Colchester Rovers Monthly Newsletter issue 4 – Aug 2024
This is now our 4th Newsletter and I hope that you are all enjoying hearing about what is going on. If you do have anything that you would like to share then please do not hesitate to contact me and I am more than happy to include it in our Newsletter.
Sportive – 20th October
We will be holding our annual Sportive on 20th October and once again Paul and Sandra will be organizing this. Please note the date and do try and come along and support the event.
Youth News
Simon and the Coaches have been doing some great work with the Youth holding sessions at Northern Gateway on the circuit. The sessions originally where for six weeks but due to demand Simon extended it to 12 weeks. The numbers have been great and it is well done to Simon/Coaches and all those who helped.
Sunday 1st September
Simon is organsing a series of races for the Youth . This will consist of 3 races for different age groups from 9am to 12.30pm. We have to say a very big thank you to Carl Day and Chris Douglas for arranging sponsorship for these races. It costs a lot to hire the circuit and we are extremely grateful to both Carl and Chris
Cyclo X
Simon ran weekly Cyclo X training sessions at Northern Gateway from Thursday 4th July, the numbers attending have been very good. Further training will take place from 7th September.
Grass Track
Grass Track got under way on Monday 13th May and ended with an hour’s grass track followed by a presentation on Monday 22nd July. The sessions have been well attended and it is a big thank to all involved.
Sunday 30th June saw our Grass Track meeting take place also at Shrub end which included the Open 400m National Championship and ECCA championships. I was pleased to be asked to present the prize’s and very proud that there were so many Rovers winners.
Future events
Club night
Thursday 15th August 8pm to 9pm Northern Gateway.
Members Meeting
This is a meeting for you to meet some Committee members and tell us what it is you would like from the club.
Friday 6th September 7pm – 10pm at Northern Gateway.
General News
We have a number of vacancies that have become available on our Committee. We are urgently looking for a General Secretary. If you would like to know more about what the job consists of then please contact Helen Arnold or myself. We are also looking to fill the role of Deputy Secretary this is a new role. Our Time Trial Secretary will be stepping down at the AGM. If you would be interested in this role please contact Nick Rowley for further information. We are also looking for a Club Ride Captain.
With that in mind your Club really does need you.
Mick Bond Race Update
Quite recently Kelly had the honor of looking into the background of Elspeth Knott’s wonderful successes. Kelly and Elspeth have written a piece and I am including it for you
I was being honest when I said I had no idea of how many medals I had won, competing for team GB. So, I had to look it up on the World Triathlon website!!!
I started to take part in duathlons, after watching my son Graeme compete for team GB in Geel. I did watch and cheer him on, but I also looked at the women competing and just decided that I could do that, and secretly thought, I could do it better!!
As more time is spent on the bike, l knew that element had to be improved. I joined Colchester Rovers and rode my mountain bike!! Then with huge encouragement from Geoff, Jim and Graeme and with a brand new bike frame, wheels borrowed from Ed at 5312, I started to get to grips with riding faster than a touring pace.
Cycling was actually easier for me, than running, which was my first love, I had been running since 1981. In 2001 I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I think the radiotherapy treatment had caused some damage to my right lung. Breathing, or rather gasping for oxygen, seemed to be easier on the bike
. 
The first event I qualified for was a Standard Duathlon in Corner Brook, Newfoundland in 2006, which luckily was in school holidays. Being a teacher curbed me from going to some of the championships. This first experience was amazing, not just the competing for the team, but also visiting the country. Who would have dreamt of seeing a caribou just yards away in the back garden of our rented house!
Graeme was also there competing as well. Kate, his partner joined us in the team in the following years in Gyor, Edinburgh, Rimini, Budapest, Concord, Nancy, Limerick and Ottawa. Graeme then became the GB team mechanic.
Travelling to events in places I would never have visited has been a huge part of the excitement and enjoyment, plus meeting and making friends with fellow competitors from all over the world. We have had some strange venues… Kalkar was at a nuclear power station that had never been commissioned!!
I have also taken part in some Sprint triathlons. I am not a swimmer to say the least. But I qualified and took part in 2013 in London Sprint tri, which was swimming in the Serpentine, following a similar course to the 2012 Olympic competition.
Then again after the Commonwealth games I took part in a sprint tri in Glasgow in 2018.
Standard Duathlon has always been my favourite event, 10k run, 40k on the bike and then a final 5k run. Jumping off the bike and running is not easy, and I know Kelly has seen me practising after evening 10s.
This year, I’m trying Sprint triathlons (5k run 20k bike, 2.5k run) as well as the Standard distance in European (Coimbra, Portugal) and World Championships (Townsville, Australia). I’m hoping that the shorter distance event might be better for my ageing legs.
I’m also keeping Jodi company at the World triathlon Championships in Torremolinos. Don’t feel at all confident about the swim, so I’ll be delighted to get my feet back on the ground, or on the pedals! So, it’s going to be a busy year.
Starts 34
1 dnf (hypothermia) in Alcobendas in Spain.
21 gold
5 silver
3 bronze.
As I put this together Elspeth had just competed in the European champs in Portugal and ran away with a Silver in the sprint and Gold in the standard.
Dunwich Dynamo
I would just like to say well done to all those who took part in the Dunwich Dynamo.
Christmas
I am organizing a get together on Thursday 12th December at the Cricketers in Fordham Heath. It will consist of a Christmas dinner either 2 courses or 3 courses. At the moment I do not have the menus but they should be with us by the end of September or Early October. The prices are likely to be 2 courses for £24.95 or 3 courses for £29.95.
We are limited on numbers 50 total so it will be on a first come basis. If you would like to attend please email me on mnhcycle@aol.com or telephone me on 07483 291983.
It is an evening event from 7pm
Northern Gateway Vehicle Height Restriction
I would like to take this opportunity to remind all our members that there is a vehicle height restriction at Northern Gateway. This comes into place after 8pm so please be careful when leaving.
Margaret Hargreaves
Chairman