Velo Club Baracchi AGM report

(featured photo – a Wrinklies ride that includes some VCB members)

At their Annual meeting, Velo Club Baracchi members re-elected as chairman Brian Boxall, vice-chairman Paul Bedford and Secretary Nicki Hawkes, while new volunteer Martin Bellamy was elected treasurer.

Boxall commented on a successful year, despite the disappointment of there being no road racing team.  Perhaps that situation may change, but there had been continued enthusiasm for time trial competition.

In the year twenty-two members had participated in time trials and the club had run two open events, a 10-mile and a 50-mile event.

Boxall said, “We have done our bit.  Not quite where we used to be but we deserve a bit of a rest.”  The membership is strong, with new members having joined on the year and former members have re-joined.

One of the highlights had been that Chris Womack performed so well and had re-written the veterans, record book.

Boxall went on to outline other optimistic aspects of the club’s year and thanked the club’s officers and supporters for their work.

Some consideration was given by members to a proposed re-design of the club kit, which has stood the test of time, but may be replaced in the course of next year, possibly with sponsorship help.

John Thompson spent the whole weekend cycling, starting on Friday when he rode to Norwich and stayed there, riding the next day to Downham Market, enjoying lunch at Castle Acre after some intense navigation through the lanes, passing through various places including East Tuddenham and Lyng.

He added, “Sunday morning was also a bit of a map reading challenge in places, but not as intense as Saturday.  I went along some very nice lanes through some attractive villages, helped by today’s bright weather.”

He said, “I went first to Denver, then to Barton Bendish, Beachamwell, and Foulden to ride along some particularly nice lanes through Thetford forest to Watton, then via Garston to Attleborough, then Old Buckenam and The Pulhams to Wortwell, where I had a roast lunch in The Farm Shop.  I rode home direct via Bungay and Beccles.  I’ve done around 80 miles today and covered a lot of new roads.”

This Saturday the club’s presentation evening at the Railway Bowls Club in Carlton Road will give members the opportunity to congratulate all those who competed this year and on Sunday the “Chairman’s Breakfast” ride enable members will recover from the night before with a gentle ride to Bungay to meet the club chairman and share his enthusiasm for a “full English.”