The annual Ross and District Cycling Club prize presentation took place with a dinner at the Castle Lodge Hotel at Wilton on Saturday evening, January 31st.

Carlos and Maria once again put on a fine banquet and the club's reputation for a sense of humour encouraged guests from all four points of the compass to turn up. One couple travelled down from North Shropshire having last attended an event in 1976.

The Club president, John Hall, welcomed everyone and introduced the special guest, Gary Bowden, an ex-member of the club who has become a keen hang glider. Now he is slightly heavier than he was and finds the thought of getting back on a bike to shed a few pounds appealing, so it is hoped he will be back out with the Club in the near future.

The main event of the evening was the prize giving. Everyone who had ridden during the last twelve months received a certificate.

The star rider of the evening was Alan Cook who, in his first full season's cycling, became Welsh National 10 mile champion, destroying a lot of established stars from all over the country to do so. At club level he also dominated, winning 20 events outright, smashing several course records along the way. His best all rounder average speed was 27.311 mph for the 3 disciplines of 10, 25 and 50 miles. He also won the Veterans' trophy going 44:48 minutes faster than his age standard, pipping Clive Chappe by just 16 seconds.

The only person to beat Alan in a club event was Jerry Roberts, a past best all round winner, beating Alan on the hills. In the long hill climb Jerry beat him by 1 second, and in the steep hill climb, by 6 seconds. He received a trophy for his efforts.

Clive Chappe won the Matthews Cup, being the fastest veteran on the Don Woodman 25 miler. Wayne Mason was surprised and pleased to have won the Handicap 10. Dennis Beard, backbone of the 12-hour team, won the south Wales veteran trophy, a mean feat, since he is 78.

Will Bevan scooped the remaining awards. The Hall trophy was awarded to him for his contribution to club life for the last 12 months.

Will also won the prize all the wives dread, the crash barrier award, alias the entertainment award, for having all the mechanical misfortunes. After one race he bought the local special offer of two meals for the price of one, and proceeded to eat both.

With the new season only two months away, training is about to intensify for Club members.