We are delighted for 3 of our wonderful women members, Helen, Becky and Lianne took part in the Welsh Hill Climb Championships up the iconic tumble today.
We are super proud to share that Helen won the Youth female category (WELSH CHAMPION ), Becky was 2nd in the Vet Women category, whilst Lianne finished 2nd senior woman.
Congratulations to the 3 of you, super proud and delighted for you all.
After a very wet build up to the race, along with some of the early races having rain, the sun came out. However, it was still very much a mud bath!
Huge thanks to all of our volunteers for making the day a success, this included having to rake the course after the grass was cut 2 WEEKS before the event. Every single volunteer was brilliant, thank you all. Biggest thanks though to event organisers Ross & Rowena Duffield, they have been working incredibly hard on this event for several months, and their commitment and dedication is absolutely superb. Special mention also to Paul and Doreen Duffield (Ross’s Parents) who both do so much behind the scenes, and help so very much at every single event, thank you both.
So, the club results for the day are:
Under 6 Boys:
Charlie Neary
Under 8 Boys:
Idris Aicheler – 11th
Under 10 Girls:
Daisy Duffield – 1st place
Under 10 Boys:
Thomas Richards – 3rd place
Macsen Harris – 5th
Abel Morgan – 11th
Louis-Victor Micu – 12th
George Harvey – 18th
Gabriel Secree – 21st
Conor Neary – 22nd
Under 14 Girls:
Jess Duffield – 1st Place
Under 14 Boys:
Archie Harvey – 10th
Under 16 Girls:
Helen Stevenson – 1st Place
Under 16 Boys:
Dillion Scott – 9th
Alexandru-Andrei Micu – 11th
Senior Women:
Amanda Neary – 8th
Vet 40 Women:
Rowena Duffield – 1st place
Vet 40 Men:
Mike Griffiths – 4th
David Godfrey – 10th
Ross Duffield – 24th
Vet 50 Men:
Ross Porter – 8th
Richard Lake – 21st
Darren Harris – 29th
Vet 60 Men:
Andrew Haines – 4th
Outstanding efforts by everyone, and a superb turnout for the club, thank you all.
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.
), Becky was 2nd in the Vet Women category, whilst Lianne finished 2nd senior woman.
