The annual club dinner will be on Saturday 28th November in Romas Bar and Bistro in Newtownards. Cost is £20 – see Facebook or contact any member of committee for more details and to reserve your place.
The dinner is the highlight of the social season, and a chance for us to celebrate the performances of our members in club competitions during the year. The club has a wide range of trophies, and also a medal scheme to reward achievement in the standard time trial distances of 5, 10 and 25 miles.
One of the most prestigious trophies is the Best All Rounder. The idea of a BAR competition was introduced by Cycling Weekly magazine in 1930 to find the best time triallist in the country. Each rider submitted their fastest ride at the standard distances of 50 miles, 100 miles and 12 hours. The rider’s speed at each distance was averaged, to give an overall average speed, and the fastest average speed won. The club BAR is worked out over club 5, 10 and 25 mile time trials. With the first 5 of the season cancelled this year due to bad weather, only 3 riders qualified, but we still have a very worthy winner – come to the dinner to find out who!
The club also awards certificates to all members who rode at least one race at 5, 10 or 25 miles or 10km. Twenty nine riders will get a certificate this year. In addition, 10 medals will be presented to riders who beat their personal best and surpassed a medal standard time during the year.
The club also has an underage BAR (for riders under 16 years of age), but unfortunately there have been no qualifiers in recent years. The number of medals awarded is also well down from the late 1980s when over 30 medals were awarded annually.
These statistics probably reflect the changing nature of club cycling – we have a record membership, and club runs and sportive events are booming. The club road races are also very well supported, but the traditional time trial distances are not so popular. Perhaps its time to overhaul our club competitions. What about a Strava champion (distance and height)?? Or an award for the most sportives completed?
If you’ve any ideas, let us know, and we can throw them all into the melting pot at the club Annual General Meeting. And in the mean time, enjoy the dinner!