Ystwyth Cycling Club held their annual awards recently to honour the local cyclists who have taken part in the clubs time trial series during the year, along with some special awards for outstanding achievements in open races and club administration.
2008 has been a special year for the club, thanks to the sheer numbers of participants, sometimes seeing over thirty riders competing in the weekly Wednesday night time trials, which ranged from ten miles to twenty five miles in distance.
Riders qualified for the series by riding at least twelve events and points were given at each race depending on finishing positions.
The club also introduced a new series, to acknowledge the large numbers of new members, by offering a ‘Most Improved’ award, and it was Llanbadarn veteran Tim Johnson who took the inaugural trophy in this category with a huge improvement of over five minutes between his slowest and fastest times during the year, with Martin Walker second and Rob Scullion third.
In the overall category, it was no surprise that Danny Thorogood took the award by amassing a huge margin of victory, winning the majority of events that he rode, with Andy Hunt in second and Shelley Childs third in a very competitive category, with Dewi Hughes, Paul Jones & Jeff Saycell also very close to a top three finish.
In the junior category, it was Hefin Squires who was the most consistent over the course of the year, just edging Jade Wilmot & Rhys Thomas to the number one spot.
The female category was more hotly contested than ever this year, with last years winner Anita Saycell having to work extra hard to retain her title from Helen Marshall, Emma Smith, Sally Harmer & Gail Birkett.
In the hill climb competition, a one-off event on the Aberystwyth to Clarach road, it was Andy Hunt who took revenge on Thorogood with Dewi Hughes in third place. Rhys Thomas took the junior prize with Anita Saycell again winning the female category.
The roadman of the year, given to the Ystwyth rider who had amassed the most license points in British Cycling affiliated events over the year saw a battle of the sprinters with Dewi Hughes edging Michael Tarling by just one point for the award.
The Founders Trophy, awarded to the best newcomer went to 16 year old Jade Wilmot who burst onto the road scene with some strong performances in road races, notably in the national junior championships and the Gateway to the Beacons road race.
The weekly series of club events were selflessly planned and organized by time trial secretary Kim Jones who was awarded Club Person of the Year for her efforts.
Ystwyth Cycling Club will again be running time trials in 2009, each Wednesday evening and invite new members to come along and try a race.
