windy conditions. The 10 miles was covered in 23:47 by Nick Decker, for his first win of the season. He was ahead of Pete Tatton 24:32 and Ben Norbury 24:34. Best Junior was once again Tristan Roberts with 28:32 whilst Amanda Turner in her first ever time trial was best lady in 32:23. There were 25 club members and 10 visitors competing.

With only the hill climb on Sept 29th and this Saturdays Open 50, left as counting events in the Bob Job Points competition, Pete Tatton now has a 10 point lead over Pete Smith, with long time leader Wayne Powell in third place. Best Junior is Mark Allen and best lady is Sue Blake.

For full result, see here.

Next Tuesday there is a get together at the Rising Sun, Congleton Rd, Macclesfield, to round out the season. Contact Georgina for details by Sunday at the latest.

Fine weather and the approaching end of TT season brought a club record entry of 50 riders in this week’s 10 on the JC5 course on the Macclesfield/Congleton Road. There was also a record entry of 34 from of our own club members. Times were fast with many season bests and personal bests recorded on a near perfect still and warm evening. The fastest rider was Jack Green of VC St Raphael with 20:48. The top three Congleton riders were Pete Smith (22:39) Ben Norbury (22:44) and Pete Tatton (22:57).

Colin Lynch

One of the visitors was Colin Lynch (Macclesfield Wheelers) who recorded 22:59. Colin is a Paralympian and a reigning World Paracycling Champion in the Time Trial. He used our event as final training before heading to Canada, where he defends his title in later this month.

Fastest of six juniors was Tristan Roberts in 27:16. Fastest lady was Christine Higgs (Macclesfield Wheelers) in 25:14, beating our own Sue Blake 29:25.

For full result see here.