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The March issue is generally short on racing news but is traditionally the one in which Groups report on their awards dinners and luncheons.  Alas, in East Anglia, at least, that tradition seems to have expired with the pandemic.  A survey on the desirability of reviving the annual luncheon drew a minimal response and “tepid” was the best that could be said of the level of enthusiasm from those who did reply.

Sadly, this is in line with the deeply disappointing response last season when we attempted to unite award winners with their awards at a buffet lunch following a morning 25 where most of them were riding, but few stayed for the presentation.  That was a surprise as well as a disappointment since the first experiment of the kind, the previous year, had been a success.

The relationship between riders, their racing and their awards appears to be increasingly transactional so the committee has taken the hint and saved itself a good deal of work.

Group awards, for those who wish to receive them, will be available at the Group AGM at 11.00 am on Saturday 2^nd March at Westley Waterless Village Hall, CB8 0RQ.  Standards winners will know who they are, as will record breakers; the list of trophy winners is appended to this report.  Next year, the terminology will reflect the CTT’s and VTTA’s policy on transgender athletes, that being one of the ratifications we need to make at the aforementioned AGM.

Ratifying our Group time trial programme is another and, sad to report, that will be one 25 lighter than the previous year, for want of an organiser. As that event would have been on the E2/25, which will be back in operation, its loss may be a cause for chagrin.

I don’t see East Anglia being particularly affected by the latest CTT encyclical regarding 20mph zones, but we may have our own problems with the F2 courses as major groundworks have already started in the vicinity of Caxton Gibbet in preparation for the linking of the A428 and the A421 at the Black Cat on the A1.  The return of the E2 has come none too soon!

The other major news concerning an East Anglian Group member has nothing to do with time trialling, but everything to do with recognising achievement.

We offer our warm congratulations to  North Road CC member Chris Symonds, who has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours for services to Parliament where he serves as Senior Doorkeeper for the House of Commons.

Of course we all know him better for his inspirational work setting an example to younger Ghanaian cyclists by competing in the Worlds and Commonwealth Games TTs and perhaps we might humbly suggest that the Honours Committee bears that in mindwhen it’s next considering CBEs and OBEs.

The picture is of Chris, in his everyday working clothes, being presented with a VTTA gilet on the balcony of the House of Commons by VTTA President Tony Farrell, who, with his wife, had been invited by Chris to a personally guided tour of the Houses, including areas normally off limits to tourists.

EA VTTA GROUP TROPHIES 2023

GROUP BAR (MEN)

Lionel Lincoln Memorial Shield, awarded annually to the highest-placed male Group member in the National season-long  BAR competition .

Medals will be awarded to the three highest-placed male Group members in the National BAR table.

1^st Philip Jones                       Peterborough CC                   25.360 mph (adjusted speed)

2^nd Paul Looke                        Shaftesbury CC                      24.708 mph (adjusted speed)

No other qualifiers

GROUP BAR (WOMEN)

Freddie Frost Cup, awarded annually to the highest-placed female Group member in the National season-long  BAR competition .

Medals will be awarded to the three highest-placed female Group members in the National BAR table.

No Qualifiers

GROUP THREE DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIP (MEN)

Harry Haynes Shield, awarded annually to the highest-placed  male Group member in the National season-long Three Distance Competition  .

Medals will be awarded to the three highest-placed male Group members in the National Three Distance table.

1^st Keith Dorling                     Team Bottrill                          30.978 mph (adjusted speed)

2^nd Darren Bennett                Ely & District CC                     29.087 mph (adjusted speed)

3^rd Simon Butteriss                Ely & District CC                     28.370 mph (adjusted speed)

GROUP THREE DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIP (WOMEN)

Syd Parkinson Cup, awarded annually to the highest-placed  female Group member in the National season-long Three Distance Competition  .

Medals will be awarded to the three highest-placed female Group members in the National Three Distance table.

No qualifiers

GROUP SHORT DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIP (MEN)

Group Short Distance Championship Cup,  awarded annually to the highest-placed  male Group member in the National season-long Short Distance Competition  .

Medals will be awarded to the three highest-placed male Group members in the National Short Distance table.

1^st Keith Dorling                     Team Bottrill                          33.213 mph adjusted speed

2^nd Matthew Smith                Drag2zero                               32.693 mph adjusted speed

3^rd Chris Dyason                     Cambridge CC                        32.055 mph adjusted speed

GROUP SHORT DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIP (WOMEN)

Group Short Distance Ladies’ Championship  awarded annually to the highest-placed female Group member in the National season-long Short Distance Competition  .

Medals will be awarded to the three highest-placed female Group members in the National Short Distance table.

1^st Denese Hurren                  Sole Bay Cycle Sport             32.010 mph adjusted speed

2^ndLouise Robinson                Essex Roads CC                       31.855 mph adjusted speed

3^rd Susan Triplow                   CC Sudbury                            30.568 mph adjusted speed

GROUP 10 MILE TIME TRIAL POINTS COMPETITION (MEN)

The 10 Miles Time Trial Competition Shield awarded to the male Group member with the most points in the season-long 10 mile Time Trial Competition            

Chris Dyason              Cambridge CC

GROUP 10 MILE TIME TRIAL POINTS COMPETITION (WOMEN)

Former Post Office Trophy, donated by Mary Horsnell 2011,  awarded to the first female Group member in the season-long 10 mile Time Trial Competition.

Susan Triplow                        CC Sudbury

AWARDS FOR SPECIFIC EVENTS

(Note that both male and female awards are made from 2021)

Charlie Clift Shield
Awarded annually to the fastest Group member on standard in the first Group ’10’.

Chris Dyason              Cambridge CC                                    AAT 19:43

Susan Triplow            CC Sudbury                                        AAT 20:04

Ron Fisher/Jack King Memorial Shield
Awarded annually to the Group member who is best on standard in the last Group ’10’.

Keith Dorling              Team Bottrill                          AAT 17:58

Susan Triplow                        CC Sudbury                            AAT 19:14

Stourvale Shield
Awarded annually to the Group member who is best on standard in the Group circuit 25.

Jan Ertner                               Cambridge CC                        AAT 1:02:02

Mary Twitchett                      Cambridge CC                        AAT 55:57

H F Nevill 25m Cup
Awarded annually to the fastest Group member on standard in the first Group 25 mile event of the season.

Chris Dyason              Cambridge CC                                    AAT 48:03

Julia Freeman Easterley Road Club                          AAT 51:10

Geri Lang Memorial Cup
Awarded annually to the Group member who is best on standard in the second Group 25.

Antony Brown           George Fox Cycling Solutions           AAT 45:25

Louise Robinson        Essex Roads CC                                   AAT 47:02

H F Nevill 30m Cup
Awarded annually to the fastest Group member on standard in the Group 30 mile event.

Keith Dorling                          Team Bottrill                          AAT 1:01:08

Sue Triplow                            CC Sudbury                            AAT 1:06:48

Syd Parkinson Cup
Awarded annually to the fastest Group member on standard in the Group nominated 50 mile event.

Dave Green                            CC Breckland              AAT 1:38:13

Sue Chittock                          Ipswich BC                              AAT 2:04:57

Bob Haworth Memorial Cup
Awarded annually to the fastest Group member on standard in the Group nominated 100 mile event.

Keith Dorling                          Team Bottrill                          AAT 3:31:33

H F Nevill 12hr Cup
Awarded annually to the Group member with the greatest mileage on standard in either E or B courses

No events in E or B so National Championship used

Chris Shaw                 Fenland Clarion CC                            AAD 267.93miles

No female qualifiers

Gordon Irons Memorial Cup
Awarded for outstanding services to the Group

Merv Player

It is with deep regret that we hear of the death of Doug Yareham at the age of 86. Doug was hospitalised a few weeks ago following a fall and died on Thursday, 10th June.

Ken Platts writes:

Doug was one of the stalwarts of the TT scene in the Eastern region. He was a long time member of the Victoria CC, of which he was General Secretary, and was for decades involved with Eastway, ECCA, and the VTTA East Anglia Group. Many of you will be aware of “the huts” in North End Road , Ugley, which were for many years packed with cyclists from the London clubs who rode out to compete on the famed E1. The Victoria hut is one of the few remaining huts, and Doug was instrumental in keeping the hut going. This maintained the link with the glory days of time trialling on the E1. For many years now it has been the HQ for a highly successful series of 10.2 mile TTs, organised by Doug and wife Christine. The series has many categories, and although not on a “fast” course has attracted large fields, due to the hospitable atmosphere of the events engendered by Doug and Christine. Prior to this series Doug had promoted extensively in the region. Doug was not only a promoter but an active racer himself riding both solo, and tandem with Christine. His racing came to end 9 years ago when he was involved in an accident while riding the ECCA 10 mile TT championship on the E2. He suffered serious breaks to his leg which required a long convalescence. Doug was a huge supporter of the VTTA East Anglian group, a fact acknowledged in 2013 by the award of the Gordon Irons Cup for outstanding service to the Group. He will be greatly missed. We offer condolences and our deepest sympathy to Christine and the family.