Cycling club's new strategy appears to be working (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cycling club's new strategy appears to be working

CORINIUM'S Cycling Club's recently introduced two-run strategy appears by all accounts to be going from strength to strength.

For there are plenty of riders joining up with each run, although the first one away insists on calling itself 'the slow run' when 'the gentle run' seems to be a more courteous title.

Frank Savage, back from his rigorous training camp in Spain, led the gentle first run and headed Pam Swanston, Andrew Tolman, Dave Druce and Terry Cleary as he re-familiarised himself with the Whiteway.

With Terry remembering to ride on the left-hand side of the road, the group tackled the demanding surface of the Welsh-way as they rode into Barnsley, Meysey Hampton and Castle Eaton.

By the time they had reached Hannington, there was a potential casualty as Dave Druce had overlooked the need to eat and was suffering.

A brief stop for roadside refuelling caught him in time and then it was on through Stanton Fitzwarren and into South Marston for an early tea-stop.

Meanwhile, the quicker run, led by Peter Holden, had successfully negotiated Siddington, Ashton Keynes and Cricklade.

A motor vehicle accident had closed the Chelworth road and so Gareth Hughes, Derek Mitchell, Fred Gardiner and John Scott found that they would once again be relying on Peters in-depth knowledge of the Cotswold lanes to find a diversionary route to the tea stop.

Arriving marginally before the gentle group, Peter's gang parked their machines and sampled Sainsbury's tea.

Derek and Peter where the only two riders who elected to carry on to the lunch-stop and so they made their way through Wanborough, Aldbourne, Axford only stopping when they reached the Tudor Tea Rooms at Marlborough.

The return trip took the duo along the beautiful Kennett valley and through the villages of Manton, East Kennett and, after turning northwards, Avebury, Clyffe Pypard, Callow Hill, Minety and home after covering a rain free but very windy 74 miles.

Andrew Tolman and Gareth Hughes, who will be deputising for Cliff Dutton who will be away on racing duties, will lead this Sunday's runs.

The mid-morning break will be taken at Waitroses in Stroud and the lunchtime destination at Frampton-on-Seven.

Andrew's group will leave the Market Place, Cirencester, at 9.30am while Gareth's group departs at 10am.

All details of Corinium Cycling Clubs many and varied activities can be found at www.coriniumcc.co.uk