NEW CYCLING PRESIDENT FOR ESCA
Esther Carpenter, one of the best known cycling organisers in the South-East, became President of the East Sussex Cycling Association at the Annual Luncheon and Prize Presentation held at the Roebuck Hotel, Laughton on Sunday 13 February. Jim Hollands of Rye & District Wheelers, the outgoing President, handed over the chain of office to Esther, who will hold the title, on behalf of her club, Southborough Wheelers, who have the honour of being the Presidential Club for 2013. Esther Rolleston, as she was then, who started cycling with the Hastings & St. Leonards Cycling Club in 1954, the same year as Jim Hollands joined the Rye Wheelers. Esther attended every club run that year and claimed the Hastings ‘Clubman of the Year’ title.
This was just a foretaste of the awards she was to win in the 59 years of cycling activities she has enjoyed. Esther was at one time the holder of every woman’s time trial record at the Hastings Club. Some still stand to this day. Esther met Maurice Carpenter, another keen racing member of the Hastings Club and they married in 1959. Esther became very interested in long distance racing and competed in events of Twelve and Twenty-Four Hour duration. She raced on both conventional cycles, Tandems, with Maurice and Tricycles. Mrs. Carpenter’s interested in the long distance races has continued.
Every year for the past 26 her organisation of the Kent Cycling Association “12” has been outstanding and in the 2011 season she ran the National “24” Hour event on Sussex roads. It was acknowledged as being one of the best organised events ever held in the county. Hundreds of cyclists turned out to marshal and assist. The National 24 Record was smashed by over 20 miles by ‘Andy Wilkinson. Esther has been requested to run the National again . It will be held in June 2014 on East Sussex roads.
“Rye’s Own” February 2013
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