Join us to celebrate the Awards Evening on Saturday 20th November at the Football Club in Aberystwyth. All club members, friends and family are welcome.
The evening begins with the doors opening at 5.30pm for the juniors to enjoy a get together, food and awards. Tickets are priced at £5 for the juniors which includes food. Accompanying adults can purchase a free ticket but doesn’t include food.
The evening then moves on to the adult awards with doors opening at 7pm. Tickets can be purchased online for £12 per person, which includes the buffet.
There will be a raffle on the night with some great prizes, all proceeds will be going to Tir Dewi.
The gifts have arrived for the 2021 jersey challenge! Each club member that uploads a photo will receive one of the very smart new club water bottles after the closing date (19th November).
Don’t forget to upload your YCC jersey challenge photo before the closing date. It’s easy to do, just capture a photo of the Ystwyth CC jersey whilst out riding on gravel, road or mountain biking.
There are a number of ways you can upload your photos;
It was great to be able to return to the Thursday chaingang rides last month. Thanks to all those that came along to the rides and hopefully had a good fun and fast workout!
With the light fast disappearing it was decided that last Thursday (16th September) would be the final chaingang ride for 2021.
These rides will be back next spring for 2022 and will be advertised on our club Facebook page and on our website when they restart.
Lois and Leah Brewer lined up for the Welsh Circuit Race Championships on Sunday 12 September. Damp and overcast conditions welcomed the small field of only 9 riders and early on there seemed to be little appetite to race hard. Lois and Leah tried several probing attacks, but these were shut down quickly with other riders seemingly content to ride steady, anticipating a final bunch sprint. A decisive move went with a little over 5 laps to go when Emily Tillet (the eventual winner) and Gwenno Hughes broke free. The remaining group began in fracture in pursuit of the leaders but were unable to make the catch. In the final sprint for 3rd, Lois was beaten by half a wheel and so just missed out on her first podium.
Congratulations also to all the local riders that were racing and well done to Griff Lewis (Bike Performance RC) winning the junior men’s Welsh Championship, Ieuan Andy Davies (Caffi Gruff) on taking the win in the Masters 50+ Men Championship and Lowri Richards (Backstedt Bike Performance RC) on her bronze podium placing in the U16 Girls Championship.
This weekend (18th/19th September) sees the Welsh Road and Time Trial Championships in Newcastle Emlyn. Good luck to all the riders racing in the Ystwyth CC jersey over the weekend; Tony Jones, Eva Marshall, Richard Eakins and Anita Saycell.
The final event in a successful 2021 series took place early on Sunday the 5th September. Eight riders braved the 1 mile tough climb starting near Llangorwen Church which headed up towards the entrance to Frongoch farm.
It was to be a fast morning which involved re-writing the club record books across the various age categories.
In the men’s event Ciaran Rowett flew up the hill, showing his prowess on the climbs and finished first in a blistering 4.31. Only five seconds separated the second and third placed up and coming junior riders. Just squeezing into second place, Llion Rees-Jenkins flew up the climb in 5.01 and was followed closely by Thomas Mason who showing his strength this season, finished in 5.06 and set a new first claim club junior record.
In the ladies event it was good to see the Brewer sisters back competing on local roads. Leah Brewer, showed her strength on the climbs taking the win with a new ladies club record time of 4.52 which she previously set herself three years ago. In second place, Lois, hot on her sister’s heels crossed the line in a fast 5.04.
There were further records with Martin Williams setting a new club record for the V70 age group in 7.18 and Tim Strang setting a second claim V60 record.
A thank you to Catalina Architecture for sponsoring the 2021 series, the TT organisers, time keepers, race photographers, along with everybody that has been able to help over the series keeping the riders safe. Most importantly a special mention and thank you to all the riders that have taken part over the year – the club hope you enjoyed and look forward to seeing you next year!
Leah Brewer – ladies overall winner and club record holder (photo credit: Leeroy Mason)Ciaran Rowett – men’s overall hill climb winner (photo credit: Leeroy Mason)
Catalina Architecture TT Series Round 18 – Clarach Hill Climb Results Ciaran Rowett 4.31 Leah Brewer 4.52 (senior ladies first claim club record) Llion Rees-Jenkins 5.01 Lois Brewer 5.04 Thomas Mason 5.06 (junior men’s first claim club record) Tim Strang 5.55 (V60 men’s second claim record) Martin Williams 7.18 (V70 men’s first claim club record) Mike Fitch 7.42 (V70 men’s second claim record) Timekeepers Andy Hunt, Derek Rattray & Elaine Rowlands
Nine riders took on the Devil’s Bridge 16 mile hilly time trial. It proved a good night, with only a gentle breeze and warm air. This rolling course tested the riders’ end of season fitness as well as their bike choice, with many riders choosing a road bike over a time trial bike.
The ride of the evening went to Nick Livermore, who set a blistering time with 43.26 and finished first overall with a 4 minute margin. Second on the podium was Caron Pugh with a swift time of 47.47, and completing the podium, Andy Hunt with a great ride to cross the line in 48.14.
The women’s overall event was won by Emma Palfrey, flying around the course to finish in 53.56.
Well done to all the riders and those that were able to help on the night, making it a safe event.
The final event of the Catalina Architecture TT series will be on Sunday 5th September. This will be the 1 mile Clarach hill climb.
Catalina Architecture TT Series Round 17 Devils Bridge Hilly. Results Nick Livermore 43.26 Caron Owen Pugh 47.47 Andy Hunt 48.14 Thomas Mason 52.02 Emma Palfrey 53.56 Tim Strang 58.08 Andy Starr 1.01.47 Mike Fitch 1.02.13 Martin Williams 1.06.03 Timekeepers Derek Rattray & Elaine Rowlands Marshall Anita Saycell
Nick Livermore storming the course to take the overall win (photo credit: Leeroy Mason)
The conditions were good for the last 10 mile time trial of the year. The twelve riders enjoyed their last chance to test their legs over the gently rolling Cwm Rheidol course.
The evening was dominated by the Caffi Gruff race team, who took the top three overall placings. Dafydd Wright stormed the course to take the overall win in a fantastic time of 22.02. Steffan James took the road bike win and second overall in a storming ride of 23.42, while Jack Ramsbottom proving he can take on hills and time trials took the third overall place in 23.42.
In the ladies event, Emma Palfrey took the overall win with a storming ride to finish in 26.08. Anita Saycell took the second spot in 27.25 and Elaine Rowlands, current V50 course record holder took the third overall place and the road bike win in 31.40.
On the evening Mike Fitch proved age is no barrier and set the fastest recorded time on the course for the V70 age group with his time of 29.08.
Well done to all the riders that competed on the night, and a thank you to the TT organisers, time keepers and marshall’s that assisted on the night to ensure the safety of the riders.
Next week the series returns to the Devil’s Bridge Hilly course on the 25th August and then the final round, Sunday 5th September on the 1 mile Clarach hill climb. https://www.ystwyth.cc/2020-time-trial-series/
Catalina Architecture TT Series Round 16 – Cwm Rheidol Dafydd Wright 22.02 Steffan James 23.42 Jack Ramsbottom 23.42 Llion Rees-Jenkins 24.29 Andy Hunt 24.57 Rhodri Jenkins 25.45 Emma Palfrey 26.08 Anita Saycell 27.25 Adam Smith 27.56 Owen Thomas 28.48 Mike Fitch 29.08 Elaine Rowlands 31.40 Timekeepers Derek Rattray & Andrew Davies Marshall’s Scott Tompsett. Gwen & Osian
Overall winner on the night Dafydd Wright (Photo credit: Ade Price)
This ride is open to non-members and members. Book your place and join a friendly group to cycle with this Sunday 22nd August.
The ride will be a friendly introduction to the club and a chance to enjoy a chat and coffee en route. More details and to book your place: https://forms.gle/xFn7gyWRG7hV4atD7
It was the riders’ last chance to test themselves on the flatter 10 mile Llety Gwyn course as the end of the time trial season fast approaches.
Eight riders lined up to take on the course. The rain kept at bay but the south westerly breeze didn’t seem to help the riders much in either direction.
The conditions however proved no issue for the overall men’s winner, local pro rider Gruff Lewis. Gruff had a fantastic ride to equal his own course record set in 2018 with his time of 20.36. Next on the men’s podium, in second place was Ystwyth CC rider Caron Pugh with a strong ride and crossing the line in 23.10. In third place, and swapping the stopwatch for the TT bike was Andy Hunt in 24.21.
The overall ladies winner was Emma Palfrey, taking the top spot with a great ride to finish in 25.37. In second place Anita Saycell in 27.23 and completing the podium, Elaine Rowlands in 31.50.
The road bike men’s winner was Owen Thomas, making a return to the time trials with an impressive ride time of 29.51. In second place was the V70 course record holder, Martin Williams in 30.13.
The road bike ladies winner was the holder of the ladies V50 course record Elaine Rowlands, with a great ride and crossing the line in 31.50.
Well done and thank you to all the riders that competed on the night, and a thank you to the TT organisers, time keepers and chief marshall that assisted on the night to ensure the safety of the riders.
Catalina Architecture TT Series Round 15 – Llety Gwyn 10 Gruffudd Lewis 20.36 Caron Owen Pugh 23.10 Andy Hunt 24.21 Emma Palfrey 25.37 Anita Saycell 27.23 Owen Thomas 29.51 Martin Williams 30.13 Elaine Rowlands 31.50 Time Keepers Derek Rattray & Andrew Davies Chief Marshall Scott Tompsett
Men’s winner and current course record holder – Gruff Lewis Photo credit: Leeroy Mason
The club chaingang is back for a few weeks before we lose the evening light.
It will be a slightly shorter route to keep it safer, with riders making their own way to the Golf Club in Borth. The route will then head clockwise from the Borth Golf Club heading north to Ynyslas, then to Tre’r-ddol and the finish in the Rhydypennau School layby.
The aim of the chaingang is to ride in small groups, taking short turns on the front. The aim is to keep the pace smooth and consistent and work together as a group. You usually find yourself riding a slightly faster pace because you have recovery time when sitting behind the other riders.
