What a weekend of Cycling in the NE. First up was the Crit racing at Leazes Park on Fri night. It stayed dry and was great evening. To start the evening was the two kids races which were running late so had to cut them short but there was still some fantastic battles going on between riders. Next up was the local adults with nearly 70 starting and by a couple of laps the lapped riders were getting pulled out and there was also plenty retirements but again there was a fantastic sprint finish. After that was the Elite’s, they were just too fast ! There seemed to be a lot less spectatrors this year ! photos here – http://picasaweb.google.com/scotbrown1/LeazesCrits

On the Sunday it was the Cycle North East Festival at South Shields. It was a great set up and well organised but the weather was terrible and the event was not advertised but hope it grows in future years . Some photos are here – http://picasaweb.google.com/scotbrown1/CycleNorthEastFestival sorry we have no photos of Nutcracker 3 @ Dalby, just too many events to go to.

What a final to 4 days of 118th Richmond Meet 2010- Cycling. It started on Thursday night with the time trail then the very popular Sportive on the Saturday which always challenges even the best riders. Unfortuately the road race was cancelled on the Sunday but the Grass Track Racing at the Cricket Club was certainaly a goer on Bank Hol Monday. Some photos of the event are in the gallery http://picasaweb.google.com/scotbrown1/RichmondGrassTrackRacing

Results and photos etc are on Richmond site http://www.richmondcyclingclub.co.uk/events/

Well our Photographer & Co are home from the weekends action. I have heard the Saturday was very quiet but on the Sunday there was a few more spectators turned up. The crowd was not like the World Cup’s at Fort William or the atmosphere but was still a good weekend by all accounts, well apart from the people who got their bikes nicked !!

Check out a cracking selction of photos in the gallery http://picasaweb.google.com/scotbrown1/DalbyForestWorldXCCup

Well MTB XC has finally returned to the NE (well it was actually in Yorkshire) but it was a great day made by some great weather, I mean it did not rain. The Nut was cracked by many NECCL riders but the Cracker also cracked quite a few riders & machines come to that with plenty of punctures, snapped chains / mech hangers & rear mechs all biting the dust well it was more like thick mud that did it.

It satrated off very very wet and sticky mud for the first race but the wind and heat started to dry up the wooded sections for Race 2 and by the time Race 3 had started the course was even mostly rideable. Click on the gallery here http://picasaweb.google.com/scotbrown1/NutcrackerRd1Camphill  for a few pics of todays action at Camphill and Rd 2 is near Richmond somewhere.

 What a fantastic turnout for a great evening to finish the season. The turnout was greater than expected with well over 80 people travelling to Bowburn Hall Hotel on the night. We started with the meal which went down very well with most people taking the opportunity to have seconds then followed by a beautiful selection of desserts. That was then washed down with tea/coffee, apologies for the lack of mints this year it will be sorted for next year! Then the presentations started with Geoff Turner doing the houors of Presenting them all. That was then followed by the raffle which was great fun to end the evening. Many thanks to all the riders thanks  during and following the evening.  There are a few photos in the gallery as well of the evening.

NECCL

PRESENTATION DINNER

for 2009/2010 Season

BOWBURN HALL HOTEL

 Wednesday 24th February 2010 at 7.30 pm.

Reception at 7.00 pm.

The Hot Buffet Menu: 

¨      Lasagne + Garlic Bread

¨      Beef Curry

¨      Sweet & Sour Chicken

¨      Leek & Cheddar Cheese Pasta Bake

¨      Roast Potatoes

¨      Rice

¨      Mixed Salad

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¨      Selection of Desserts

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¨      Tea, Coffee and mints

Tickets are priced at £13 per person with Children under 13 years at £6.50

A ‘Kids Meal inc pudding’ at £5 for the younger ones.

Please contact Scot Brown –Tel: 07796 553213 with your requirements and your cheque (payable to NECCL) in full settlement 

Refunds cannot be given within 48 hours of the Dinner as numbers confirmed will have to be paid for.

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¨     CASH PRIZE to riders in Premier, Inter & Sportif League.

¨     Vet 40,50,60 / Lady / Jun / Team – Plaques 

¨     Specialist Cycles Trophy – Best improved rider Over 16 & Under 16. 

¨     Scot Brown – Trophy for best race / organiser. 

¨     TLI– Trophy for Best Helper over the series 

¨     Prize Raffle Draw 

¨     All U16/14 & U12/10/8/6 league finishers will receive a Framed Plaque & Prize Goodie Bag 

“ FREE PHOTO Table

Race Report

This a new venue for Cyclo X racing and there was plenty of riders (over 70 !) to take on the new mixed terrain. Well what a differnece 48hrs makes with all the snow melted and only patches of ice left where the sun never sees made the course rideable. The planned course had to be altered on the day as the all the melted snow had to go somewhere ! Alot of hard work had been put in on morning to get two courses set out and and safe to use.
The U12’s was mainly based around the BMX track area which they loved including a testing climb out the back. Matthew Worton took the houors today with Thomas Mein following on and Emma Brady taking 1st Girl.
Next up was the U16/14’s race which was the full Sen course so they had to work extra hard to burn off the Christmas chocs etc. Alex Hopper won with Joe Brown taking 2nd.
In the main race the going was tough on the bike / body and terrain finished off a few bikes and bodies but Tony Fawcett took the led from lap one and had a clear win over Darren Binks followed by Tony Glover. Rob Smith pulled up a few places to take 1st Vet. As for the Juniors it was a great battle from the start with Ian Lee just beating William Brown, they both had a fantastic race. Pam Glover took the Ladies win.
Many thanks must got to Tony/Pam Glover, John Mein, Jamie Brady, Alan Taylor and all the other helpers from Derwentside CC. A big thank you must also got to Whickham Thorns Centre / Gateshead Council for the use of the land / facilities on the day. We hope to return again next season.

Next Sun 24th Jan is the Grand Final at Hetton Lyons followed by the AGM

Photos are in the gallery

Results are in the Results section now

The week leading into Round 4 at Killingworth Lake was an organisers nightmare with strong winds, heavy rain, dark skies and a forecast scary as Halloween! Thankfully it was warm and dry on the day but it  was showing some signs of the effects of the weather, with a few soggy spots scattered across the length of the course sure to make the legs ache.  The course itself was yet another variation to test every rider including an altered direction and some testing off camber turns and short climbs.

In the Under 12s Matthew Worton made the very best of the shortened senior course making a break off the front and pulling out a gap to second place Angus Brown. Matthew held onto his first place to take the win with Angus claiming second and Nick McWhirter coming in a very respectable 3rd.

Activ Cycles’ Adam Martin dominated the U16/u14/Novice Lady pulling out all the stops and taking a well deserved top spot with Alex Hopper pushing hard coming in a fine second with Joe Brown chasing hard for second but ultimately settling for 3rd.

The Senior race had a 63 strong field and a great team presence, it was a real spectacle. When the whistle blew, to coin a phrase it really was a “cavalry charge” with everyone exploding off the start line and belting down the long straight fighting for the first bend.

Once the pace “settled” if you could call it that, Tony Fawcett stamped his authority on the race and began pulling away from a chasing pack that contained James Anderson (Picarsso Pulman), Tony Glover(Derwentside CC) and the two Hambleton RC boys Darren Binks and Steve Middleton.

Tony Fawcett however continued to stretch out his lead until the final two laps when James Anderson began to slowly pull the leader back but time was against him and Tony took the win.  Tony Glover came across the line in 3^rd followed by a great battle between Darren Binks and Steve Middleton seeing Darren taking the honours and coming in 4^th.

What a great day – big thanks to everyone that came, racers, spectators and organisers including Geoff Turner, Jason McCourt, Brian Bayne, Dave McLean and the boys from the Sage Cycle Club: Andy Palmer, Colin Edgar and Phil Healey who we expect to see racing shortly (no pressure!)