Ray Kelly (Willesden Cycling Club) has been awarded British Cycling’s regional badge of honour for his services to cycle racing and cycle coaching.

Kelly received his reward from British Cycling’s Central Region Chairman, Kelvin Hoy at the lunch meeting of the Pedal Club in London on May 17^th.

As a British Cycling commissaire and judge, Kelly has contributed to Central Region road races, the Hillingdon Cycle Circuit, the former Paddington Track (1980’s) and the Surrey Road Racing League.

He was a contributing member of the team that developed the use of the unfinished Hayes By-Pass for closed road racing in the 90’s. Kelly started youth coaching there as part of the Prime Coaching team.

He was also key member on the Minet Park development team, which built and ran the Hillingdon Cycle Circuit which opened in 1999.

His passion for coaching youngsters saw him become a British Cycling Go-Ride coach in the noughties, visiting inner London schools and inspiring boys and girls to ride bikes.

Ray was delighted to receive his award in London. “It was an amazing day and so unexpected,” said Kelly: “I’m so glad I had so many of my friends around when I received my award.”

Kelly was accompanied to the lunch by his son Chris and daughter Samantha and a number of Willesden CC members.

For the time being the club run organisation has moved to a more informal and ad-hoc basis using the “WCC Club Runs” group on Whatsapp.

If you would like to be added to this group, then please send an email to me at  –

willesdencyclingclub@yahoo.co.uk

The power of Whatsapp rather plays to my disorganised side. So it was dead easy for me to send out a very late “Club-run” call on Saturday night, to see who was up for a ride the following morning.

So it was that four of us gathered at one of our usual haunts, this time Windsor End in Beaconsfield for a ride over to the Farm Cafe near Wokingham. When we arrived at the cafe, we found it was very busy and we were very politely and apologetically informed that cooked orders would take over 50 minutes. Our food arrived after a couple of rounds of coffee and lots of interesting chatter. Our meals were well prepared and presented, which we enjoyed with the keen appetite developed on the ride and by the wait.

The new nature of club runs organisation makes life a bit more flexible in that we can, within reason, change the destination and route according the preferences of who ever turns up.

“Miles Back”

A small but colourful Willesden gathering

Just to let you know that we have a new design jersey available to order. The kit is made by Kalas for us. If you are interested in ordering anything, please contact Gerry McManus. We have a minimum order of only 5 items mixed, so you may have to wait a little until we can combine a couple of orders together. Any size available. Different cuts on jerseys / tops for women.

“Glory Ride” is a musical about the famous Italian cyclist Gino Bartali, who won the Giro d’Italia three times (in 1936, 1937 and 1946) and the Tour de France twice (in 1938 and 1948). Until recently very little was known about his role in saving the lives of the persecuted minorities and refugees, many of whom were children.

The main Willesden peloton are planning to do the “Glory Ride” en mass sometime in July. However,  a small “Stage” breakaway group formed, mainly fuelled by cheap tickets, to take the Charing Cross stage last Friday night!

It is good to see another play about cycling making its stage debut.  “Glory Ride” is a musical that focuses on Gino Bartoli’s help in saving the lives of the persecuted, using his fame as a Grand Tour winner to ride unchallenged, whilst conveying key documents to the resistance and even to smuggle small children out of Italy. Despite the serious nature of the subject, the production has managed to include some comic scenes as well as portraying what everyday life was like living under a Mussolini dictatorship.

Miles Back

Breakaway Riders

With members currently being uncommitted to a regular club run from Denham, we suggest that members of the WCC Club Run WhatsApp group, post up the advance information about their intended start point and ride destination so that other members can join in. This will then become the club run for the week.

These 10-mile events are back at the circuit on Wednesday evenings from 10th May to August 30th 2023. You can’t enter on the night but the on-line link to book is on their web page.

Click Here

The Tour De Ricky – 50, 100 and 200km events on 3 June

We’re running these events for the second year running and it’s turning into a mini-festival of cycling to coincide with World Bicycle Day. The three routes take riders into the Chilterns and crucially place a greater emphasis on cake rather than kudos! They attract a lot of people who are new to audax riding and the promise of a chilled out ride and a brewery finish seem to generate a lot of interest. Full details at www.tourdericky.uk

If you can’t ride and want to volunteer to help on the day please contact Liam Fitzpatrick.

Anne Mograby has organised this event again this year. It starts and finishes at Jenners Cafe at Boulters Lock, Maidenhead. Full details on the link below.

It is now also the John Tipping Memorial Ride.

A great chance to meet up with everyone for a ride and coffee in this 62km event.

Kaf to Kaf

There’s also a 110 km version called Tippy’s 10 Bridges

10 Bridges

First club ride of the year is on Sunday 15th January. There’s a big Willesden posse doing the Westerley Winter Warmer.  100km, 60km and 40km from  Chalfont St Giles (changed venue!). So suitable for everyone from racing snake to on the portly side.

nb Entries close 3:59pm Sunday 8th. See http://www.westerley.cc/westerley-winter-warmer-2022/

Willesden’s annual cycling event, was Reliability, now Chiltern Arrow, has been moved permanently to late summer since in 2021 such a good time was had by all. It will be taking place on Sunday 11th September. 50km and 100km rides from Chalfont St Peter. Current Willesden members enter for free, £11 for other riders. Catering included.

If you are a member but not riding the event is a great chance to meet up with other members and the club will be delighted to see you on the day.

I will email members with details of how to enter for free soonish.

Fuller details and online entry at https://willesdencc.co.uk/willesden-ccs-chiltern-arrow/

The following email has just been received from BC…

From: Lucie Gallen 
Subject: Training course for accredited marshals in Central Region

Evening all!

First of all I want to wish you all a happy new year. I do hope you’ve managed to enjoy the festive season while avoiding the other C-word. 

While the race calendar is gradually taking shape, I’m writing to ask for your help. Mark Doel has managed to get two courses for accredited marshal training approved to bolster our ranks with a third one lined up. The first course is scheduled for Sunday, 16th January at Hillingdon (start 11 a.m.) with the second on 12th Feb at Abingdon.

(More info https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/accreditedmarshal?c=EN)

Anyway, what I want to ask you if you could help spread the word by sharing this information and link with your respective clubs (if you are a member of one), and encourage anybody interested to step up.

Thanks very much for your assistance,

Lucie

I am afraid that I have to report the death of another of our Life members. Iris Sacker died last week just before her 93rd birthday. Iris was always helping out in the kitchen when the club held road races etc.

Her husband Ron has arranged the funeral for Wednesday January 13th at 11am at Breakspear Cremation.