Boxing Day 10 - Monday, 26th
December. Result.

Last year it was icy, this year it was wet, in fact everyone got truly doused, and there was a rainbow to celebrate the occasion. The theme was french, Parisian really, and maybe it was a difficult one, there were no men dressed as women this year.

First back was Calum and his dad Ged, they were dressed like a french resistant fighter and Ged looked more like Salvador Dali, Ged caught Calum but they both beat a 40.

Next was Gil Foston dressed in what we all consider to be a french outfit, beret, black moustache, neckerchief and a striped vest. Difference with Gil is that he only has one leg now and his 39.39 stands as a one legged all-comers record in the club for 10 miles. It was definitely a good ride - but I would have booed at him for trying so hard. Lee Sampson was next back, dressed similarly to Gil but with a string of onions around his neck that meant he couldn't lean forward. With the fastest time up to now of 34 mins
he'd obviously been trying - he was on my bike and I doubt if it'll go as fast as that again (except downhill of course).

John Lockwood was in next, and fastest on the board just outside a 30, and I wonder if Lynne had not allowed him a drink and mince pie at the turn.

A few more tryers, Nathan and Lesley, John Galbraith and Mark Robby, all less than 40 minutes, and the the french cook, Ron Noz, set the time for the longmarkers with a brilliant 45. This then went to the other end as Paul Kilvo and Neil Clemminshaw, dressed in maillot jaune and maillor de l'arc en ciel, returned in 29.50, the only ones to beat the 20mph barrier, but only by riding as a two-up.

A few more under the 40 min bracket and then came the star of the show, straight from 'Allo 'Allo a very authentic looking Val Brabiner in fish net stockings, the lot. Don Wilkie then as another frenchie in beret, etc. and the tandem pair of burglars, John Weaden and his grand-daughter Mary on the flying pair of french nickers. (Who said they couldn't spell?)

Barry Trotter next as Lance Armstrong, or a Lance Armstrong fan in the tour de france, and finally Graeme Forester dressed as the biggest Toulouse Lautrec ever, although I thought he looked more like Topol (was he french?).
I said finally but not quite. In fact the timekeeper had disappeared before Brian Whitfield returned to the finish - he'd taken a wrong turning
somewhere. He's only been riding a bike for sixty years but he's still learning.

There's a lot of people to thank this year. Top of the list is Sheila who did most of the development work as well as at the event. Lee also stood in for me at the event and read out the result. Lynne Lockwood provides the refreshments every year and is a very welcome sight at the turn. Mike Frow put in an extra £10 to the kitty for the prizes. And lastly Roy Irwin who, for a number of years now, has provided the prizes which are given to those who put on their fancy dresses.

Val Brabiner was judged to be the best and most authentic and the race was won (from a ticket in a hat) by Mark Robinson. Second was John Weaden, third John Galbraith and fourth Brian Whitfield. Not bad going off course and finishing fourth.

 

Jim

Boxing Day 2005 Result.

Name	Time
Gil Foston	39.39
Ron Nozedar	45.24
Graeme Forester	48.26
Don Wilkinson	48.26
John Weeden/Grand-daughter	45.36
Val Brabiner	41.48
Barry Trotter	42.27
Lee Sampson	34.31
Liz Kilgour	39.14
Brian Whitfield	55.00
Mike Kilgour	36.14
John Galbraith	32.12
John Lockwood	30.32
Mark Robinson	31.48
Richard & Steve Guymer	31.20
Mick Adams	32.04
Velo Paul Kilvo Deux/Neil Cleminshaw	29.50
Nathan Chester/Lesley Jilbert	39.55
Calum McElwee	39.27
Ged McElwee	38.27
Tim Dalton	31.51

 

	Winners (from draw)
1	Mark Robinson
2	John Weeden
3	John Galbraith
4	Brian Whitfield
	Fancy Dress
	Val Brabiner, all the others where good prizes given to:
	Graeme, Ron, Ged, Calum, Don, Gil
	Steve, Richard, Barry, John W.
	Nathan & Lesley Jilbert