Hello Exeter Wheelers C.C. member,
You could be forgiven for thinking that at present EWCC club communications are a bit like buses – first, just like Stagecoach services, none for ages, then, unlike Stagecoach, lots at once.
There are, however, a couple of items of club business that we felt it right to get info out on a.s.a.p.:
Firstly – we have a date and venue for the EWCC Annual Awards and Social Night. This will take place on Saturday evening, 7th of February, at The Cowick Barton, EX2 9HF. More details in due course, including info on how to book your place.
If you have a trophy that you won last year, then please could you get it back our president as soon as possible in order to get them all to the engravers in good time. Trophies should be left with president Greg at The Bike Shed at the top of Fore Street Hill in Exeter. Any issues, then simply reply to this email.
Secondly – the club needs your help in order to, hopefully, secure some funding, and get an important new club initiative up and running:
Exeter Wheelers C.C. Youth Development – getting off-road and en piste
The club is very pleased to have the involvement of new committee member Stuart Higgins, who is working alongside Diogo Pacheco to develop the youth side of the club, via off-road cycling.
It is sadly the case that at present we do not have a plethora of young riders in the club. Unlike Mid-Devon CC (Torbay-based) or Wheal Velocity ( Cornwall) we do not have the benefit of an affordable ‘velo park’ venue where cycling activities, including coaching, for youngsters can safely take place.
The club were once able to run fortnightly race nights, including youth races, at Westpoint, but since the circuit has become privately owned hire rates have been increased beyond measure meaning we can only run a couple events a year there.
It is the case, however, that off-road cycling is buoyant, with a variety of events throughout the region, including the SWXC MTB cross country series and the SWCX cyclo-cross series, and plenty of youngsters taking part in those events.
With this in mind, Stuart has put together an internal Club Off-Road Development Plan, and has also completed a British Cycling Club Development proposal form and with others has been discussing all the above with Andrew Parker of British Cycling. The latter, if we can tick all the boxes and deliver, will mean some funding can come our way to help everything along.
If club members could spare just a minute or two to take look through Stuart’s words via the link below, and make some comments, then that is exactly what we need in order to get things moving.
Your help in this is greatly appreciated.