We are delighted at the moment to have Julie Hooper return to the UK and ride with us this weekend, for the first time in 20 years. Julie was an incredible club member before she moved to Australia 20 years or so ago, and is one of our Life Members.
Julie is a huge inspiration for many of us at the club, and here is a piece taken from Mornington Peninsula News in Australia, which sums up why she is so important to us.
FIVE years ago, Julie Hooper’s life changed in a split second, as her body was crushed by a sweeper truck that had rolled out of control.
In a coma for two weeks, Hooper woke to doctors telling her she was lucky to be alive, but that with a snapped collar bone, broken ribs and vertebrae, some brain damage plus a pelvis smashed in six places, the then 45-year-old had a long journey of recovery ahead of her.
Now, at the age of 50, Hooper has just won the road race and the time trial in the recent Women’s National Paralympics C5 Challenge, amazing medical staff, her family and mostly herself.
Hooper basically had to learn to walk again after her accident, but was so determined to get her strength and fitness back that she returned to her childhood sport of cycling.
She still has no sensation in her right leg, and thus rides competitively in the C4-5 sections, which includes riders whose coordination is affected to a low level on one side or in the legs, moderately in one leg or the absence of limbs. Showing true grit and battling constant pain and road-related PTSD. Hooper is determined to keep pursuing sporting success, and is currently in training for the Virtus Oceania Asia Games 2023 in March in Brisbane, where she will compete against elite athletes from all over the world.
Because of nerve damage, Hopper has to have her right leg clamped to the bike, and has twice-weekly physiotherapy sessions to keep her body working properly, as well as sessions with a strength and conditioning coach five times a week to try to get the wasted muscles working again.
Abut, as far as Hooper sees it, she had two choices after the accident – either wallow on the sofa in pain, or endure the pain, try to have fun and enjoy life.
Julie with our club president, Mr John Hatfield.
This was special to witness as neither John nor Julie could control their emotions as they embraced. John is Julie’s former coach and long term friend.
John along with another club legend Mr Tony Carpenter, are for sure, a pivotal part of Julie’s love for cycling and instrumental in her racing pedigree.
HARDMAN HARRIS SHRUGS OFF DISLOCATED THUMB TO FINISH WORLD CHAMPS
Cwmcarn Paragon talisman Richie Harris finished a brave 63rd in his age category at the UCI World Championship Masters Gran Fondo Road Race in Scotland – despite badly dislocating a thumb in a crash.
He said: “Thanks everyone for support. All in all a great day with some highs & lows on a brilliant course with stunning vistas.
“I came down hard in a crash caused by some clown and dislocated my thumb badly. I put it back in and subsequently struggled up the hardest climb riding one-handed so was dropped from the front group.
“The plus side was riding with Vino (London Olympic road race gold medalist Alexandr Vinokurov) full gas for 35km, the crowds & it stayed dry!”
Richie also send his gratitude and congratulations to Neil Lewis and Kev Blake.
Congratulations Richie, continuing to do yourself and the club proud.
Sisters Jess and Daisy Duffield took on a 5 day stage race the European Junior Cycling Tour Assen (The Jeugdtour) in Holland this week. The race itself consisted of a prologue, Criterium, Points race, Time Trial & another Criterium. This race is about as serious as kids cycle racing gets.
Stage 1: Prologue The conditions were wet around the tarmac/cobblestone loop around the village. It was cool to have a proper start ramp. Jess was 8th overall (3rd girl), whilst Daisy finished 9th overall (5th girl)
Stage 2: Criterium Emmen Circuit race with alternate sprints for the green jersey on the finish line and the white jersey on the climb. Both girls worked hard, Jess worked a bit too hard during the race and had nothing left for the final sprint, but was a great experience. Daisy 5th overall, 3rd girl Jess 15th overall (bunch sprint), 5th girl
Stage 3: Points race in Assen Sprint laps for points towards the green jersey today. Jess had 4 sprints over 12 laps, and scored points in every sprint, finishing 6th overall and 1st girl Daisy had three sprints over six laps, and scored points in every sprint, finishing 8th overall and 4th girl. No time changes today so no changes in GC.
This was Daisy’s first Points race and first experience of close bunch sprints. Lucky with the weather again, several heavy rain showers during the day but not during the girls’ races. Between the two races we did a sighting lap of Stage 5 for Friday, bumpy cobbles and tarmac sections under the trees.
Stage 4: Time Trial Jess’s category had 6km on the flat followed by a short hill climb of 16% gradient. Jess had a storming ride and finished in 5th place overall (8 seconds behind the winner), first girl to finish, 29 seconds in front of the next placed girl. Jess has jumped up from 3rd girl in GC to first girl. Daisy’s category had 2.1km on the flat. She did a good job into the headwind and finished 4th girl. It was so nice to have a dry day, and the sun came out!
All to play for tomorrow in the final stage- a Crit race with cobbles.
Stage 5: Criterium Asserbos Jess was stoked to race in the pink jersey today, and felt strong and won the stage overall. Daisy did a great job and finished 2nd girl today, her highest finish.
Final standings: Jess: 5th overall GC, 1st girl, 8th in the Green points classification (2nd girl), 7th in the White special classification (1st girl). Daisy: 7th overall GC, 4th girl, 4th in the Green points classification (2nd girl), 8th in the White special classification (4th girl).
Jess and Daisy have had a great time here and enjoyed the racing. Great to have another dry day
Congratulations Jess and Daisy, you have truly done the club, and more importantly yourselves proud. Congratulations.
CWMCARN PARAGON / CARDIFF AJAX TT NOTICE – It is with huge regret to bring you this news, but the A467 which is a big part of our 10 mile TT course is currently having roadworks. There is now a contraflow system in place to enable these major roadworks to begin and regrettably, it is currently impossible to hold TTs.
It is expected for these roadworks to last at least 10 weeks, and possibly the rest of the TT season.
We will continue to assess the situation and, if/when it changes, we will update you.
Thank you for your support during the hugely successful TTs we were able to stage.
We would very much like to thank our incredible volunteers, for making this event fantastic, in which we have received so much positive feedback, THANK YOU.
