Newsletter - April 2001

  Club Time Trial Race Information

The Ythan CC confined 10 mile Time Trials start on Tuesday 10th April 2001 at 6-30pm and will take place every fortnight until Tuesday 28th August 2001. The course has been slightly modified due to the closure of JRD's and the building of flats right on the finish line.

We will meet as normal in the Mace carpark in Auchterellon but all cars must be parked at the lower part of the carpark as the shop will still be open.

Details of the modified course are as follows: Start at fire hydrant opposite Ellonlea (after 2nd entrance to Esslemont circle). Proceed west on Tarves road to gate 130 yards before the bridge leading to Mains of Haddo. (There is a bent tree on the left overhanging the road and a gate on the right just at the turn). Turn on road and retrace to finish at Ellonlea. There is only room for 1 car to be parked at Ellonlea for the timekeeper and obviously the access road up to the houses will have to be kept clear.

Permission has been obtained from the owner of Ellonlea to park one car at the road end, and from the manager of the Mace for us to park in the lower car park. Please make sure that we do not abuse the generosity of these people.

  Ythan CC Open Events

The Hilly 20TT takes place on Sunday 22nd April at 11am. Please note that the time in the handbook is WRONG. The correct start time is 11am.

This race is open to all clubs and starts at the Ellon trim course taking in a hilly circular route back to Auchterellon.

Please make sure your entries are in by the closing date of 14th April as Graham is working away from home at the moment and will not be able to accept late entries. For more details contact Graham Ward, 49 Eilean Rise, Ellon, 01358 724192.

The Pitmedden 10TT takes place on May 13th at 10am, starting at Pitmedden School car park. Cheques to organiser by May 7th. Contact Dave Carnegie, 16 Brentfield Circle, Ellon, 01358 725037.

Ellon-Methlick 56-mile Road Race takes place on June 2nd at 11.00am, starting at the community centre in Ellon. Cheques to organiser by May 26th. Contact Graham Gerrard 25 Brentfield Circle, Ellon, 01358 721599.

Remember your stamped self addressed envelope!

  Helpers Required!

Ythan Cycle Club and Aberdeen & District require helpers, especially for Road Races. If you can help, please contact the Organiser of the event you would like to help at.

Flora has volunteered to help with the Aberdeen & District races but requires a lift. Contact Flora if you can help.

  Sunday Morning Runs

Remember the Sunday morning runs have changed to their summer start time of 9am.

  For Sale

Eddie Merkxx frame, 21" (54cm), Columbus SLX tubing, ITM bars and stem, Look pedals, Campag equipment. Complete bike but requires rear wheel. Very good condition. £125 o.n.o.

Contact Andy Turner on 01358 724254.

  Committee Meeting Dates

Dates have now been set for this year's committee meetings:

Members are invited to attend to share their opinions and views!

  Aberdeen & District Evening League

Aberdeen District are organising an Evening League for 2001. The events are:

Entry Fee is £2.00 per event, or £10 for series. Entries should be sent to Mike Brown, the organiser 7 days before event, but entries on line will be accepted. Contact: Mike Brown, The Pines, Garlogie, Skene, Aberdeenshire AB32 2TN.

  Program for Pedalling Progress

Ross Henderson has given us the update on his cycling database program:

"Just to let you know that the cycling database program can now be previewed on the web. The address is www.softwarepeddlers.com. Have a look.... Since I last demonstrated it last year, I have re-written it in Visual Basic, which I find is a much more powerful language than Access. At present it is only a single user program, but I will be extending it so that several users can store their results on it, so it would be good for clubs and societies. If you have any suggestions/comments etc please let me know." Ross can be contacted on: 01224 706914.

  Position Vacant

Rancho Ferrer (a riding centre for horses and mountain bikes) in Spain are looking for a guide/ manager. This is a permanent position involving mountain biking most days. See www.ranchoferrer.com for more details.

  Foot & Mouth Ban Lifted

The SCU cancelled all competitive cycling events in March due to the Foot & Mouth disease outbreak. However, as the outbreak seems to be confined to Dumfries and Galloway, restrictions have been lifted from 2nd April.

The SCU are lifting the ban on competitive cycling on the road as long as certain common sense rules are applied. these are as follows:

1. Farmers and people living on farmland should be discouraged from entering.
2. Lay Byes at the side of roads passing through farmland should not be used as event headquarters car parks.
3. Events should not go through farms or farm buildings.
4. Organisers should contact their Animal Health Office to confirm if F & M conditions in the event area.
5. All riders and officials should react sympathetically if confronted by a farmer.

The ban on off road events, i.e. cross country and down hill mountain biking, cyclocross etc still applies until further notice. The SCU are presently trying to locate other suitable courses.

Risk areas in Scotland are classified as follows: Dumfries & Galloway HIGH, areas above the Forth and Clyde LOW, and other areas MEDIUM.

Our local Animal Health Office is:
Animal Health Office,
Thainstone House,
Inverurie AB51 5YA
Tel 01467 626300
Night Line 07000 780127
Fax 01467 626300
Email inverurie@vfis.maff.gsi.gov.uk

  It's For Charidee, mate!

The National Kidney Research Fund are looking for people to pedal from the Blackpool Tower to the Eiffel Tower in September. Phone 0800 783 2973.

REGAIN, the charity dedicated to sports tetraplegics, is organising a bike ride in Egypt in November. They are also looking for teams of four to compete in the Snowdonia challenge; cycling, climbing and canoeing in July. For both events contact: 01590 612227.

  Congratulations...

...to Ross Henderson and his girlfriend Becky, who have become engaged. (Colin reckons this should slow him down a bit!)

  Ythan CC recruits junior members

Benjamin Mark Hart born 8 Nov 2000 at ARI weighing 9lbs (son of Sam & Bill Hart). Suzanne Ashley Adam born 11 July 2000 at Peterhead Hospital weighing 9lbs 1oz (daughter of Lorna & Mark Adam). Duncan Stewart Cooper born 9 March 2001 at Peterhead Hospital weighing 6lbs half oz (son of Malcolm & Kay Cooper). Lisa Bond born 9 August 2000 at ARI weighing 7lb 7oz. (daughter of Alan & Kathy Bond). Congratulations to all the happy parents!

  Committee 2001-02

At the AGM Graham Gerrard announced that he had received resignations from Colin Allanach as President due to work pressure, and from Graham Ward as he is now working in Edinburgh. Graham recorded the club's appreciation of the work that Colin had put in and the excellent Newsletter he had produced over the last few years, and to Graham for organising the confined 10s. The members approved and showed their appreciation.

The members elected the committee for 2001-2002:

It was agreed that Pat Flanagan should continue to be schools liason officer. This was announced last year, but now requires to be formally put in place, as the members would like to see the club make a more determined effort to recruit new junior/ youth members.

  Next Newsletter

Any race reports, items for sale, tips, general chit-chat for inclusion in the next Newsletter should be sent to Linda Milne.