A reminder of our 2023 presentation evening, with our late chairman Brian Boxall in the driving seat

Club Chairman Brian Boxall welcomed members, guests and the guest of honour, Mark ‘Titch’ Richards, mentioning in particular the club records he set in the past when he rode for the club and more recently his time in yellow at the Tour de Guyane 2023.

Next came the presentation of time trial certificates to those who were present of the 15 VCB riders who had taken part in them in the year. One of the very regular riders in his first year for the club, Stan Worrell, had the ‘flu and had sent apologies, so Mark Munnings picked up his certificate and his other awards.

The four junior or juvenile riders also earned certificates for road racing and/or MTB racing.

Then came the various cups and other trophies, mostly presented by Mark Richards.

Mark Saunders was 10-mile champion, veterans 10-mile scratch champion, athletes 10-mile champion, 50-mile champion, vets 50-mile champion and vets 50-mile scratch champion (the Ernie Randall Trophy), which Gary Randall presented.

Second-claim member Jenny Anderson was the ladies champion at 10 and 25 miles.

Mark Munnings was champion at 15 miles as well as vets 15-mile champion. He and Stan Worrell won the sizeable Baracchi Trophy for a 2-up 25 and also the handicap version.

Stan Worrell was also 25-mile champion and 25-mile scratch vets champion as well as the short course BAR.

In solo riding John Swanbury was 10-mile and 25-mile vets champion.

John Swanbury and Ali Banks took the tandem trophies at 10 and 25 miles and he and Kate Churchill took the 50-mile one.

Paul Killett won the Freewheel Trophy and Tom Moore the hill climb (Bernard Dale trophy) as well as the senior MTB trophy. Paul Wright won the cyclo-cross trophy.

The junior road race championship and junior MTB championships were won by Hartley Moore (juv) and Ashley Moore won best juvenile, while actual junior Zak Barber was Junior Rider of the Year.

The Keith Stephens Memorial Trophy for the duathlon was won by Morris Bacon, who could not attend and similarly the open Jane Travers Memorial Trophy won on May Day in the 10 had been held during the year by Becky Ridge of Loose Cannon’s Conditioning who could not come.

This brings us to Kate Churchill. She had not only stoked the tandem this year to a 50-mile national age record but had achieved a stunning bronze medal in the UCI World Championshps Gran Fondo, as well as completing the Paris Brest Paris Randonneur (1200km). She was awarded the Women’s Rose Bowl, the Charles Grimmer Memorial Trophy for achievement and services to the sport and during the evening members voted her their Rider of the Year. Brian Boxall presented that one.

Mention should be made of an excellent buffet and a successful raffle, as well as a pleasant evening with members and friends.

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