UK National Youth Champs - Change of Venue. (2nd August 2000).

An email from Mike Davies:

Please note that the UK National Youth Circuit Race Championships are now being held in Cardiff City Centre on Sunday 13th August 2000, starting from 11:00 am. The change of circuit from the original Newport Town Centre circuit has been prompted by escalating costs for traffic management in Newport.

The UK Champs are sponsored by NTL (telecomms), Brunswick, and Holiday Inn; and organised by Newport Phoenix Cycling Club.

Over 140 of the top youth riders from all over the UK have entered. There will be races for all age groups under 8, u10, u12, u14, and u16 boys and girls. (u8 and u10 races are EOL). Prize list is £1000 plus jerseys and medals.

- Mike Davies.

Welsh Youth Track Champs. (2nd August 2000).

An email from Martyn Heritage-Owen:

All,

A reminder that the new date for these champs is Saturday 2nd September. Venue is Maindy at 11am.

Organiser is myself. Entries to *address withheld, email Sam*.

- Martyn Heritage-Owen

Please ignore the details published in the last WCU news which stated the event was on Sunday 3rd!

WCU Time Trial Champs - Cancelled. (6th July 2000).

An email from Malc:

"Due a complete lack of support on the behalf of the Welsh Cycling Union (WCU), I am announcing my decision not to run the WCU Time-Trial Championship scheduled for July 16th 2000.

Since I offered to run the race as a championship event, last August, the have WCU adopted a very negative attitude towards both myself, as the organiser and the event as a whole. In the six months following the WCU did not once contact me to express their concerns about the event, but I was constantly hearing that they were not happy with one thing or another. This culminated in an email I received from a member of the WCU committee in February, following a meeting of the executive committee.

The WCU committee argued several points why, either I shouldn't run the event, or why I should move it to an alternative date. The committee refused to allow me to run the event, despite it being in the BCF handbook for the date advertised (16th July), because it would clash with the Bynea CC 25mile Time-Trail. The reason given that they didn't want a clash was that they are trying to improve relations with the RTTC. To avoid a clash The WCU suggested a date change to first weekend in July. This surprised me because when I originally applied to run the event, last September, I requested that weekend (July 1st/2nd) only to be refused because of it would mean a clash with the WCA 50mile time-trial championship. As well as the date change it was suggested that I run the event in conjunction with the Welsh Cycling Festival in Builth Wells. This option I refused because I wasn't prepared to ask people from Cardiff to officiate at an event being run 60 miles away. They also state that they are trying to improve relations with the RTTC and don't want clashes of events. The hypocrisy of it all is that the WCU offered me a date that clashes with the Welsh '50' championship as the date I wanted clashes with a 'normal' '25'. Not only would the clash with '50' mean possibly even less people riding than a clash with a 'normal' '25' as the WCU have argued, but, back in September, I was told I couldn't have the date I wanted because it clashed with the Welsh '50' championship.

On a slightly minor note, but equally as negative were the comments made saying that it isn't worth running a time-trial under BCF rules as they cost too much to enter. Obviously the committee hadn't read my application for the event. If they had, they would have noticed that the cost was not much more than an RTTC run time-trial.

It would appear the WCU do not wish me to run this event under any circumstance and, therefore I grant them their wish. I have been very disappointed at the pettiness and the narrow-minded attitudes I have encountered in people, whose responsibility it is to develop the sport we all love so much. As it is there will not be a sport for much longer if organisers, especially first-time organisers, are faced with the bureaucracy that I was.

- Malcolm Dines

- Cardiff JIF"

Welsh Youth Track Champs - New Date 2/9/00. (9th June 2000).

I was sent an email by Martyn H-O warning of a date change. Here it is in full:

"Hi folks,

There is a new date for these Champs - Saturday 2nd September. Venue is Maindy Stadium.

We (Mark Adams, Debbie Wharton and I) changed the date because both our previously announced dates clashed with National events.

Please ignore this weeks comic, I'll be getting them to publish a correction.

Please encourage any Youth riders in your clubs to ride. Thanks.

Martyn Heritage-Owen

Organiser

http://www.cardiffbywaysrcc.fsnet.co.uk

http://www.heritage-owen.freeserve.co.uk"

Bradders is brill............. (8th June 2000).

Western Mail

Brilliant Bradburn

CYCLING: Mark Bradburn put on a magnificent display in the third round of the Schwalbe/Welsh Cycling Union mountain bike series at Afan Argoed, near Port Talbot.

Blackburn (Cardiff JIF) was only one second behind World Class Performance Plan rider Zak Toogood (Y2K) in the elite category event.

There was a Wales clean sweep of the prizes in the junior race, Mark Hughes (Reg Braddick Cycles) winning from Gareth Griffiths (unattached) and Stuart Cardy (Schmoo's). Lee Williams (Schmoo's) was third in the youth event and Miles Crook (Port Talbot Wheelers) was third in the juveniles.

Builth's Liz Slater was top woman veteran while John Lloyd (Schwinn) and Ralph Jones (unattached) were first and third in the grand veterans.

- Del.

1st round of N Wales WCU Schwalbe cross country mountain bike series. (19th May 2000).

Results from Coed y Brenin, 14th May:

Sports: Nick (no work) Stevens 5th, (25 riders).

On the day there was too much heat! Glorious sunshine, a little wind and brilliant conditions under tyre on a new variation of last year's course made up of 3 fireroad uphills (1.5km), monster technical rocky singletrack downhill (3km), and rolling technical grass moorland, with tree stumps (0.5km). Described as an awsome course, there were a lot of punctures and a few crashes on the downhills.

- Nick.

JIF Race 2000 results. (16th May 2000).

The weekend's race at Castleton organised by Nick and Malc went relatively smoothly (see reports below), on a beautiful sunny May day. There was a large prize basket on offer, and the summer conditions and flat course brought out a fast race from the competitors, making us marshals get up off our arses more often then we may have liked. Apart from The Gumbos clouting an old dear's wing mirror while overtaking the bunch and an untypically narked motorist (most on the day were very good as far as I was aware) there were few problems and JIF and friends got on with the job of seeing the races travel smoothly.

The first report is the official version for the papers, courtesy of Nick the Viking and Malcolm. I believe that the second is Nick's more, er, open account. Compare and contrast, if you will.

-Sam.

Official:

Gareth Sheppard took a home victory for the race promoters, Cardiff JIF – Cyclopaedia, in the 85 mile JIFRace 2000, held on Cardiff Flats, on Sunday. In a storming finish Sheppard sprinted from the back of a group of four riders as he held off Midlands strongman, Jonny Towers (On the Edge RT), to win by a bikes length.

Active all day, Sheppard formed part of the main break of the day along with team-mate Ran Virdi, Adrian Holland (Pembs Velo), James Shaw (Stourbridge CC), Steve Whitcombe and his City of Edinburgh team-mate, and pre-race favourite, James Taylor. These six escaped after 20 miles and quickly established a lead of 40 seconds over the bunch. However, as the high temperature took its toll on the field, they were reeled in and with 25 miles remaining the race was all together again.

Soon after the decisive split came as Towers and Chris Anelay (Prickett Atom Elite) forced the pace along the A48. Sheppard was again there, in the eight man break, along with team-mate Ian Jeremiah and inside the last 10 miles Virdi crossed a 20 second gap with Mike Lindsay (Pembs Velo) to give JIF three men at the bell. The ten remained intact until the last mile, when due to the pressure of repeated attacks along the narrow Hawse Lane, Towers, Sheppard, Anelay and Lindsay broke clear. Sheppard then put his local knowledge to use in the sprint to the delight of the partisan crowd.

Andrew Butcher took the sprint for fifth place, 7 seconds later, with Jeremiah trailing in, in 10th broken handlebars preventing him contesting the finish. The bunch, out of contention, came home 4 minutes behind the winner.

Cardiff Ajax junior, Jon Slack, won the 50 mile, supporting race as the whole field came in together.

The two races were a great success and thanks must go to the residents of Marshfield and Castleton for their patience and co-operation as well as sponsors Audio Excellence and the Juboraj restaurant, and all those who put up prizes.

Notes:

The races were held on a 6.5mile circuit around the Cardiff Flats based on the village of Marshfield. The elite race was 12.5 laps and the junior event 7.5laps.

The races were held under the rules of the British Cycling Federation and permission to run the event had been granted by the Gwent police.

Not-so-official.

Both events were a great success and could not have been done without the assistance of club members, friends and sponsors. It was a beautiful day with some excellent racing and a prize fund totalling over £1200. Be aware we will be back next year with something different, but it will be bigger and better, JIF Race 2001 - A Cycling Odyssey, don't miss it.

E123 - 85 Miles in 3 hrs 5 mins.

In the E123 race the JIF Boys had a mixed success level. Our own Gareth Sheppard was victorious, with a perfectly timed finishing sprint to beat in-form Jonny Towers and Chris Anelay and Mike Lindsay. It just goes to show that interval training does work and Sheps has got a sprint after all. With a few laps to go Ran Virdi impressively crossed from what was left of the bunch to the lead group. This group split on the last lap and Ran finished 8th overall, 5 seconds behind the lead riders. Ian Jeremiah rolled in just off the back of this group in 10th place, with his handlebars having come loose. Maybe Ian has been practising his sprint too and the bars just couldn't take any more??? Stuart "I'm going to win this one, I can feel it" Meek was a little less successful than he originally anticipated and pulled out with cramp around the halfway mark. However during this time he did sterling work in marking Matt Beckett, much to his annoyance. Matt who hadn't been able to make it to the Silver Spoon, due to logistical problems decided at the last minute to enter the race. He too pulled out with cramp just before half distance. Stuart marked him so closely that rumour has it that when Matt got home, he went to the toilet and ended up sitting on Stuart's lap. Simon Bray continued his dramatic return to racing life and the ex-National Champion was well on his way to securing the coveted least aggressive rider prize, when he climbed off with a few laps to go, because he was tired. Sheps was in the thick of the action all day, taking second place in the Juboraj prime competition. In which Steve Whitcombe took first place and went home with a £50 voucher. Jonny Towers took 3rd place. Steve made it perfectly clear from the start that he wanted that curry and featured in the sprints every lap until he was dropped from the bunch with a couple of laps to go. Still he persevered and completed the race in 19th place, looking a little worse for wear, but satisfied with his efforts. The Audio Excellence prime competition was dominated by Adrian Holland who took home a £40 voucher and a meal for 2, at the Coach and Horses Pub in Castleton, with Steve Whitcombe and Jonny Towers finishing second and third respectively. The race got off to a flying start with the first few laps rattled off at a shade under 30 mph, a group of 8 riders including Gareth Sheppard, Steve Whitcombe, Ian Jeremiah, Jonny Towers, Adrian Holland and friends. This group kept their lead to around 40 seconds for several laps before it all came back together with about 5 laps to go. At this point Steve Whitcombe was beginning to pay for all the sprinting he had been doing early on in the race. The bunch started to fragment, with the judges breathing a sigh of relief that it wasn't going to be a 40 mph bunch sprint. On the final lap the lead group split and 4 riders came round the last corner with a few seconds lead and began to wind up the sprint. Sheps began to get his 12 rolling and came round Jonny Towers and Chris Anelay, crossing the line with almost a bike length to spare. Butch took the sprint from Steve Dring a few seconds behind the lead group. By now the "main" group were several minutes behind the leaders, with the heat and very high early pace taking their toll. Ed Porter came in just off the front of this group to take 11th place with the remaining riders crossing the line over the next few seconds. All that remained was for Steve Whitcombe to come in and claim his £50 voucher for the Juboraj Restaurant in Rhiwbina. Commendably he crossed the line some 40 minutes behind the leaders with Mark Cooke just a few minutes behind who claimed the first third Cat placing.

34JVW - 51 Miles in 2 hrs 6 mins

In the 34JVW race Dynamic Delbert Delaronde, JIF supervet, was a non-starter. This being due to an injury sustained earlier in the week in a training accident (That doesn't mean he went out training by accident). Junior JIF Owen Beckett was also notoriously absent from the action and finished just outside the top ten in the bunch sprint. Maybe he was slowed down by all the Wurst und Kartoffel Salat he has been eating recently over in Der Vaterland. Jon Slack cleaned up in this race when he easily won the 35 up bunch sprint from Martin Bush, who was later disqualified when Austin Heath (his team mate) grassed him up and told the commissaire that he was a 2nd cat. and not eligible for the race. This pushed Peter Jones up to 2nd and Andrew Waddington up to 3rd place. Jon Slack also took the Juboraj prime competition from Steve Bennett and Gary Thomas. The Audio Excellence prime competition was won by Neil Langdon with Henry Cole and Peter Jonston in second and third places. Jon also secured the first junior award and walked away with prizes totalling approximately £200. The race was lacking in dramatic breakaways, as everything was chased down pretty rapidly. Most riders who did venture off the front got no more than a few seconds lead before being reeled back in. The average speed was also very respectable at just over 24 mph. This event was marred only slightly by the antics of people who are old enough to know better. Namely Martin Bush for entering the wrong race and Austin Heath who delayed the prize presentation for over an hour by arguing that he was sixth in the bunch sprint.

JIF Race 2000 - Sunday 14th May - 10:00 - Castleton, Gwent. (9th May, 2000).

JIF Race 2000 this weekend. Here's the latest email from Nick (the Viking) Sandland:

"Ladies and Gentlemen,

The day of reckoning is drawing close. For those who have not entered or know someone who has not entered, entries will be taken on the line for the modest fee of £12. JIF Race 2000 will undoubtedly be the race you will all be talking about for years to come, surely you wouldn't want to miss it. The prize list now stands at a value approaching £1000 and will be split as equally as possible between the 2 races. The more entries we get on the day, the bigger the prize list, it is as simple as that. The race is based on a mainly flat 7 mile circuit, with 2 primes every lap. The 2 races will run concurrently, so spectators will see the riders every few minutes.

Those who are not riding, please come and watch.

Those who have volunteered to marshal, please be at the HQ between 8:30 and 9:00, where we will have a full briefing. Malc or myself will try to speak to you all this week.

The start sheet is attached, to give a taste of what is to come. We already have 10 more people who intend riding, including Simon Bray and Mat Beckett and there will be many more on the day."

I'll be marshalling, seeing as I'm way too fat after my New York Experience to sit on a bike. I'll be at some corner munching on a large bag of cornish pasties (bloody hell did I miss those) as part of my strict training regime. I hope to see all of you there.

- Sam.

JIF get £475 grant from the Sports Council of Wales community chest. (9th May, 2000).

Nick (no work) Stevens applied for a grant from the Sports Council of Wales some time ago, with help from Mark Adams & Laura Williams. Last month he heard that the application had been succesful, with an award for £475 for equipment for races, training officials & coaches for the club. It all helps, doesn't it?

The grant is to be shared 50:50 with the Cardiff 100 milers. In return they'll share their future grants with us.

- Sam.

Best Rides - try this for size. (6th April, 2000).

Here's a copy of another email sent to me, which some of you may have seen, from them CTC fellas. They seem to think they've got some tough rides planned for the coming year....

If you think you are up for the best rides in South Wales this year try these Dave Lewis specials, just in case you thought the CTC was all twenty miles and toasted tea cakes!

Kevin Mayne

Further info from Dave or from the Audax UK website (Links from www.ctc.org.uk)

Dave@triple-a.fsnet.co.uk

Cardiff Byways RCC, CTC South Wales DA, Audax Cymru, Y2K Events

Sun. 11 June, 08.00 (Down with) the British [AAA2.75] 201km £4.00 A classic tour of the hills: "Caerphilly Mountain", Ochrwyth, Mynydd Maen common, Mynydd Llanhilleth, down "the British"; over to Blaenavon, past "Big Pit", over Llangynidr Mountain to the Canal Museum; skirt around Pen y Fan (highest peak in South Wales), up the "Devil's Elbow" to Ystradfellte; over the big passes of Cefn Glas ("the Rhigos"), Bwlch y Clawdd ("the Bwlch", highest 'A' road in Wales at 530m.) and Foel y Dyffryn, down to Maesteg, up to Llangynwyd; a few more lumps to finish at Tongwynlais.

Sat. 5 August, 00.01 Teifi Traveller (Land of My Fathers) 405km £4.50 Start at midnight, riding on mainly lit A roads to Carmarthen, pausing at Pont Abraham services (at the end of the M4 - "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe"?); emerge blinking into the early morning light and ride through wild and woolly West Wales to Cemaes Head (views up the Cambrian Coast to Bardsey Island and down to St Davids); from St Dogmaels (my grandfather's birthplace) follow Afon Teifi for nearly 100km to Strata Florida Abbey; back past Cors Caron (Tregaron Bog), onto Sarn Helen (Roman road - you know what they did when they came to a hill), over Black Mountain, Mynydd Drum and Cefn Rhigos, then down the Cynon and Taff valleys to finish at Tongwynlais.

Sat. 14 October, 10.00 Trefil Travail [AAA1.25] 100km £4.00 Now in its seventh year. You should know the route by now (or shall I change it this year?), but if not come and find out what the South Wales Valleys, and Hills (the notable features before iron and coal extraction developed in the valleys) have to offer. By entering this ride you can enjoy the Indian Summer (guaranteed) and double up with the "Brecon Beacons Brevet" on 15 October.

Cardiff Byways Website has moved! (3rd April, 2000).

I received this email and have included it FYI:

See all the news, especially the details of the Eddie Smart Memorial Fund

http://www.cardiffbywaysrcc.fsnet.co.uk/Eddie/Eddie.htm

Martyn

http://www.cardiffbywaysrcc.fsnet.co.uk

Eddie Smart Memorial Fund. (27th March, 2000).

I received this email from Martyn Heritage-Owen, which you may or may not have also received:

Fellow Friends,

Today many of us were present at a memorial service for Eddie. Eddie enjoyed an active life and was only to happy to help cyclists in South Wales. Eddie coached a number of riders, was WCU track co-ordinator and member of the Maindy track league committee. During today's service Rhys Gruffydd spoke eloquently about Ed's passion for nurturing talent and the track in general.

I'm pleased to announce that with Dianne's permission the Cardiff Byways will be opening a memorial fund in Ed's name. The purpose of the fund will be to place a small memorial at Maindy track. This is where we need your help.

I have in mind as a minimum a small seat overlooking the track. However I have grander plans, a refurbishment of the concrete area near the finish line. This is used by the competitors between races, at present riders sit on the floor. On our behalf, Mark Adams has already approached Maindy and they are willing to help.

If you would like to contribute to help make this happen then please send me a donation. The fund will be administered by Gareth Woodward, Ed's lifelong friend, myself and Robin Field.

To start the ball rolling, I can also announce that the profit from my July Welsh Youth track championships will be donated to the fund.

Eddie loved the track and spent many hours at Maindy. It seems only fitting that as track record holder for over 30 years, he should not be forgotten whilst at the same time giving benefit to everyone.

Martyn

http://www.heritage-owen.freeserve.co.uk

Cancellation of the 3 Legged Race. (21st March, 2000).

Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond the control of both the Organiser, Courtney Rowe, and venue, Maindy Stadium, the 3 Legged Race has had to be cancelled. It is unsure yet whether it will be rescheduled later in the season.

1st round of S Wales WCU Schwalbe cross country mountain bike series. (12th March, 2000).

Results from the Rhondda Heritage park:

(Sports) Nick (no work) Stevens 10th (30 riders) Paul Roberts 19th, half lap behind.

(Experts) Retro Jo 11th ? (15 riders)

Two other JIF riders competed, with Beth Williams finishing 2nd in the expert Ladies event and her dad, Dave Williams, finishing in an uknown spot, but commented that he had had an enjoyable ride.

On the day there was glorious sunshine and brilliant conditions on a typical heritage course made up of 2.5km steep fireroad uphill, 1km flat (undulating moorland), and 2.5km downhill, half technical, half fireroad.

The next race is at Margam Park, on a new course with 3 short climbs per lap, to be used in Rav4 National Points Series on Easter weekend.

- Sam.

Abergavenny Handicap. (6th March, 2000).

I've had the following message emailed to me :

"The CC Abergavenny Handicap Road Race on Saturday 18th March is in danger of being cancelled as there are currently only ten entries to date. If anyone would like to enter this race please contact by Monday: Bill or Brenda Owen 01873 840530"

I have just phoned Brenda Owen and said that she can count on definitely 5 from JIF and probably a couple more. Any of you "Handicap Virgins" may not realise it but these races are probably the most fun you can have on 2 wheels, barring falling in Llancarfan Fjord (it was really deep!, honest). You get a chance to race against your peers, for a little while, on a very flattish safe course and then you can sample the delight of the impending arrival of the scratch group who then proceed to demonstrate to you all the shortcomings of your winter training program.....!!

Get those entries in and/or ring Bill or Brenda who put a lot of effort into putting these races on.

- Del.

ps Phil Walker and Pembs Velo, get up to Abergavenny for a pasting from the JIF boys.

pps Come on you Port Talbot vets, its all very well in the Presidents where you "fix" the handicap, come and do a real handicap.

ppps The above 2 comments are meant in a jugular vein.......sorry, jocular......!

pppps Weren't the last 2 handicaps won by JIF boys..................??!

Track cancelled tonight. (14th Feb, 2000).

Due to the trench that has been excavated across almost the entire width of the Maindy track, the race tonight has been cancelled. Next week should be back to normal.

Does anyone have the telephone number of Jeremy Rees, Swansea Wheelers ? He has been a regular attender and I don't want him making a wasted journey. Can anyone out there email me if you have it. Thanks.

- Del Delaronde.

PS 1. Get your entry in for the First Blood RR, 27th Feb.

PS 2. Cardiff Ajax have their 100 miler next Sunday from Maindy. Not sure about the time, probably 0900hrs.

Malc not homeless anymore.

Malcolm has sequestered a place on Steve Whitcombe's (sp?) floor.

Ran seen off.

(28th August) On Saturday evening Ran was given a top send off by JIF and friends. Almost everyone turned up initially to the Crwys, and the hardcore drinking crowd (in August? - bloody short season wasn't it?) continued on into town and the night.

Ran is off to Birmingham with work, and naturally we wish him the best and hope to see him in the near future.

Esposti 2nd.

On the 1st August in the Premier Calender event the Ecclesiastial Life, Tour of the Cotswolds friend of JIF, Paul Esposti, and Team Men's Health had a fantastic race. Esposti was second to John Tanner, who recently became National champion, by a bike length on the grass sprint finish after 119 of the hilliest miles in the calender. Team Men's Health also won the team prize, giving them over £600 to take home between them.

I don't have all the details of the race as I was marshalling the event for my old club, Severn Valley CRC, and missed out on all the interesting stuff (it's a huge course). Look back in the Cycling Weeklies to the start of August for a comprehensive race report.

It pissed it down at the prize giving, so I guess Matt Beckett was cowering out of the rain somewhere and missed out on the photos. I think he finished 22nd, and was just inside the prize money.

Malc homeless.

Malc has emailed me saying that he's gonna be made homeless in a couple of weeks time (as of September 5th). Can anyone help him out? His phone and PC will be down soon so contact him via the shop or click here if you can lend him your floor for two weeks.

Sirhowy Park race.

The JIF mountain bike race at Sirhowy Park went reasonably smoothly on Sunday 20th June, so thanks to the few who took part and to those who helped out. Cheers also to the organiser Gumby - who looked like he wanted to tear his hair out at some points :) Same time next year Dave?

The next JIF event is, I believe, the National Welsh Criterium Championships, which Stu Meek won last year. Maximum participation required.

Dave's tongue in Del's cheek.

Congratulations turned out to be premature for leading JIF vet Del Delaronde when he won the Llandow crit on Tuesday. He led the race from the gun

and was going well until he overtook the commissaire's car.

This led to an inspection of his bicycle at the end of the race. It was found to have 4 wheels, full fairing and engine. He was wearing a helmet and the bike had two brake levers, bike computer, disc brakes, adjustable saddle and bars. However, he was disqualified on the grounds that the wheels were not regulation 700c size. He commented, "Damn, I thought I had it! Maybe next week I'll get the regulation wheels." (Dude, this is pretty *@~#ed up right here - Sam).

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