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.

The idea was raised at the AGM of having some mugs done to celebrate 100 years of the Rutland CC. Mr.President has made some inquiries and an image was sent to him of what we could have done. A decision will be made at the next meeting if we want to go ahead with having them done, and how many we would like. Click on the image to view full size.

2008 Mid-week Time Trials
This year, with the help from the Shefferc CC we will be running eight mid-week 10 mile time trials starting at the end of May. These will be held on the Hassop/Bakewell/Baslow course, further details will be posted here within the next week or so.

Event: OPEN 10

Date: Saturday 22nd March
Course: O10/1 at Hatfield Woodhouse
Entry fee: £7.00
Start time : 2pm
Closing date: 11th March

Open to all, including separate event for tandems.
Full details on page 179 of the ctt handbook or on the events pages of the ctt web-site at ctt.org.uk

Event: CENTENARY CHARITY OPEN 10

Date: Saturday 7th June
Course: O10/1 at Hatfield Woodhouse
Not the O10/2 as listed in the handbook, due to roadworks on the A1.
Entry fee: £7.00
Closing date: 27th May
Start time: 2pm
Not 5pm as stated in the handbook

Open to all, including separate event for tandems.
Full details on page 223 of the ctt handbook or the events pages of the ctt web-site at ctt.org.uk

Event: MIDSUMMER ROAD RACE

Date: Tuesday 24th June
Location: Wadshelf / Baslow
HQ: Wadshelf Village Hall, between Baslow and Chesterfield.
Entry fee: £10.00 (£12 EOL)
Start time: 7:30pm
Closing date: 14th June
Classification: Reginonal B - Band 4
Categories: 3/4
Distance: 52km / 32miles

Full details on the events pages of the British Cycling web-site at britishcycling.org.uk

Event: OPEN 25

Date: Saturday 26th July
Course: O25/11 at Hatfield Woodhouse
Entry fee: £7.00
Start time : 5pm
Closing date: 15th July

Open to all, including separate event for tandems.
BBAR qualifying event
Full details on page 255 of the ctt handbook or on the events pages of the ctt web-site at ctt.org.uk

Event: TUMBY’S ROAD RACE

Date: Sunday 10th August
Location: Harworth, Nottinghamshire
HQ: Harworth Sports Pavillion
Entry fee: £12.00 (£18 EOL)
Start time: 10:30am
Closing date: 28th July
Classification: Reginonal A - Band 3
Categories: 2/3/4
Distance: 100km / 62miles

Full details on the events pages of the British Cycling web-site at britishcycling.org.uk

Event: GRANDE PRIX DE GENTLEMEN 25

Date: Saturday 13th September
Course: O25/11 at Hatfield Woodhouse
Entry fee: £7.00
Start time : 3pm
Closing date: 2nd September

2-up with one rider a Vet, open 2-up and separate event for tandems.
Full details on page 276 of the ctt handbook or on the events pages of the ctt web-site at ctt.org.uk

Event: CHRISTMAS OPEN 10

Date: Saturday 13th December
Course: O10/1 at Hatfield Woodhouse
Entry fee: £7.00
Start time : 1pm
Closing date: 2nd December

Open to all, including separate event for tandems.
Full details on page 290-291 of the ctt handbook or on the events pages of the ctt web-site at ctt.org.uk

FOR A CURRENT LIST OF CLUB MEMBERS RESULTS FOR 2008 CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO OPEN A WORD DOCUMENT.

rutland-cc-results-2008-web.doc

The first clubroom I remember when I joined the Rutland Cycling Club (the Club) in 1947 was a small church room at Daisy Walk, just off St.Phillips Road. Soon after this the Club moved its headquarters to the Rutland Hall where it was originally formed in 1908, at the junction of Rutland Road and Platt Street. I believe the Club began life there as part of the Rutland Church Hall Foundation, but had to leave the Hall early on in its life as the Foundation did not accept Sunday leisure activities, and Sunday club runs were the Club’s main activity at that time.
Ideas had changed between 1908 and 1947, and the Rutland Hall in 1947 was quite willing to rent a room to the Club, so once again the Club was back at the Rutland Hall. The Club left the Rutland Hall again in 1950 after some disagreement and had club meetings in a pub for a short period, however it returned again to the Rutland Hall for a few more years until 1954.
The Club’s next home was the British Railway Athletic Club situated in Platt Street, only about 100 yards from the Rutland Hall. By this time the Club was quite sound financially compared to the early post war years, when even meeting the cost of club event prizes was difficult.
The Club’s connection with the British Railway Club came about because three of its lady members worked at the British Railway offices. Through the secretary of their athletic club, the Club received an offer where it would be able to use their clubroom facilities. The offer was for the Club to enroll a nominal figure of 50 members, at an annual cost of £1 per member to the athletic club, and the Club would receive equipment to the value of this amount plus the use of the clubroom facilities. With the Club’s improved financial position certain ambitious Club members were promoting the idea of purchasing ‘roller racing equipment’ at a cost of £50. So by accepting the offer, the Club had the use of their club-room facilities and was able to purchase the ‘roller racing equipment.’
During the first year of membership the athletic club had a change of officials, some of whom were not so friendly towards the Club, and they soon realised that the agreement was heavily in favour of the cycling club and they were not prepared to honour the agreement after the first year, so the Club moved on again.
Club meetings moved around to different venues after this for a number of years, mainly to a variety of public houses. There was a strong feeling in the Club at that time, that with it being financially sound it should have its very own clubroom. Financially, the Club was carrying a balance of around £2000, equivalent to the cost of an average new house.
The opportunity to buy its own clubroom came about in an unusual way. The Clarion Club House Ltd was situated on the outskirts of Sheffield on the A625, on the road up to Fox House, with its junction with Sheephill Road. The Clarion Club House Ltd. was formed as part of the National Ramblers Association in the 1920’s to enable Sheffield ramblers to enjoy the countryside. There were several timber buildings at the Clarion location, some of quite reasonable size that had previously been used for weekend accommodation. One of the buildings was open as a tearoom, and through some of our club members calling on one occasion, it became apparent that the facilities were being used less and less. An agreement was reached with the dwindling members of Clarion Ltd. where by enrolling 50 or so Club members, at a cost of £1 per member, the Club would receive that number of shares in the Clarion Ltd. This would put more life into the Clarion and give the Club its own clubroom, and the Club’s active membership was far greater than that of the Clarions. So now the Club had its very own clubroom and at first there was lots of enthusiasm, with members helping to renovate the existing buildings. Although there were some good social gatherings there, including one ‘interesting’ bonfire night, it gradually became apparent that the venue was not in an ideal location for club meetings. As interest in the new clubroom deteriorated it was generally accepted that having its own clubroom was not practical or feasible and so the ‘Clarion’ episode was a lesson learned at a small cost financially.
A few years after leaving the Clarion behind, there was an advert in the local newspaper, stating that the Clarion Club House Ltd. had sold the land on the road up to Fox House, and there was notice of a share holders meeting regarding the proceeds from the sale. At a meeting the Club was accepted as a bona-fide shareholder, and received a substantial amount for its shares.

The next clubroom experience, apart from public houses, came through two of its club members that worked for British Telecom, who obtained permission to use the BT facilities at their clubroom in a sports field on Loxley Road, just below the Admiral Rodney public house. The Club was very fortunate here, as it had use of the bar with its club members in charge, but obviously it had to account for any beer that went ‘missing.’ Apart from club meetings, some good social functions were held here, including one competition with the Sheffield Phoenix CC, which included ‘Welly Throwing, Penalty Shoot-out and The Most Club Members Inside an Inner tube.’ The main disadvantage with this clubroom was that in colder weather the beer was very cold, as the facilities had no heating on for most of the week.

The Club moved to its next clubroom at the Sheffield University in the early 1980’s and then later to the University’s 197 Club on Brook Hill. Again this move came about through one of its club members being in the right job, as he was the catering manager at the University. This has probably been the Club’s longest stop in one clubroom, even though the club member, who enabled us to use these premises, left his position several years ago.

Apart from the public houses used for meetings the Club also hired five different venues over the winter months during the 1970’s and early 80’s for indoor training sessions, which mainly consisted of circuit training. One of the venues was the old Hillsborough Boys Club, the others being two church halls at Crookesmoor, one at Abbeydale and the other at Meersbrook.

Bert Ridge.
January 2008