Another record falls to this man, in the Nth Notts Olympic 50 on Saturday evening which was anything but ideal, with a strong wind blowing, George did a very creditable 2hr 34m 36s ride to break the existing record by, I think, 6 minutes. We wonder what he would have done on a good day, perhaps we shall find out later on this year. Congratulations George

The last few years have seen Doncaster Wheelers repeatedly take out the Rutland CC mid-summer Road Race and this year, to the disappointment of riders from the promoting team, they did it again.
For 2008 the course was changed to avoid the main Sheffield - Baslow road but if any riders had hoped that the absence of the climb up to Clod Hall would make for an easier night the 16 climbs of Grange Hill and the 3 dead turn corners each lap provided a shock.
Jack Ibbotson of Doncaster Wheelers attacked on the first lap and shortly after crossing the finish line for the first time was joined by Darren Otter, Dan Lowthorpe and Tom Bailey of the Rutland CC. The prospects were looking good for the Rutland as the four leaders started to stretch their lead out. Behind them riders who were suffering from too many repeats of Grange Hill were continually being shelled out of the back of the bunch. After 3 laps eventual winner Tom Stewart bridged across a considerable gap on his own. When, a few laps later, Tom Bailey dropped back to the chasing group the odds were evened up leaving 2 riders from each team to stretch the lead out.
With plenty of Doncaster and Rutland riders in the shrinking main field it was left to individual riders to try and force a selection in order to bridge to the leaders. Many tried but all ultimately failed as the leading quartet stretched out the lead to over 2 minutes.
On the last lap Jack Ibbotson attacked but was countered by Dan and Darren until Tom Stewart, spinning his junior gears, escaped on the downhill section before the finishing straight. The young rider held his lead up the finishing straight and took the win from a fast finishing Darren Otter.
1 Tom Stewart Doncaster Wheelers
2 Darren Otter Rutland CC
3 Dan Lowthorpe Rutland CC
4 Jack Ibbotson Doncaster Wheelers
5 Tom Wood
6 Rob Blackburn Newark Castle CC
7 Mick Rowson
8 Fred Majer
9 Stephen Ellis Rutland CC
10 Michael Clayton Rutland CC

Phil Holwell was the only finisher from the club in the Yorkshire Divisional Road Race Champs at a rain soaked Sherriff Hutton at the beginning of June.
(Pictures courtesy of www.britishcycling.org.uk )

Over the Easter weekend I competed in the Caesarean Cycling Club Jersey five day stage race that was later shortened to a four day race due to bad weather…I managed to get third overall and won the last road race stage with a lone break away with one six mile lap to go!

The race is a great event and I will probably making the trip next year. If anyone from the club fancies a bit of early season training then I can thoroughly recommend this event. Flights are pretty cheap from Doncaster and accommodation in Jersey could be easily sorted out. What you get is a well run event every morning and then time in the afternoon for more riding (should you need more training!!!) or just a bit of R&R.
Jersey is a great place to cycle with a maximum speed limit of 40mph throughout the island and truly courteous drivers everywhere.
For more info on the event visit ccc.je

Anyway, if anyone fancies the trip next year email me at doonbar@gmail.com.

Danny Lowthorpe

The MOSCAR chain gang will start Tuesday 15th April 2008, 6pm from the chapel at the top of Moscar.

If anyone from the south of the City struggles to make the 6:00pm meet at Moscar for the official Rutland chain gang then there will be a second chain gang departing from Hunters Bar roundabout at 6:30pm every Tuesday.
If anyone wants more details email Danny Lowthorpe at doonbar@gmail.com.

For further details on both chain gangs click on the RIDES tab at the top of page.

Current mens Club records are as follows:-

10 miles
20.08 Jon Rickards, 2001
25 miles
51.41 Jon Rickards, 2001
30 miles
1.04.56 Dave Dungworth, 10 June 1967, Derby Whls. 30
50 miles
1.48.54 Dave Dungworth, 24 September 1967, Harrogate CC 50
100 miles
3.47.37 Darren Otter, 2 July 2000, Rutland CC 100
12 hours
277.260 Darren Otter, 30 July 2000, Elmet CRC 12
24 hours
477.43 Ron Coukham, 19 July 1958, Wessex RC 24

Current womens Club records are as follows:-

10 miles
23.58 Tracey Martin, 7 August 1999, Rockingham CC 10
25 miles
1.04.08 Denise Bayliss, 17 June 1987, Rutland CC 25
50 miles
2.11.22 Freddie Herridge, 28 August 1994, Racing Team East 50
100 miles
4.44.43 Elaine Herbert, 14 August 1960, Midland Counties 100
12 hours
220.415 Jayne Sedgewick, 8 August 1993, NMCF 12

Who is going to take over as El-Capitano now that Tugster has decided to resign this highly prestigious position?
After a year of p*** taking, taking the other direction, not waiting, turning up late, (us Tug, not you) Tug has decided there are easier things in life than being the Captain - like staying in bed.
The question is, who is able to follow in Tug’s tyretracks?
Should we run something along the lines of ‘The Apprentice’ to see who can handle the pressure of leading a group of maybe’s, wanna be’s, has been’s and never will be’s through the lanes and peaks of Derbyshire?
Perhaps some selection criteria for anyone who thinks they are up to it.

When the race organizer says you will need a 39 x 23 you just know the ‘hilly’ description is justified. Probably the hardest one day race in the Vet’s calendar, the Woodbank Trophy has been won over the years by some famous names; Hugh Porter, Les West, Simon Keeton (the same one!! - back in 1991). Sunday’s race will be the last one on the Congleton circuit simply because so few riders are willing to face such a hard circuit. All the more credit to Simon who broke clear with another rider (a renowned climber) at the end of the first lap and the pair stayed clear to the end. Simon opened a gap on his challenger on the last hairy 1 in 7 descent and managed to stay clear on the 250 yard climb to the finish, where he took the chequered flag. I also raced in the same event and came in 16th overall so I know just how hard a race this was. A brilliant result Simon.

Heard the one about the mad cow that ran out of the farmyard into the road as the bunch were passing on the first lap?
Front eight managed to get round it, looked back and saw riders scattering in all directions to avoid being tossed over the nearest wall.

What do you do, act all sportsman like and sit up and wait for the group to catch up or get your head down and go like stink.

If you’re not there we don’t care!

A good second place in the B Group by John Hadfield put a fiver in his pocket.
Well done Axey and Simon for not only catching the mad cow group but for passing them and winning the race.

What a difference a year makes. The annual charity ride took place this week-end (19/20 May 2007) with 35 riders including 4 Rutlers and was absolutely brilliant. Last year’s Sheffrec charity ride saw twelvety punctures, 3 ‘incidents’, the odd near miss, plenty of broken bikes and crap weather. This year, NO PUNCTURES AT ALL, AT ALL, no breakdowns, no incidents, still a few near misses from one rider in particular (no names mentioned but his intials are Lance) and a strong tailwind all the way to Scarbro’ meant 20mph + average. After arriving there nearly 2 hours earlier than expected we decided a pint or two in a nice quiet pub on the front was in order. Little did we know that the pub in question was full of a hen party from Barnsley. The cheer when we walked in lifted the ridge tiles off the roof! ‘Numerous’ pints and a couple of karaokes later we wobbled to the hotel to prepare for the evening session.
Of which we shall say no more………..other than most people managed to at least double the distance from the pub to the hotel on the walk back home.
With plenty of food from the back up van, (that also contained 1 hangover victim and a sore arse victim) a light breeze and sunshine all the way home it was the perfect cycling week-end. The little girl for whom the ride was in aid of was there to greet us at the finish (Harrats Volvo - thanks guys) and it made it all worthwhile. Thanks Sheffrec, see you next year.
Anyone for a weekend ride to York? Chris.
ps Marc, how much did it cost to get everyone through the cycling proficiency test?

In conditions typical of the recent wet weather with flooded roads and thunder and lightning, Darren Otter won the JF Parkinson Memorial Trophy on Sunday 1st July 2007.
The race was a two stage event with a morning uphill time trial followed by a 55 mile non-handicap road race.
Darren was second in the time trial and needed a 10 second gap to win overall. Darren and Paul Stubbs (MI Racing) rode away from the field from the gun and won by a minute and a half.
Darren shared the 4 primes with Paul Stubbs and as race winner even won an invite to the Macclesfield Wheelers club dinner where he will be awarded the Parkinson trophy, which at the last second was cruelly whipped out of his hands and given to the best local rider!
John Hadfield and Chris Goddard made up the Rutland compliment with Pete Ryalls (Sheffield Phoenix CC) also braving the conditions.
A great event, definitely one for next year.