Your News From Your Club

*Inside This Issue*
*Page 2*	*The Chairman Says*
*Page 3*	*Annual General Meeting (AGM)*
*Page 4*	*Cyclo* *Cross*
*Page 6*	*Bits and Bobs*

Since the last communication to all the membership by Roger Allen, it was decided to issues a Newsletter on a regular basis to inform all members of what has been happening, what is about to happen, and perhaps encourage feedback on what should be happening within the Club. While the Club website (details at the bottom of each page of this Newsletter) is a fantastic source of information and the Forum generally provides good debate and feedback, it may not be to everyone’s liking and perhaps there is scope for a more traditional format that can be distributed in a modern electronic way while also catering for those who have steered well away from the perils of the electronic age. This will also help those unable to attend the Monday evening Club Night to be better informed on what is happening.

It is planned to issue a Newsletter at least 3 times per year and in order to do this there will be a need to generate news, so please feel free to feed any information or comments to Richard Painter, the General Secretary, or any Committee member, for inclusion. Photographs, stories, reports on rides will be most welcomed along with any general matters you wish to be raised.

Of particular note is the AGM on the Monday 2^nd March 2009. Further details on page 3 of this Newsletter. It’s very important to the Club so please read the detail and hopefully you can find the time to attend.

The Chairman Says:

The winter is proving to be the coldest for 10 years and is likely to be remembered as a very wet one too! While this is not good news for cycling, there has been plenty of riding so far, particularly over the ‘Festive Season’ and orange jerseys have been out and about. There was a good turnout for the Holly Run rides on 21^st December and the Holly Bush pub was once again packed with cyclists. A large off-road ride took place on 29^th December to Bewdley involving 26 members which underlines the fact that the off-road is now a very popular and important aspect of the Club, particularly as many more youngsters and parents may have access to such bikes rather than more traditional road bikes.

As the cyclo-cross season draws to an end it is only fitting to mention the fantastic success we have had, both locally and nationally. I think we ought to highlight the efforts of Hannah Payton who came 2^nd Overall in her category (Youth Girl) in the British Cycling National Trophy Series that was held over six races starting in Abergavenny on 21^st September 2008 and finishing at Markeaton Park, Derby, on 18^th January 2009, with lots of travelling between. Taking part in a National Trophy Series takes commitment, stamina and a little luck to ensure fitness is maintained and illness is kept at bay. It also took an awful lot of commitment on behalf of the whole Payton family who also need congratulating as it was truly a team effort!

The AGM is approaching and we need your help to ensure the Club keeps moving forward, something I always prefer where cycling is concerned. We wish to achieve a number of things in 2009 and your help will be required. So please don’t be shy, give your views and let us know if we are on the right track, otherwise we might just end up going round in circles. Well you know what I mean!

Overall, cycling remains very buoyant on a national basis and there are many defying both the economic downturn and the weather by turning the pedals, So keep on cycling, but continue to take care when conditions are icy or wet. See you at the AGM.

The AGM 2009

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on Monday 2^nd March 2009 commencing 2000 hours (or 8 pm if you prefer!) in the Clubroom at the Hawbush Community Centre. The Clubroom will be open from 1930 hours and an electronic slideshow is planned to highlight what members did in 2008. The AGM is an opportunity to hear what we have achieved, what we hope to achieve in the future and what the membership want us to do. Please come along if you can as everyone is most welcome.

The Agenda for the AGM will be:

1. Chairman’s Opening Remarks

2. Minutes of Last Meeting

3. Committee Reports

4. Election of Committee

5. Nomination for Awards

6. Any Other Business

Members will be required to vote on both club finances and membership fees under Item 3. It may be worth noting that the Committee are not proposing an increase in membership fees and funds remain healthy. Also, the membership will be asked to nominate a Committee for the coming year under Item 4. It is worth noting that the post of Racing Secretary remains vacant and it is anticipated the post will be broadened to include overall development of riders, particularly young riders, and it is hoped the post can be filled at the AGM. Also worth noting is that all of the current Committee have volunteered to stand for re-election. That said, any First Claim member of the Club wishing to be elected to the Committee may be nominated for election at the AGM in accordance with the protocol outlined in the Constitution.

Of considerable importance is Item 5, the Nomination for Awards. This may include any nominations for Honorary Life Membership and nominations for Club Member of the Year. Any nomination should be forwarded to the General Secretary.

Members who wish to raise any items for the Agenda, or submit any nominations, should do so by writing to the General Secretary (e-mail is fine) for inclusion in the Agenda.

Finally, the views of the membership are always welcome and the future of the Club remains in the hands of the membership; the Committee is only there to ensure the wishes of the membership are fulfilled. Please contact the General Secretary (details on page 6) with any views, ideas or observations you feel should be aired; there is no monopoly on good ideas and the Committee welcomes guidance and assistance from those whom they serve.

Cyclo-Cross

Cyclo-cross may not be to everyone’s taste, after all, it takes place over the winter months and generally involves getting cold, wet and muddy. So where’s the fun?

Well for some of Club riders it’s great fun and allows racing in the winter which ensures fitness is maintained: you might notice those who take part in cyclo-cross tend to be quite fit on those early season rides! There is also a great camaraderie among the riders and it can simply be a way of keeping in shape over winter rather than just continuing to eat all those cakes!

Stourbridge Cycling Club has been highly visible throughout the cyclo-cross season at events throughout the country. Isla Rowntree missed the podium by only one point in the British Cycling National Trophy Series and settled for 4^th place overall. Although she only managed one race in the West Midland Cyclo-Cross League (WMCCL), she did win her event at Aldersley Stadium on a very muddy course on 25^th January. (But note that her mother, Carolyn, managed three races in the WMCCL and scored more points!) Isla also won on Boxing Day just to confirm that if you’re not riding, you have no chance of winning; be there, or miss the opportunity!

The men have also faired well with Kevin Payton and Roger Allen being the stalwarts, and Robin Smith, Jackson McCann, Ian Austin and Scott O’Neill-Gwilliams also representing the Club. Kevin raced in the National Trophy Series and was placed 22^nd out of a field of 68 which is no mean feat. Equally impressive is Roger’s 100% appearance in the WMCCL races.

The star of the cyclo-cross for the 2008/2009 season has to be Hannah Payton; her 2^nd place in the National Trophy Series has already been mentioned and like Isla, she was concentrating on this event rather than the WMCCL. That said, she still managed to win her event at Aldersley and that included prize money of £25! So wins for both ladies, young and slightly older, for Stourbridge Cycling Club.

So what of the future? Well, cyclo-cross is fun, available to all ages, safe as it is not as frantic as road racing and any landings tend to be softer than when saying hello to tarmac! So why not consider it for next season? Plenty of advice and help available. Go on, consider it!

Bits and Bobs

Up and Coming Events on Club Nights

February

9^thRoller Racing League. Well worth a look at or tryout, just turn up!

16^th Cycle Jumble Sale Brink your cycle jumble to sell and go home

with someone else’s!

March

2^nd AGM Come and have your say. Start 2000 hours.

9^th Roller Racing League. Final event and last chance to have a go!

16^th Bring a Bike Night. Opportunity to impress fellow members by

bringing along a vintage or just interesting bike

that may no longer be available or is a shining

example of the days before fancy materials!

Up and Coming Rides – Touring Section

All rides leave The Living Gallery, Stourbridge, (old Library/Art Gallery) at 0900 hours.

15^th February	Bodenham Arboretum.	Calling at Belbroughton at 0930 hours
22^nd February	Bramley’s Holt Heath	Calling at Belbroughton at 0930 hours
1^st March	Bridgenorth Way	Leaving directly from Stourbridge
8^th March	Claines	Calling at Belbroughton at 0930 hours
15^th March	Wyre Forest Visitor Centre	Leaving directly from Stourbridge
22^nd March	Martin Hussingtree	Calling at Belbroughton at 0930 hours
29^th March	Mystery Ride	Leaving directly from Stourbridge

Further details from Richard Ottridge at: richard.ottridge@stourbridgecyclingclub.com

Contact the General Secretary

Richard Painter can be contacted via e-mail at:

richard.painter@stourbridgecyclingclub.com