On two wheels with Corinium Cycling Club (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

On two wheels with Corinium Cycling Club

CORINIUM Cycling Club jerseys were conspicuous among the 400 cyclists who gathered at Meriden on Sunday for the 82nd memorial service to honour cyclists who had died in the two world wars.

Starting from Blockley at 7.30am, the Corinium quartet of Norman Hayes, Barbara Holden, Andrew Tolman, Dave Druce was led by Norman to Meridan Green.

They paused at Hatton Country World for a short break before arriving in good time at Meriden Green for the open air service.

Kevin Mayne, director of the Cyclists' Touring Club, read the lesson before the wreath-laying ceremony and the playing of the 'Last Post'.

Cyclists of all ages from all points of the compass were welcomed at the village hall with a marvellous selection of cakes and unlimited tea.

Faced with an 80-mile ride, the four started their return journey in good time against a headwind through the Warwickshire lanes.

A pub lunch preceded a five-mile section of canal towpath leading into the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon.

There followed a ride along the Greenway cyclepath before a climb to the Cotswold escarpment and on to Hidcote and Blockley after what had been a touching occasion and a memorable day.

Corinium CC's two-part Sunday run was to become even more fragmented as the family atmosphere of the BHF Tour of the Cotswolds Charity event created a very lax start time regime.

The hardier riders such as John Scott, Derek Mitchell, Andy Kirk and Gareth Hughes elected to start on time and hurled themselves around the course like men possessed.

Frank Savage found himself in the middle order whilst Allan and Jenny Norwood joined forces with Cliff and Carol Dutton, John Skinner and his daughter Johanna and her boyfriend Charlie to make sure that there was an even spread of Corinium riders throughout the event.

Although experiencing some fairly heavy rain at the off, later starters found that the weather was remarkably fine despite the ever-darkening clouds.

A nagging headwind over the latter part of the circuit seemed to catch some of the less practised riders by surprise.

But Carol and Jenny fell back on their experience of eight consecutive years in this event by riding strongly to the finish.

As complete novices to the sport, Johanna and Charlie did remarkably well and surprised themselves by completing the course with the minimum of fuss.