Year of Success for Ashfield RC.

[Roger]

Press Release 1/12/03
Year of Success for Ashfield Road Club

Ashfield R.C. celebrated a year of achievement at its annual presentation evening at the Dale Club, Jacksdale.
A sponsorship package - including help from Watnall business ‘British Bakeries’ - put together this year by Scott Gamble, owner of Hucknall cycle shop ‘Pro -Bikes’; meant that its road - race squad had the necessary backing to compete at a national level.
This help was rewarded almost immediately by an excellent 8th place overall by 19 year old Newthorpe rider Andrew Stuart in the Girvan Stage Race, held over the Easter weekend in Ayrshire. This performance gave him the Under -23 prize; a fine achievement in a tough race which included most of the countries top riders and the Great Britain Under - 23 squad.

On August 10th - one of the hottest days of the year - Mick Perrin of Mapperley, kept his cool and pedalled 254 miles for 6th place in the National 12 - Hour Time -Trial Championship held near Chippenham.. This was enough to win the National Veterans 12 hour Championship.

At the East Midlands Road -Race Championship in June Ashfield R.C. riders dominated on a hilly Lincolnshire Wolds course; and took a rare ‘hat -trick’ by claiming the top three places. After a tough 83 miles Keith Haddon, of Heanor, rode in alone to win the title, Stuart followed to take second place, and then Gamble edged a close sprint for third. 3 other Ashfield riders finished in the top 20 to underline a fine team performance by the club.

In May Chris Storer of Kirk Hallam- himself twice a winner of the East Midlands R.R. Championship in Ashfield colours - demonstrated his prowess at time -trialling with victory in the ‘Team Spirit’ Hilly 22 mile event at Buxton.
Away from the road, and on ‘fixed wheel’, what may have been the final year of racing at the Harvey Hadden track saw Andrew Stuart win the season -long Nottingham Track League Champion Title.
As winter draws in the Cyclo -Cross season starts and 40 year old Andy Key of Linby has so far won four rounds out of five of the veterans’ National Trophy. Closer to home he has also won a round of the hugely popular Notts & Derby Cyclo -Cross league.

Guest Speaker Dave Gretton, East Midlands Division Chairman presented the annual club awards as follows:
Schoolboy Rider of the Year Lawrence Frost
Veteran Rider of the Year Mick Perrin
Clubman of the Year Danny Gee
Sportsman of the Year Richard Birkin
Track Rider of the Year Andrew Stuart
Junior Rider of the Year Owain Lovell
Senior Cyclo -Cross Rider of the Year Andy Key
Senior Road Rider of the Year Andrew Stuart
Club Racing Managers Trophy presented by Arthur Gamble Andy Key

Despite this success the club remains very much a club for the “ordinary rider” and offers facilities for all abilities from novices to Elite riders, for all ages and for both on and off road riders.
Training rides for all abilities are organised together with on and off road Youth Hostel Weekends.
The club continues to contribute to the sport by organising races both on and off road and plays its part in the administration of cycle sport at both Divisional and National level.
Outgoing Chairman Ray Stuart thanked everyone for their hard work through the year particularly the riders without whom the club would not have achieved such a high level of success.
The new club officers are:
President John Wilson
Chairman Scot Gamble
Treasurer Andrew Wilson
Secretary Ray Stuart
Racing Manager Arthur Gamble
Quartermaster Richard Birkin
Press Officer Daniel Gee