Chris Womack VCB’s Rider of the Year

 

Chris Womack was Velo Club Baracchi’s popular Rider of the Year at the club’s annual presentation night on Saturday for his depth of achievement over a range of time trial distances.

In addition to this award, Womack picked up the trophies for the club championships at 30 and 100 miles and the veteran championships (with new veteran records) at 10, 25, 30, 50 and 100 miles, together with the veteran best all-rounder trophy.

He was also second in the club championships at 10 and 25 miles, only missing out on a stab at the club 50-mile championship by being away at the time.

Brian Boxall announced the winners and guest of honour Liam Gentry made the presentations.

Joe Skipper was awarded the Charles Grimmer Memorial Trophy in recognition if his achievements in cycling and triathlon, including the most recent one, his tenth place in the Florida Ironman.

All the club members who had competed in solo time trials in the year received certificates for their achievements and Womack’s had to be set out with two columns to fit in all his year’s work.

The club 10-mile champion and veteran 10-mile scratch champion was Steve Summons, while George Kerridge performed the same two feats at 25 miles, as well as the club 50-mile and veteran 50-mile scratch championships (the last of these is the Ernie Randall Memorial Trophy).

Tracy Prewer won the women’s 10-mile trophy and second-claim members Jenny Anderson (30 miles) and Nicki Hawkes (25 and 50 miles) took the other women’s trophies. Hawkes also received the women’s rose-bowl trophy for her valuable contribution to the club as secretary.

The Baracchi Trophy for the club’s two-up time trial was won by Mike Bretton and Ali Banks and the handicap version was awarded to new members Darren Newman and Nathen Ayers.

Bretton, who was unable to attend, was the winner of the Bernard Dale Memorial hill climb trophy and also the Freewheel Trophy for his downhill skills.  Paul Bedford, who humorously claimed to have coached him in these skills, received the awards for him.  Jenny Dale was there to hand over her father’s memorial trophy.

Patrick Harbord received the Athletes’ Cup for his top ride in the “old school” non-aero time trial.  Sally Withey of VC Norwich won the Jane Travers memorial Trophy for the fastest woman in the club’s May Day open time trial.

Lee Cook, a non-member, who won the Keith Stephens Memorial Trophy for the club’s duathlon, received his trophy. John Swanbury and Ali Banks received both the tandem trophies.

Next year promises to be an interesting one, especially as two of the club’s regular riders have recovered from injury and new members have declared their intention of joining the fray.

On the following morning some of the club’s riders set off to the Chairman’s Breakfast at Bungay, though neither the chairman nor vice-chairman could be present this year.

The riders were not discouraged and the club’s publicity officer volunteered to keep the tradition going by consuming a full English all-day breakfast as recommended by the chairman, though as anticipated it settled rather heavily on the return ride!