Page 61 - Issue 63_FINAL WEB normal_Neat

was already booked. We should again thank Nigel of the Pendle Forest club! 'Surprising' because
Clementson and the NLTTA for promoting this one. Richard has never previously won this award. He
had won 5 of the 8 qualifiers on standard, thus
One of the functions often unknown to many group
members is the attending of the National Prize giving him maximum points and being a very worthy
Presentation and AGM each year. Sue along with winner. Second in this competition – and as our
Barbara Bell represented our Group in Solihull in Recorder stated – ‘close on his heels’ came Dave
January this year. Amongst other items the meeting Hargreaves of the North Lancs. Road Club – just
included a presentation on the new Standards and one point behind. Dave had won the 3 events that
how they were calculated. This is available to all Richard didn’t win on standard so the two of them
members in the documents section of the website dominated our local events. Third place went to our
www.vtta.org.uk Ladies Champion for the second year running,
Debbie Moss of Team Merlin, after some excellent
Sue reported that our Group currently has 147 performances this year. Recorder Richard did
members comprising of 94 single members and 15 suggest that these results may show that the new
couples. There are also 23 members with either: standards may be providing fairer competition.
Distinguished Life Membership, Honorary Life
Membership or Life Membership. Membership Overall from our Group 11 riders completed the
renewals have been evenly split between payment minimum of 4 qualifying rides in our Group
on line and payment by post or at the AGM. Of the Championship with 48 riders riding in at least one of
new members joining this year 83% have joined on the events.
line. Sue requested that members check their Richard Bideau was also the winner of three other
details on line or otherwise to complete a championships after being best on standard at 25,
membership form just to confirm that we hold the 50 and 100 miles. He will once again have to
correct details for you. arrange a lift home - at least for his trophies - from
our luncheon in early January. It is quite normal for
The Treasurer’s report was presented on behalf of
joint treasurers Hazel and Bob Matthews. All was Richard to ride out and then home from our venue
shown to be good and topped off by kind donations which is at least 30 miles each way for him!
from 13 of our members whom we should thank. The Of the other trophy/shield winners newer members
subs had been increased to allow for the increase in David Rundall of Chorley CC takes the Crowther
the National fees. Our Group Recorder Richard said Shield for fifth on Standard in the 100 whilst Andy
that he had encouraged any non VTTA members Whiteside of Bella in Sella takes the award for
entering his events to join us and this has resulted in winning the 100 Handicap Baxter Rose Bowl and
several new members for our group this year. also the Ken Priestley 12 Hour Award. The Team
Shield goes to the Springfield Financial team of
Richard gave his Group Recorders Annual Report.
Shortening his very detailed version he started by Derek Parkinson, Paul Russell and Matt Stell.
saying that our Group had enjoyed another good year. The VTTA National 100 mile Championship held on
the increasingly popular Lake District course
We had promoted three successful events (Richard
being Event Secretary for all of them!) between Keswick and Cockermouth was fully
reported in the previous The Veteran, with our own
Under the heading ‘Standards’ Richard stated that it group members taking a good number of the main
had been the most successful year for standard awards. There will be another 100 promotion on
applications under his tenure. Only one rider out of that course in 2020.
the 24 applications did not file a winning claim.
Although he was not a big supporter of on line In 2019 no less than 26 group age records were
membership and standard applications Richard said surpassed with roughly half set on that Lake District
that not only have we seen an increase in new stretch of road and the rest on the famous Levens
active members but he had seen a vast number of 10 mile course. Our Debbie Moss of Team Merlin
successful standard chasers. had an excellent season re-setting five of those
records and is now the fastest woman ever in our
Under the heading ‘Group Championships’ Richard group over all five distances. Richard Bideau set
said that ‘surprisingly’ the winner of the Traders Cup four new records as did Paul Fleming and Sue
in 2019 had been none other than Richard Bideau

61