My year with the clarion, 2013.

So much has happened in the year and added to that is the fact it has passed so quickly.

As usual my year starts with a will to lose weight for the coming year, as usual that resolution fails within a week.

The Christmas festivities are out of the way but the sense of relief is short lived as we now have to look to ‘Presentation Night’, Clubman of the Year, Guest of Honour, certificates for reliability, awards, medals etc.

The advent of social evenings for club members, introduction of ‘Book Night’ lend lease borrow, Fred’s fitness talks, a really positive move even if we have moved into the den of the traditional enemy for our events, the conservative club premises at Bradshaw. This was largely due to Bolton Council’s price hikes for community premises.

Presentation night, it was a pleasure to receive Peter Lickfold and his wife Val along with Bury clarion in our first joint venture. The night was off to a fantastic start with news of Simon Yates winning the World Points Championship, warm applause greeted the entry of John and Sue Yates, proud parents of Simon.

Easter Meet at Scarborough, the annual get together of all clarion sections, a great meet this time, just wish more of our members would attend. The big news this year was the National Clarion membership target for new members was well above expectations reaching some 1200 plus.

After Easter I was beset with what turned out to be a viral chest infection that turned my summer into a bit of a cycling misery, everything falling to bits beginning with the club ‘10’ championship event, not that I had any chance of winning, but the fact of complete loss of any sort of fitness had me worried. A worthy champion emerged in the shape of Dave Owen.

New members have made a huge contribution to the club this year, new look Sunday club rides, Saturday programme, Southport evening ten mile time trials participation. All this and an eagerness to get involved in distance events and sportives, such enthusiasm augers well for the club future.

Sad news did not escape the club, our presentation night guest of honour, Peter Lickfold passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. This was a blow to many northern cyclists, the huge numbers attending his funeral was testament to the sorrow felt at his passing.

There was successful participation in the club reliability events this year, the 100k, 150k, and the tough 200k, despite my viral infection I managed to complete all three, I was hugely reliant on my inhalers, drug abuse? Boy was I glad to see Bolton town hall on completion of the 200k ride. 

Highlights for me came with the eventual demise of my viral chest infection, use of the prescribed nebulisers and relievers no longer needed. I was able to partake in a few time trials, three ten mile events and the obligatory ‘combined clubs 25’. The very fact that I actually finished the 25 was for me a huge relief, it was a precursor to my 76^th birthday ride to Arnside for a hostel weekend. I could now feel comfortable about managing the ride there and back, it was a memorable weekend.

Throughout the year I have kept in touch with John Mann, despite medical setbacks John has battled through and achieved a desire to get back out on the road on his bike. John dedicated himself to getting fit to do so by non stop use of a set rollers, a lesson here to those who decry the use of indoor trainers. Rides to Lymm, Knutsford and Croston, all on nice summer days, were a huge achievement, at eighty three years old this was a fantastic outcome.

The year ended with the usual manic organising of the club Christmas ‘do’. The downhill competition that precedes the Christmas lunch was hugely popular and prayers for good weather were answered with a mainly mild dry day. £100 was raised for Bolton Hospice by the raffle, supported generously by Geoff and Yvonne Smith.

The day ended for a few of us with coffee at the barn, a soaking on the way to the Doffcocker Inn, and a healthy slaking of the thirst getting there. Good beer, good cheer, another good year and here’s wishing the club many more of them.

Finally the members should offer a vote of thanks to the committee, without them we would have no organisation, no club events and no club, but here’s to the members who have made this year a success and helped to secure the club’s future.