Welwyn Wheelers Club Championships

As with most cycling clubs Welwyn Wheelers runs a number of club championships during the course of a year (see the Club Champions menu for recent winners).

Club 10 Mile Time Trial Series

Held every Tuesday from May to the second week in August, the 10-mile series is decided on the basis of overall placing in your best six rides of the year. Points are scored by the first 35 riders to finish each event, where there is equality of points at the end of the series the competition is decided on count back (the riders’ seventh best result, eighth best result etc. until a clear winner emerges).

Within the competition there are prizes for the best Youth rider, best Female rider and best Novice (a person who has not previously raced).  In the event of one rider winning in more than one category, the situation will be considered by the Committee, however usually the winner will take the trophy judged to be of higher ‘rank’ and the second placed rider within the category will then take the next trophy (for example if a youth rider wins the series overall they will take the overall prize, while the second placed youth will take the trophy for best youth rider).

Club 25 Mile Time Trial Championship 

The club designates an event that acts as the club championship, although in fact it will usually be promoted by one of the two associations to which the club is affiliated. The chosen event is generally held in late September to avoid clashes with other important races and the date is published in the Newsletter, on the website and members are also notified about the event by the Race Coordinators. There is a club handicap 25 Trophy as well as an overall prize, allowing improving riders to obtain recognition of their achievement.

Fastest 25 of the year

Awarded to the fastest rider of the year in any 25-mile open or association time trial.

Club 50 Mile Time Trial Championship

This Championship was formerly run in a nominated open or association event, however a packed season and multiple clashes resulted. Consequently this Championship is now decided on the basis of the fastest rider of the year in any 50-mile open or association time trial.

Club 100 Mile Time Trial Championship

Awarded to the rider with the fastest time in any 100-mile open or association event.

Club Best All Rounder

This competition is for the rider with the best average speed over a range of events; proof of all round ability and consistency. The Senior Championship is decided over 25, 50 and 100 miles, all of which must be open or association events. The Junior Championship (which is also open to Youths) is decided by the fastest two 10 mile time trials (WW club events, open or association races) and the fastest two 25 mile time trials (open or association events only) of the year.

Please note that for all Welwyn Wheelers time trial championships of 25 miles or less, youth riders may contest the junior and senior events on an equal footing with older members of the club.

Road Race Championship

There are separate championships for juniors and seniors; both categories are decided on the basis of the best five places achieved by the rider in British Cycling road races or circuit races.

Are you this year’s Champion?

Please note that in order to be considered for the road race championships, fastest 25 of the year, club 100 and club BAR it is necessary to provide the Club Secretary with your counting results no later than 31st October in order to be considered. Results should be submitted in writing (by post or e-mail) and must include, your times, the dates of the events, name of the promoting club and the course or venue used for the event.

Track Championships

The Senior Track Championship is a composite event decided on the basis of points awarded for places gained in the following events – scratch races in Welwyn Track League, the Regional 10-mile Scratch Race Championship, the Regional Pursuit Championship and the Sprint. The Sprint Championship forms an element of the overall Track Championship and is also a separate Championship in it’s own right. 

Youth Track Championships are decided on the basis of rider’s places in the Regional Track Championships.

Speed Judging

A contest to where riders use their skill and judgement to try and ride a circuit twice at the same speed. All watches, mobile ‘phones and bike computers are banned, riders tackle the circuit in one direction, stop for a while and then take the circuit in the opposite direction, to add to the difficulty of the task. The rider (or team of two) with the smallest time gap between circuits is the winner. The Speed Judging competition is usually held in October or early November in conjunction with a club run. Please check for further details. 

Freewheeling 

Usually held on the same day as the Speed Judging contest, the freewheeling competition is a simple trial of skill in this element of cycling. All riders disable their bikes to prevent pedalling by wrapping tape round one chain-stay, they then proceed down hill as far as possible, the winner is the rider travelling the furthest with unbroken tape.

Treasure Hunt

The Treasure Hunt is a fun event and usually takes place on the last Sunday club run prior to Xmas. Two formats have been used  - either an on-road event intended to test of map reading ability, observation and speed judging, with time penalties are allocated to late finishers. Alternatively, the event may be run as an off-road event run as a ‘Hare and Hounds’ on a handicap basis with a shorter route for the youngest riders. In either case a small prize is awarded at the café stop where the event finishes.

Support for either format will be assessed by Club Runs Secretary in the lead-up to the event and details notified to members prior to the event.

Revised October 2007