It was great to be ‘down by the Riverside’ with the Rye & District Wheelers on Thursday 8 November.
Sixty-nine members and friends from other clubs assembled at the Riverside Restaurant, Riverhaven Hotel to enjoy the seventh Annual Dinner since the Club was resurrected in 2000.
It has been a year of amazing successes for the Club, first formed in 1883.
John Booty, one of Kent’s best known time trialing figures and life long member of the Wigmore Cycling Club, was Guest of Honour. He told of how, when he started racing in the 1950’s he had competed against riders from the Rye club, some of whom are still racing against him today, over 50 years on!
2007 has seen the Wheelers achieve their first ever National Team Championship when Jim Hollands, Barry Goodsell and Granville Bantick were team winners of the V.T.T.A 100 mile event. They will be travelling to Rugby next March to be presented with their Championship medals.
Another big success story this year has been the emergence of a very strong ladies racing contingent. They took the Kent Cycling Association’s 12 Hour event by storm, taking first four places in the Ladies event, with winner Liz King, beating many of the men who took part. Trevor Bridge led the Rye gentlemen to victory in the team event and the Wheelers even managed second team placing.
Liz King won every ladies Club Championship, Jeremy Temple was top man in the “25” and “50”, Barry Goodsell won the “100” and Steve Gooch was victorious in the Ten Mile event.
The social side of the club was also very strong in 2007, with runs all over Sussex and Kent and even a couple of trips across the Channel. A Barbecue at Rolvendene Farm was enjoyed by all, even if it finished with hailstones as big as golf balls sending people running for their cars. Another spectacular Wheeler’s event!