Join the Clarion in 2011

2010 membership ends on 31st December 2010 so we are now taking renewals for 2011 and also welcome new members

Memberships are currently invited into either Senior or Household categories.

Senior membership £15
Any individual aged 18 and above and is £15

Household memberships £10.50
Subject to there being a Senior member resident, the second and any subsequent member thereafter, is entitled to become a Household member.

Those aged 15-17 can join as Household members only, and may only ride on club events where they are supervised at all times by a parent or guardian who is also a member.

Cheques should be made payable to "West Lothian Clarion" and sent to the Secretary Matthew Ball

When renewing members only need to submit a membership form if their details have changed

For more details email secretary[AT]westlothianclarion.co.uk

Youth memberships: £7
Those aged 6-14 can join the West Lothian Clarion Kids Club. Membership for 2011 will be £7 which also includes membership of the National Clarion. For more details contact the kids club secretaryEwen Fulton at kidsclub[AT]westlothianclarion.co.uk

Join us for our new year ride on 2nd Jan

The Clarion's first ride of 2011 will be on Sunday 2nd January.

The East Calder Group will leave the Leisure Centre at 9.00am and meet up with the Linlithgow bunch for 10.00am at the Leisure Centre.
A Social ride and an Active ride will then set off on the main routes, to avoid ice, meeting up at Rail Bridge Bistro for a coffee. (http://www.therailbridgebistro.com/)

All welcome, see you there, weather permittimg

For more details email Neil on:
clubruns@westlothianclarion.co.uk

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Boxing Day Gut Buster Classic

Meet at the Black Bitch in Linlithgow on Boxing day for 10.30.

There will be a change to the format, due to the weather, you can either:

1. Go for a walk around the loch, or

2. Go for a CX ride on the kids cyclo cross circuit or possibly head over to Kenneil
(MTB CX or a bike with knobbly tyres will be necessary)

Afterwards meet back up at the Four Marys from 11.30 (it opens at 11.00am)

The winter edition of Boots&Spurs out now!

The next issue of Boots&Spurs, the National Clarion member magazine has been printed and will be dropping onto your welcome mat before Christmas (weather permitting)

The Winter edition features Stirling's Wallace Monument on the cover, captured by Rolling Stone illustrator Garry Marshall.

Inside you'll find stories on the Clarion's 25% boost in membership, reports from the latest championship events, news from around the sections, tips on touring with your kids and all you need to know about booking your place at next year's Easter Meet in Stirling.

Champions Night knees up

The club celebrated the year with a terrific champions night party last week.

The evening was an opportunity to get together with club mates and pay respect to all those who have performed well in 2010.

Race secretary, Grant Craven, commissioned four new trophies including a men's and women's hill climb plaque, a freewheel champion's cobble and a shield for the club member of the year. Kevin O'hara has also donated a trophy for the club's 2-up championship which will be contested next year.

Stephen Henley did a great job in organising the night and was an entertaining compare for the evening.

Graham Foster planned and presented a superb cycling quiz which turned out to also be a masterclass in power point presenting! Graham's quiz was won by Steve and Eve Beech and Ali McQuillen

Members were very generous in donating a vast selection of superb prizes for the raffle, which in true Clarion fashion was highly contested, even down to the last set of bicycle clips!

It was also announced that Julie Dominguez won the National Clarion's points competition for the best all round rider and club secretary, Matthew Ball, was made an honorary member in recognition for the work he does for the club.

Thanks to every one who came along to support the night and especially to Stephen, Graham and Grant along with the rest of the committee.

What you said:

"It was a great night with a superb venue. Good to chat and catch up with club members. Discovering the 'other' bar with the real ale was a find too (or maybe not - my hangover is still developing!)" Steve McCaw

"A huge thanks to the host and organiser Stephen. It was an excellent evening. Well done to everyone that won an award they were all well deserved.
The raffle was excellent with some pretty good prizes. it was a laugh towards the end as we 'fought' over the remaining few items!
I have to thank Robin at the Bike and Ski Clinic for donating some of the lights that were up for grabs." Andy Richards

"Thanks for organising a great night, Steve, and for getting the trophies made up, Grant. Still wearing my medal" Debbie Pollard

"Great night last night! Well done to all the champs and record breakers. Stephen, you are a natural on stage! I'm really proud to be in the Clarion and will be renewing my membership ASAP" Colin Humphries

"For me it just perfectly reflected what a cycling club should be. Record breakers; national award winners; social members; people improving and moving 'to the next level'; kids stuff; super-tourists; mad mental mile eating audaxers;climbers; tracksters;road racers, testers;sportivers;urban cycling campaigners;coaches;organisers;bingo callers;quiz masters etc. etc. etc. Brilliant!" Angus Gallie

"To echo the other comments, it was certainly a very enjoyable evening. Good organisation (thanks Stephen, Grant, Foz and the others - it certainly makes being the President a lot easier) and good company.
And well done to all who won a prize for their riding and/or their engagement in keeping the club going. As mentioned before, the club has become a major player in Scotland and many comments I receive show that other clubs appreciate what we do for cycling in the country by organising, helping with and participating in events. Well done again and keep up the good work." Tobias Bauer (President)

Have a  look at what you can win next year, role on 2011!

AWARD WINNERS


Men's TT series Champion
Allan McCrimmon

Women's TT series champion
Diane Cox

Junior TT series champion
Blair Campbell

Men's Hill Climb Champion
Jonathan Buckley

Women's Hill Climb Champion
Debbie Pollard

Freewheel Champion
Mark McCabe

Tour of Trossochs Cup
Matt Ball

Club Person of the year
Kerstin Bonau

Best All rounder trophy:
Not awarded

2-up TT champions cup
Not awarded

CLUB RECORD BREAKERS

10TT Record
21.25 Steve McCaw (May 2010)
22.01 Steve McCaw (May 2010)
22.06 Steve McCaw (May 2010)
22.34 Matt Ball (March 2010)

Women's 10TT record
27.37 Julie Dominguez (18th June 2009)

25TT Record
56.09 Steve McCaw (June 2010)

50TT Record
1.57.56 Steve McCaw (June 2010)

The 10 TT Bridgend-Kirkliston course record was broken 5 times:
22.17 Jonathan Buckley (June 2010)
22.21 Jonathan Buckley (June 2010)
22.38 Matthew Ball (June 2010)
22.58 Matthew Ball (May 2010)
23.12 Jonathan Buckley (May 2010)

Women's 10 TT Bridgend-Kirkliston course record
28.32 Julie Dominguez (15th August 2009)
28.38 Julie Dominguez (28th May 2009)
28.50 Julie Dominguez (14th May 2009)

Kingscavil Hill climb club record
2.20 Jonathan Buckley (September 2010)

Women's Kingscavil hill climb club record
3.49 Michelle Gregory (October 2010)
4.58 debbie Pollard (September 2010)

Sea to Sky Challenge - Men
The club's place to place record

59.58 Matthew Ball (September 2010)

1.00.33 Steve McCaw (June 2010)

Sea to Sky Challenge - Women

1.32 Debbie Pollard (June 2010)

Kerstin is club member of the year

Kerstin Bonau was awarded the honour of Club Member of the Year and was presented with a specially commissioned shield at last week's Champion's night.

Kirsten was nominated by club members, with the final decision being made by the committee.

Kerstin has been recognised for how much time she has devoted to the 
club in 2010. Many of our events would not have run as smoothly without her contribution.

At the two open events and RadTour she has volunteered 
for signing on. Once her job was over at the 
open hill climb she then went on the help out with the refreshments.

At the Bike Jumble she donated her time again to help out with the 
refreshments. She has also baked a considerable amount of lovely cakes 
for many of our events.

She volunteered for the post of Welfare 
Officer. This is an essential post, without which, there would be no kids club. The job is to oversee how the 
children are looked after and make sure we follow our duty of care.

Kerstin is a true Clarionista, the only nominee who attended this year's 
Easter Meet at Eastbourne where she took part in many of the events.

And next up, Kerstin has also joined the sub-committee to help 
organise the the Stirling Easter Meet.

Congratulations Kerstin and many thanks for all your help this year.

Exclusive limited edition prints have arrived

Our limited edition archival prints are hot off the press and ready for signing and numbering by artist Garry Marshall.

The prints feature the cover illustration from the summer edition of Boots&Spurs, the National Clarion member magazine. Money raised from the prints is going towards the Clarion's Easter meet which will take place in Stirling next year.

We ordered a few extra prints so if you still want one for Christmas get in touch.

The recent snow fall has made travelling around treacherous so it might take a few days to get the prints signed and mailed out. Please bare with us, we hope to get them sent in time for Christmas.

secretary@westlothianclarion.co.uk

Personalised club mugs almost ready

The busy people at potteraround have been pottering away and have almost finished our club mug order says Neil Greer. The cups have had the club jersey painted on and names hand lettered, ready for glazing and firing, so watch this space for collection details

SCOTTISH CYCLO CROSS CHAMPS CANCELLED

Due to the bad weather the championships that were to take place in Irvine on Sunday have been cancelled