Post by Charliecod on Feb 26, 2018 20:02:46 GMT
The emergence of the daffodils means spring is coming and the Cross season is going, finally we have run out of races. There’s always a silver lining if you look hard enough, the first MTB races are upon us.
This has been a stellar CX season for Dulwich, with over 30 members racing in the London XC League we are now biggest Cross Club in the region. By sheer numbers the club has dominated several of the events in both the London and the fledgling East Kent leagues.
Not only quantity but quality too, Andy Pollentine opening the early season batting with some very respectable results including a 1st and 3rd in the Grand Vets, Olivia Campbell never finished much below 3rd place including several 1st’s finishing 3rd overall in the London Rankings. That Junior Titan Ed Davies rode all the leagues, consistently in the top 15 in the National series, top 3 in the London League and even higher with several wins in the East Kent League. Dave Rees took his time winding up his results but towards the end of the season was on flying form earning regular podium results, leading the Senor men in the East Kent league ranking and finishing a creditable 6th overall in the London League.
The London League ranking make pretty decent reading for the club, we have riders in the top 10 of almost all the categories raced.
The Dulwich promotion at Leeds Castle with over 450 riders racing on the day was reportedly the largest event ever in a London League, outstripping the usual local suspects by some margin. Seen as one of the toughest courses in the calendar, it has become a true marmite event, thankfully most riders like marmite. Well supported not only by racers from all clubs but visibly by Dulwich volunteers as well – who all deserve a huge round of thanks.
Now all this is all good stuff, the chairman should be a happy bunny, however the greatest result of the season was the emergence of such a strong team of 30 riders of all ages and abilities, each spurring and encouraging others on, look at Olivia’s video, you’ll understand what I mean.
The social climax of the season was of course the End of Season debrief, a serious event attended by 25 racers, who, after dinner were forced to sit an arduous exam on CX minutiae set by Prof Rees. This was followed by the award ceremony for those seriously contended prizes that cannot due to time trial constraints be given at the Club awards.
For the record the following prizes were awarded:
The Dirk Hoffman Award for Best contribution to the What’s App Group – Aidan Scully
The Café Paradou Award for Race Report Fiction – James Malone
The Conde Nast Vogue Award for Best Dressed Rider – Olivia Campbell
The John Prescott Award for Heckling – Dave Rees
The Phil Glowinski Award for Organisation – John Cox
and finally
The Good Housekeeping Readers Award for Rider of the season – Dylan Bexley
The sensible grown up awards will of course be presented on the Club Awards evening – to which you must all go.
Finally – a round of thanks to all those who have generously donated so much time, effort and sheer goodwill into this year’s season, I hope you have all got as much out of it as I have, roll on the start of the Summer series.
This has been a stellar CX season for Dulwich, with over 30 members racing in the London XC League we are now biggest Cross Club in the region. By sheer numbers the club has dominated several of the events in both the London and the fledgling East Kent leagues.
Not only quantity but quality too, Andy Pollentine opening the early season batting with some very respectable results including a 1st and 3rd in the Grand Vets, Olivia Campbell never finished much below 3rd place including several 1st’s finishing 3rd overall in the London Rankings. That Junior Titan Ed Davies rode all the leagues, consistently in the top 15 in the National series, top 3 in the London League and even higher with several wins in the East Kent League. Dave Rees took his time winding up his results but towards the end of the season was on flying form earning regular podium results, leading the Senor men in the East Kent league ranking and finishing a creditable 6th overall in the London League.
The London League ranking make pretty decent reading for the club, we have riders in the top 10 of almost all the categories raced.
The Dulwich promotion at Leeds Castle with over 450 riders racing on the day was reportedly the largest event ever in a London League, outstripping the usual local suspects by some margin. Seen as one of the toughest courses in the calendar, it has become a true marmite event, thankfully most riders like marmite. Well supported not only by racers from all clubs but visibly by Dulwich volunteers as well – who all deserve a huge round of thanks.
Now all this is all good stuff, the chairman should be a happy bunny, however the greatest result of the season was the emergence of such a strong team of 30 riders of all ages and abilities, each spurring and encouraging others on, look at Olivia’s video, you’ll understand what I mean.
The social climax of the season was of course the End of Season debrief, a serious event attended by 25 racers, who, after dinner were forced to sit an arduous exam on CX minutiae set by Prof Rees. This was followed by the award ceremony for those seriously contended prizes that cannot due to time trial constraints be given at the Club awards.
For the record the following prizes were awarded:
The Dirk Hoffman Award for Best contribution to the What’s App Group – Aidan Scully
The Café Paradou Award for Race Report Fiction – James Malone
The Conde Nast Vogue Award for Best Dressed Rider – Olivia Campbell
The John Prescott Award for Heckling – Dave Rees
The Phil Glowinski Award for Organisation – John Cox
and finally
The Good Housekeeping Readers Award for Rider of the season – Dylan Bexley
The sensible grown up awards will of course be presented on the Club Awards evening – to which you must all go.
Finally – a round of thanks to all those who have generously donated so much time, effort and sheer goodwill into this year’s season, I hope you have all got as much out of it as I have, roll on the start of the Summer series.
