Adventures of the Rye & District Wheelers Past and present
Wheelers Fun Day
The Wheelers ‘Fun Day’ was a great event and raised over £1500 towards a new ambulance for the Rye St. John. None of this could have been possible without the tremendous help from those who gave prizes and sponsored the 12 hour cycle roller marathon.
Those that took part enjoyed themselves and save for a few blistered bottoms and sore legs, riding the bikes was pure pleasure.
What a great sport the new Mayor Ian Potter turned out to be. He came back for several helpings on the rollers, even the Mayoress Jessica Neame did an early spell on the bike and joined in the fun. Thanks also to all the other celebrities, especially Rye in Bloom Chairman Lorna Hall who took part despite reservations about the hard saddle. Outgoing Mayor Paul Carey also spent a good deal of time on the bikes as well as being one of the major organisers of the event.
“Jimper” was there but he was far too busy filling up the amazing pound coin board, built by Kevin Hall, to take part in the cycling event.
There are so many names that should be mentioned, Andy Polly of Rye Hire who gave a brand new Mountain Bike for the raffle prize, Peter Holland and Martin Carter who worked so hard to keep things going throughout the day Ben Robbins organiser of the live music. The Live Bands themselves, Roy and Tim of “Smoking Ferret” fame, Louis Turpin Rye’s best known blues Singer/ Musician and The Blues Band.
Organised Runs
A lot of members are doing training runs for races but there are plenty of runs for those who do not wish to go so fast.
Sunday runs are split into fast and slow sections leaving the Riverhaven Hotel at 9am. and meeting for breakfast at a determined point.
Tuesday afternoon runs are for beginners and distances vary from ten to twenty-five miles depending on the abilities of those that turn up at the Riverhaven at 1pm.
Very short runs are made on Thursday evenings starting out at 5.30pm. from Ashenden Avenue.
Anyone from 14 to 95 are welcome to come along and meet us for any of these runs. Cycling is the best way to keep fit and lose weight and with good company it is a pleasure rather than a chore.
Tel: Rye 222420 for more details.
Evening “Ten” Points Competition Latest standing
Barry Goodsell 72 points
Jim Hollands 60 points
Mark Nash 50 points
Kevin Hall 23 points
Gary Booth 16 points
Roy Fritchley 10 points
Granville Bantick 7 points
in E.S.C.A. “100” Again
Three Rye Wheelers will be riding in this years East Sussex Cycling Association 100 Mile time trial on Sunday 11 July.
Barry Goodsell, the club 100 mile record holder will be competing, in the event that will also be the Wheelers One Hundred Mile Championship. Barry has already become the Club “10” Champion in the Dave Ashdown Memorial race. Along with Barry in the “100” will be Mark Nash, who also rode last year and Jon Beasley making the event the first “100” ever that Rye Wheelers have fielded a complete team. There will be many other club members out on the day to support the boys with water, food and sponges throughout the long race.
CLUB “10” RECORD BROKEN
Barry Goodsell stormed round the Tenterden Ten Mile course on Wednesday 19 June and knocked 14 seconds off Roy Fritchley’s Club Ten Mile Record with an outstanding ride of 23-40. He was also the fastest rider on the night beating all-comers from local clubs.
World Champion races at Tenterden
World Kiron Champion Jamie Staff, who is one of Great Britain’s cycling hopes for the Olympics, rode his first time trial in a Tenterden evening “10”, competing against riders from the local clubs, including Rye Wheelers.
Jamie, who was at one time a BMX World Champion, stormed round the course in 23 minutes. demonstrating that he can master any form of cycle racing.
Riding his first time trial in the same event was Rye Wheeler, Kevin Hall. His time of thirty-six minutes did not threaten that of Jamie Staff but Kevin has improved his personal best time every week since and has climbed to fourth place in the Rye Evening Points Competition.
The competition has nine more weeks to run and is lead by Barry Goodsall who seems set to obtain a record number of points. He has been top man in every event he has competed in so far and looks set to get as many as 150 points by seasons end.