The Britishcycling.org.uk website this week includes dozens of photos from the weekend’s Awards Evening at Alton Towers – more of which below. There’s also news of an amazing line-up of stars for the final Revolution Track meeting of the winter and of the launch of the new Recycling.co.uk/MG-XPower/Litespeed Team – for all the news, visit the home page and click on the “Latest News” button, bottom left. Also on the site the classified ads – click the link from the homepage to access this free and effective member service, which include guidelines to protect advertisers and buyers. Go There >>>
BIKE SHOW OFFER FOR BRITISH CYCLING
MEMBERS
We’ve teamed up with the organisers of The Bike Show to bring you an exclusive offer on tickets for the event this spring. We hope that you take advantage of this offer to attend the show, which is heading for the wide-open spaces of its new home, Stoneleigh Park, just south of Coventry. The show will be staged in three halls, one for manufacturers, one for BMX and retail, and one for the race track, dirt jumps, streetcourse and flatland. The show’s excellent outdoor and interactive features include testing of the latest bikes from Scott, Merlin USA, Gary Fisher, Saracen, Raleigh and Vario. Off-road stars on site will include Dave Mirra, Steve Peat, Michal Prokop and Ryan Nyquist. What’s more, there’s a British Cycling member special offer: Book Now – Save £2 per ticket and get another ONE FREE. Buy 2 tickets at the reduced price of £14 and you get another ONE FREE. That’s 3 tickets for just £28, saving a massive £20 compared to what you would pay on the door, which covers the cost for your 3 AAA passes. Quote BKF when you book. Book online at http://www.thebikeshow.com , or by phoning 0870 145 22 44 - Group Bookings (ten and over) 0870 830 0209
AWARDS FOR CHAMPIONS OF ALL
KINDS
Saturday, the 5th of February 2005 was a special evening for British Cycling’s many national award winners. In a departure from previous years, there were also awards recognising outstanding contributions to the sport from club volunteers, coaches, and event officials.
Brian Cookson, British Cycling President, summed up the reasons behind the new awards in his programme intro: “The British Cycling Awards is a recognition of excellence in domestic competition. This year we have made a significant change and one that I’m proud and happy to justify to you: not only are we recognising our national champions and national series winners here tonight, but also the network of clubs, coaches, officials and volunteers, without whom we would not have a sport.
For me, the link between our elite performers and the unsung heroes and heroines of the sport is direct and irrefutable. I’m sure there’s not one champion present here tonight who does not owe a debt of gratitude to a volunteer club official - maybe an inspirational word of encouragement after a defeat - or perhaps to a coach who offered crucial support and advice.
Additionally, every one of us, champion or not, who has ever ridden in an organised event was able to do so only thanks to long hours of often thankless dedication put in by organisers and officials.
It is part of our culture as a sport to recognise and celebrate the speed and skill of our champions. I hope that tonight’s gathering, with its recognition of clubs, coaches and volunteers, marks the beginning of a process which elevates our understanding and respect of their particular areas of expertise to a similar level. In my mind, each of them is every bit as deserving of the title “champion”. I would like to offer every “champion” my congratulations on their achievements.”
COMMISSAIRES AND REFEREES’
CONFERENCE
The weekend’s activities at Alton Towers also included a significant gathering of 59 of the sport’s race officials. They took part in presentations, workshops and general discussion to ascertain what current commissaires wanted from British Cycling. Debate was, as expected, lively, and Competition Director Jonny Clay and Volunteer Officer Rob Jefferies came away with a much clearer idea of how to help this vital band of volunteers
BMX JOINS THE GB TEAM FAMILY
We've known for some time that BMX was due to become part of the Lottery funded GB cycling team and with BMX a part of the Beijing Olympics, the time has now come to start building the support network for Britain's BMX riders who are likely to be competing in 2008. The GB Team has just appointed its first full-time National BMX Coach, 37 year old Jeremy Hayes. Jeremy has been involved in the sport virtually continuously since the first explosion of interest in the very early eighties and he is confident that BMX can prove itself through the new GB team set-up
"The talent's already there in this country. We just need to get the best riders on board and get them working with proper training programmes." Looks like being an exciting four years in BMX in the UK.
NEW COACH FOR BEST GB JUNIORS
Twenty-eight year old Darren Tudor is the man charged with doing for the nation's Junior riders what Rod Ellingworth and Simon Jones have done for the Under-23s and full senior squad respectively. The former WCU coach will be working with the best junior men and women in the country and providing them with the coaching and support. Darren summed up the role: "We'll be looking to give the juniors a more structured, year-round approach. Basically, once we're up and running we'll be looking to do with the Juniors roughly what the under-23s have been doing - that's lots of skill based work, particularly on the Track, with junior year two riders also looking to performing at world championship level." Go There>>>
RHEOLA UPLIFT DAY
Rheola is back, but not for long if the rumours are true. Make the most of this year's NPS Downhill at Rheola on the 27th and 28th of August as well as getting an early season chance to ride next Saturday the 19th of February. For further information on Welsh uplift days or Dragon Downhill events, call Jason Carpenter on 07801 624776 or Email: mailto:dragondh@dsl.pipex.com
MIDLAND DOWNHILL SERIES
Pearce Cycles are organising round 2 of the Specialized Winter Series on the 20th of February. Round 3 will also be at Bringewood on the 13th of March. To whet your appetite, the award winning Pearce Cycles team are also organising an uplift this Saturday and Sunday. Registration for the series events opens at 8.00am and practice is from 8.30am until 10.30am with racing commencing at 11.00am. For further information, contact Dave Pearce on 01584 876016 or Email: mailto:shop@pearcecycles.co.uk Events websites: http://www.superseries.net or http://www.pearcecycles.co.uk
WET & WILD WINTER SERIES
Innerleithen has a lot going for it. As well as hosting a UCI international race on the 14th and 15th of May as part of the SDA Series, Innerleithen also hosts all 3 rounds of the Wet and Wild Winter Series. There's BC ranking points for all those licence holders wishing to progress their racing to the next level. For event information, check out www.descent-world.co.uk - The next events are on the 20th February and 13th March, so for those living half way between Innerleithen and Bringewood, you've got a tough choice to make. Contact event organiser David Macmillan on 01896 830880 Email: mailto:info@probikesport.com for further information.
RACE FACE DOWNHILL SERIES
New for 2005 is the Race Face Downhill Series. The events are held at the High Action activity Centre, which is 8 miles south of Bristol airport. It's a non-ranking series without uplift, but this is reflected in the entry fee. Pre entry is £15 for Juvenile and Youth. £18 for all other categories. 2 timed runs and 3 hours for practice. Prizes for the top 3 in each category, plus random prizes, live timing and commentary. Contact Matthew Coxhead on 01934 813689 or Email: info@dirt-racing.co.uk Series website is www.dirt-racing.co.uk - Race Dates are 1st May, 26th June and 24th July.
ASTON HILL EVENTS
Aston Hill are running 3 weekends of Downhill racing this year. Award winning coach, Ian Warby is the man behind the biggest Downhill, 4X and XC club in the UK. Aston Hill is near Wendover, but check out the website www.astonhill.com for directions. Race Dates for the 6 round BC ranking points series are: 19-20 March for rounds 1 and 2, 9-10 July for rounds 3 and 4 and 17-18 September for rounds 5 and 6. Ian can be contacted on 01296 489729 or Email: ian@firecrestmtb.com
SIMBA CROSS COUNTRY SERIES
Steve and Sue Imeson are putting on 2 XC events this year. Simba events are non-ranking, but provide cheap racing in a safe environment. Entry fees are £5.00 for 10-12 years, £10.00 for 13-18 and £15.00 for 19+. There is a surcharge for entering on the day for all, except 10-12 years. Races start between 10.30am and 11.40am, starting with the youngest age. Registration opens at 9.30am and closes at 11.15am. Race Dates are 10th April & 8th May. Race location is Dalby Forest, Near Pickering, North Yorkshire. Check out: www.simbaevents.co.uk for more information or contact Steve or Sue Imeson on Tel: 07981 742422 or Email: mailto:simbaevents@hotmail.com
REBIRTH OF THE EASTERN ROAD RACE LEAGUE
2005 sees the rebirth of the Eastern Road Race League,
formerly
the Essex Road Race League. The change of name was unanimously approved
at
the recent AGM, to reflect the League's growing influence in the
Eastern
division. This year's calendar features 27 promotions for categories
from
4th to 1st, and including women and juniors, starting with the Crest CC
road race on the 6th of March.
Full details can be found on the ERRL website www.errl.org.uk or
Go
To>>>
COACH SEEKS COACH IN MANCHESTER
AREA
Newly qualified Club Coach, Muhsin Aziz, is looking for another Coach based in the Manchester area to work alongside and provide opportunities to gain coaching experience. Muhsin is particularly interested in gaining experience with road/time trial riders in the UK having been the Iraq National Cycling Coach until moving to the UK three years ago. Since coming to the UK, Muhsin has completed his Club Coach Award, the Velodrome Coaching Award and spent a period of time working with Eastland's Velo at Manchester Velodrome gaining experience of track coaching, skills and racing. If you are able to help Muhsin, please send your details to coaching@britishcycling.org.uk
NEWCASTLE TRACK CYCLING ASSOCIATION QUIZ
The second edition of the great Newcastle Track CA quiz will take place at the Newcastle 2001 RC clubroom in Silverdale on Friday 11th March, so get that date in your diary now – all welcome! The more the better. Big thanks to Newcastle 2001 RC for letting us use their clubroom for this event. Venue Silverdale Youth and Community Centre, Mill Street - Silverdale. Nr Newcastle (Stoke on Trent – Staffordshire) Contact for information and entries to Paul BarberH 01782 513 063joy.barber@virgin.net Entries · If you can enter teams in advance that would be great so we can get an idea of numbers. · Minimum of one person, maximum of 5 per team. · The cost will be £1 per person.
DATE CHANGE FOR YORKSHIRE ROAD COMMISAIRES COURSE
Due to availability issues Yorkshire Division have moved the Date of their course from the 19th February to the 12th March. venue as before, will be the West Yorkshire Police, Force Training College, Wakefield. The Course is open to any Yorkshire member, in addition organiser Bob Howden is happy to welcome candidates from elsewhere subject to their own Division approval. Bob can be contacted by email on bobhowden@grasscrete.com or by phone on 01924 379443 (office).
VISUALLY IMPAIRED RIDER SEEKING PILOT
A Visually impaired rider based in the Warwick/Leamington Spa Area is seeking a pilot preferably with access to a Competition Tandem (This rider normally rides a 56cm frame) to help him become more involved in Cycle Sport. Any potential pilot is asked to contact Paul West at BC HQ on paulwest@britishcycling.org.uk in the first instance. Go There>>>
RACING CALENDAR
ONLINE
The Road and Track calendar is online at britishcycling.org.uk – look for the “Race Calendar” button on the homepage. Also on-line are the MTB and BMX Calendars. All the calendar updates are included in this section.
ORGANISERS – PLEASE SEND US YOUR
UPDATES
Race organizers, please can you let us know about any event updates as soon as possible, so that we can spread the news. Send you road and Track Calendar updates to paulwest@britishcycling.org.uk or call Paul on 0161 274 2021.
EVENT UPDATES
Every season we publish a detailed list of Road and Track Calendar updates – these are changes to the calendar as published in the Racing Calendar magazine. They are all published in this newsletter and added to special “Calendar Updates” sections of the online Calendar. Simply go to the www.britishcycling.org.uk website and hit the “Race Calendar” button for the full calendar index page, which includes links to the Calendar Updates pages.
CALENDAR
ADDITIONS
Sunday 6th & Saturdays 5th, 12th,19th & 26th February
Central Division
Hillingdon Winter Series Events, Hillingdon Cycle Circuit
E.1.2.3.4.W.J 55km 13.00
Doug Collins, 53 Harvard Road, Isleworth TW7 4PA
Tel: 0208 560 8855
CALENDAR
AMENDMENTS
North West Division
Recycling Road Race League
The race entry fee for Juniors and Women for Recycling.co.uk league races is £5 for either pre-entry or EOL. All entries must be done on the official league race entry form and not the BC entry form. These forms can be down-loaded from the web-site : http://www.cdnw.org
Sunday 27th March
South East Division
Bluewater Womens Circuit Race (BC National Reynolds/Michelin Womens RR Series Round)
Not Moved to Lee Valley Cycle Circuit.
Further Info to follow.
3rd April
South Division
WCRA Womens Road Race (BC National Reynolds/Michelin Womens RR Series Round)
Moved to new date TBC
Merseyside Wheelers Road Race - Sunday - 3rd April
Sirs. Mistake in my E/M address on Website & handbook. Nothing can be done about handbook - could you amend in race calendar on W'site. jamesjcarson@ukonline.co.uk (little 'j' in the middle). In sport J.J.Carson
24th April
North West Division
Recycling Road Race League Event, Elswick
Moved to Sunday 1st May
29th May
North West Division
Recycling Road Race League Event, Oakenclough
Moved to Sunday 5th June
12th June
Eastern Division
Essex Roads CC Circuit Races
Moved to Sunday 21st May
4.J.W 24km 12.00 £10.00 (£12.00)
3.4.J.W 50km 13.00 £10.00 (£12.00)
E.1.2.3 50km 14.30 £10.00 (£12.00)
Entries Close 15/05/05 Cheques to - Essex Roads CC
Raymond Smith, 19 Foxgloves, Billericay CM12 0TE
Tel: 01277 631878
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