I cannot believe that we are already into April: where is this year going. We had the Jock Wadley on 10^th March, which was a great success and we must say a huge thank you to Nick Swainston and all the team who helped to make it such a success.

Colchester Rovers Monthly Newsletter issue 2 – April 2024

Last week we saw the 2^nd of our Thursday nights at Northern Gateway with VCR; again a really good start with over 35 riders taking part. We also had the first of our TT starting with a 10 on the Layer circuit. The TT races will now run until October and all the dates can be found on our website. Why not come along and give it a try. We must also say a huge thank you to Matt Haigh and all his helpers who put on a very successful Open 10 on Sunday 7^th April, Well done Matt and thank you to all who helped.

Reliability Ride – Sunday 21^st April

This Sunday we have our Reliability Ride taking place leaving from Great Bromley village hall. Please feel free to come along and cheer on the riders and enjoy a cup of coffee/tea and cake.

Youth News

This Thursday 18^th April sees the start of our youth Circuit /Road sessions at Northern Gateway. I have also included the dates for the Grass Track at Shrub End and Mountain Bike (Muddy Monster)

There will be 6 sessions using the 1000m circuit aimed at U12 and U14 riders (age 10-14):

• Thursday 18^th Apr (6-7pm)
• Thursday 25^th Apr (6-7pm)
• Thursday 2^nd May (6-7pm)
• Thursday 9^th May (6-7pm)
• Thursday 16^th May (6-7pm)
• Thursday 23^rd May (6-7pm)

Ixworth Crits (Youth A – E) – Monday 6^th May

Grass Track

6 sessions after half term at Shrub End aimed at all Youth riders:

• Monday 13^th May
• Monday 20^th May
• Monday 3^rd June
• Monday 10^th June
• Monday 17^th June
• Monday 24^th June

CRCC Open Event (at Shrub End) – Sunday 30^th June (ECCA Chapionship)

Plumesgate CC Grass Track – Sunday 7^th July

Spalding CC Grass Track – Saturday 7^th September

Mountain Bike

Series of 3 ’Muddy Monster’ races at Colchester Northern Gateway aimed at U8, U10 and U12 riders (age up to 12):

• Saturday 6^thJuly
• Saturday 13^th July
• Saturday 20^th July

Travers Round 1 – Sunday 14^th April

Travers Round 2 – Sunday 28^th April

Travers Round 3 – Sunday 19^th May

Travers Round 4 – Sunday 9^th June

Travers Round 5 – Sunday 23^rd June

Travers Round 6 – Sunday 7^th July

Future events

This Thursday 18^th April will see the start of our Club nights at Northern Gateway 8pm – 9pm. These will take place every 3^rd Thursday of the month. Please come along and have a coffee/tea with your fellow members and for those of you that are riding the circuit with VCR please come and join us afterwards. I am sure you will be grateful for the cup of coffee/tea.

July 20/21 The Dunwich Dynamo

I know that some of you have already entered the Dunwich Dynamo which will take place on 20/21^st July. For those of you thinking about it or would like further information please see the link below.

https://www.dunwichdynamo.co.uk/

General News

I received an email from Tony Meader with regard to a series of races being held at the Redbridge Cycling Centre. Below is a copy of Tony’s email together with a flyer. If you are interested in taking part please contact Tony for further details.

Dear Chairman

I am contacting you to introduce a series of eight mid-week criterium races for Masters athletes at the Redbridge Cycling Centre. I hope you can forward this email on to your members or post on your website?

These races are held under the rules of British Masters Cycle Racing (BMCR), which is a racing organisation for female and male racers over 40 years of age. This series will take place on alternating Thursday evenings (7pm starts) from the 9th May, running well into August. Full details of the events can be found on Riderhq. Over the course of the series a variety of the circuits will be used, including the full circuit.

The first of these events on the 9th May will incorporate championships for riders in ECCA member clubs. Masters athletes are categorized into 5 year age bands and there will be awards for the best ECCA qualifier in each age band, both men and women.

There is no pre-entry to these races, just turn up with £15 cash, but you will need a BMCR racing license.  You can join the BMCR here.  The cost of the license is £28 is and there is plenty of BMCR racing throughout the year so it is good value for money.

The BMCR offer a year-round programme of road, circuit, track and gravel races – around 150 races per year. They also hold championships for members in cyclo-cross, mountain bike and time trial (TT is road bikes only).

Tony

M: 07519 153981

Margaret Hargreaves

Chairman