Following the award of the generous Town Trust Grant, six members from Stratford Cycling Club begun their journey to become Level 2 Cycling Coaches last weekend.

“The course, run by British Cycling, was the most professional and well run sports programme I have even attended,” said Chairperson, Miranda Harris. “The idea once qualified is to coach riding skills to both juniors and adults who live in and around Stratford on Avon at the club’s track facility in Tiddington.”
Currently the club runs weekly coaching sessions on a Monday night for both beginners and intermediate juniors, however these may be extended to a Wednesday evening starting in May and include adults. Anthony Lane and Richard Milward are already involved in the Monday sessions, alongside Pete Evans, Head Coach and Emma Kilminster, so are familiar with the set-up. Strengthening the coaching team will be race members Tom Heenan and Martin Millington as well as second claim member Dan Bill. All members were very impressed with the first two days of the course and will now start planning their coaching sessions before returning to British Cycling for the final day of the course in July.
Also on a course, Mick Stallard had a fast ride on the K33/10 riding the Warwickshire RC event. Stallard finished in 22.13 which he was pleased with, considering the breezy conditions, and fifteenth place. The event was won by Scott Povey in 20. 24.
Also busy at the weekend was second claim member James Wall riding the Bath CC 10 on the U47 on Saturday. Despite a personal best of 19.24 breaking the course record, he was beaten in to second place by Stuart Dodd with 19.04. The next day Wall had his revenge on the Abertillery & District Wheelers R25/7 in Usk. With another course record of 50 minutes for 25 miles, he was rewarded with a first place, one minute ahead of Dodd thus concluding an excellent weekend of sport.