AudaxReport2009

SouthportCC Audax report 2009 and other dead big dead hard rides

2009 was the most successful year ever for SouthportCC in terms of Audax and long distance rides with the club places 8th in the AudaxUK league.

This years club Audax award went to Pete Gawthorne with 5500km covered in events; the second place went to Malclom Heathcote with 5000km, which is impressive as Malcolm works full time and spent 3 weeks touring in the Pyrenees with his 16 year old son. Pete and Malcolm both completed the Audax Super Randoneur series this year, and also rode the length of Hadrians Wall having pedalled to the start then home afterwards.

Annette Robinson and Diane Davies rode the lands End to John O’Groats in July over 11 days. They have both been regulars on the Saturday runs for a couple of years and gradually increased their mileage for the ride. Annette went on to ride solo coast to coast in September and completed the Horseshoe pass sportiff; Diane has since moved to Qatar. Geoff Lovelady completed the LEJOG on a more scenic route.

Allan Taylor rode the Etape d’ Tour, to celebrate the start of his 61st year, finishing the 116 mile ride by climbing the Ventoux in a creditable 9 hour, taking just under 3 hours to complete the final ascent in 36 deg temperatures. Allan did most of his training by riding 200km Audaxes at a rate of 2 per month and a 140 mile ride around Mallorca during the club holiday.

Karl Turner rode the Fred Whitton event in May, 112 miles around the lake district over Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Winlatter Hard Knott and Wyrnose in under 8 hours.

John Fewtrell and Ian Robinson rode a couple of Sportives including the winter Grasmere event in the Lake District as did Craig Middleton.

Five club members took part in the 2009 Mons-Chimay-Mons audax events on May Day. Having travelled to Hull by car to catch the overnight ferry they rode the 95 mile ride from Zeebruge to Mons the day before the event, 2600 riders took part in the ride.  After a rest day when Lenny spent the full day re-hydrating with our Belgian hosts, the gang rode back to Zeebruge to catch the overnight ferry home. (Click here for full report) Photos in Photo Galleries.

In addition to the usual gang of long distance riders Steve Duffell rode a couple of events. In the North West Passage ride held in February from Rochdale to Settle, Kirby Lonsdale, Scorton and back to Rochdale. Steve jumped onto Dave Hilton’s wheel in a break along the Lune Valley only to regret this approaching Blackburn when he realised he had no idea where he was so had to hang on over the moors to Haslingden and the tough climb of ‘Owd Betts at Norden. In July as Steve rode towards Southport to join the riders heading to Penrith for the day, decided he was overdressed and nipped home to shed some clothes, while he was doing this he missed the passing riders, Bolton boys Dave and Lee, Allan etc. and chased all the way to the cafe in Penrith where he was told the others had left 10 minutes ago. Having shovelled some food down he resumed his chase over the Kirkstone Pass and can’t have been far behind as he decended to Windermere where he took the Kendal exit rather than the Bowness road. He returned home alone having covered 180 miles.

Peter Gawthorne and Terry Seanor spent 3 days in July at Thorne near Darlington assisting at the feed and sleep over station for the London Edinburgh London 1400km ride, our only club member participating was Damon Peacock.

The Bill Bradley rides organized by SouthportCC, although not Audax events, gave 90+ cyclists a chance to try some longer than usual rides and witness the undulating training routes in the Forest of Bowland used by Bill. Once again the popularity of the ride has brought some new members to the club. The event is scheduled to be repeated in 2010.

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