It’s all about ME
As recently as 2013, long time Sotonia member Mary Corbett had been taking part in 24 hour cycle races on a tandem with Simon Hall from Andover Wheelers. However, an illness that was subsequently diagnosed as ME or Myalgic Encephalopathy curtailed her sporting activities (Mary is also a keen runner) and resulted into a long fight back to regaining some of her former fitness
More than 250,000 men, women and children in the UK have ME. It affects the central nervous system and the immune system and renders the most severe sufferers to remain bedbound or housebound, sometimes for many years. There is no known cure.
Mary followed a schedule of Graded Exercise Therapy set out by her physiotherapist and it took 9½ months for her to be able to run for 30 minutes. By November 2014 she was also able to include 5 minutes of steady pedalling twice a week on her indoor wtrainer.
Last week was ME Awareness Week and Mary took the opportunity, in concert with her club Sotonia CC and the Bournemouth and District Woman’s Cycling Association, to raise money for the ME Association which fund vital research into the physical nature and causes of ME and supports sufferers and their families.
The club and Association organised two 10 mile time trial on course based near Lyndhurst with all funds going to the charity. So far Mary has raised £645 in cash donations with another £250.00 pledged and she is hoping to push the total to £1000 with an auction of a signed poster of Jens Voigt breaking the UCI hour record (51.115km) donated by a supporter.
[quote align="center" color="#999999"]Commenting on her efforts Mary said, “My goal has not only been to promote awareness of the condition, but to show what can be achieved despite having ME. I targeted the Sotonia 10 as my first race back in the saddle to coincide with ME Awareness Week. It seemed very fitting as I have received fantastic support from my Club”
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Mary completed her comeback ride in 36 minutes 35 seconds, somewhat short of her best, but a great achievement after a period where she thought her cycling career might be over.
Mary’s Just Giving page is still open for those who would like to donate www.justgiving.com/ItsAllAboutMEME
The ME Association website is: www.meassociation.org.uk
ME Awareness 10 mile Time Trial
On Thursday 14 May, Sotonia CC will be organising a 10 mile time trial on the P164c. The club has offered their support for ME Awareness Week so as well as raising the profile of the condition, there will be a bucket to accept any donations in exchange for a scrummy cake or any other goodies that may be forthcoming. Mary Corbett is targeting our event as her first TT since being diagnosed with ME/Fibromyalgia some 20 months ago. She's only up to 7 miles at the moment but making good progress and says it feels really good to be back on the bike.
Come along and have some fun!!
Event details can be found here
Result: Club 10, P101 Fawley Sunday 7 September
A fine, dry and calm morning made conditions ideal for our annual visit to this little used course which starts at Fawley, heads to the Calshot one way system before turning at Holbury Roundabout and heading back down to Calshot to turn and finish at Fawley.
Fourteen riders took part - 13 from Sotonia and one 'guest' rider and it was the guest who came out on top this time with Ray Claridge storming round the course in 23.37. A good ride from James Peckham saw him finish second in front of Colin Yeates who went round on his road bike in 25.21.
Position Name Club Category Time
1st Ray Claridge GA Cycles Vet 23.37
2nd James Peckham Sotonia CC Senior 25.05
3rd Colin Yeates Sotonia CC Vet 25.21
4th Jon Legge Sotonia CC Senior 25.38
5th Dan Edwards Sotonia CC Senior 25.53
6th Ted Knowlton Sotonia CC Vet 27.07
7th Ed Rowe Sotonia CC Junior 27.38
8th Wendy Knowlton Sotonia CC Vet 27.58
9th Chris Summers Sotonia CC Vet 29.28
10th Julian Wherret Sotonia CC Vet 30.49
10th Sandy Bell Sotonia CC Vet 30.49
12th Bob Young Sotonia CC Vet 31.09
13th Mel Cook Sotonia CC Vet 31.44
14th Julian Gee Sotonia CC Vet 32.12
Roach takes Sotonia Summer Road Race, 6th July
Graham Robins reports: Steven Roach was first to initiate the decisive move of the day and he finished it off after seven and a half laps of the un-relenting Owslebury course.
The 60 mile course was based on the village of Owslebury near to Winchester. The morning started under a cloud cover but the sun soon came out and the temperature began to climb making the race just that little more difficult.
Once the race had completed most of the first lap Toby Parnell (Cambridge CC) eased away from the bunch and soon he had a 20secs lead but the bunch weren’t having any of it and he was pegged back. There had been a crash on the opening lap bringing down three riders and this must have produced the disruption in the race in the early exchanges.
The next significant move of the race saw Simon Ker (Bath CC) attack the bunch and soon he was well clear and building himself a big lead of over a minute, but there were two chasers and they were soon to get across the gap to make this a three man leading group.
At the start of the fourth lap we had three leaders with a gap of 39secs, they were Simon Ker, Rowan Horner (VC St Raphael) and Steven Roach and these three leaders were working hard together and soon the time back to the bunch went up to one minute.
The three leaders held their time gap as they rode through the finish line at the bell but now they have been joined by Edward Sutton (Wightlink LCM Systems) who had ridden off the front of the bunch to catch the leaders. These four continued round the last lap until Simon had run his race and soon he was collected by the bunch.
Steven Roach had time to sit up and enjoy his win although Edward was right on his wheel, but just not close enough and Rowan was there to take third. The bunch had thought they had caught all the chasers and once the leaders had crossed the line the remainder of the bunch opened out a sprint thinking they were leading, but to no avail.
Provisional Result
1 Steven Roach BCPM2hrs 37mins 28secs
2 Edward Sutton Wightlink LCM Systems @ST
3 Rowan Horner VC St Raphael @2secs
4 Adam Capes Finchley RT @14secs
5 Ben Carty Felt Colbornes Hargroves RT @22secs
6 James Davey Mid Devon CC @ST
7 James Ellmore Mid Shropshire Wheelers @ST
8 Cameron Austin Look Mum No Hands @24secs
9 Nigel Williams Python Racing Team @ST
10 Toby Parnell Cambridge CC @26secs
Race video highlights here
Blazing Saddles's Ford takes Sotonia Open 10
Michael Ford of Blazing Saddles Cycles was a clear winner in the Sotonia 10 on the P140 course, taking in the Stockbridge to Romsey road.
Ford posted one of the fastest ever times on the course, his 21-56 seeing him finish well clear of Simon Berogna (VC St. Raphael) in 22.25 and Simon Healey of Andover Wheelers who finished third in 22.49. Sotonia's own Angela Burnikell was fastest of the lady riders in a fine 25.50.
Conditions were dry and warm but breezy with riders getting little help on the return leg after a push out to the Romsey turn, making Ford's winning time all the more creditable.
Event pics courtesy of Nigel Aiken can be found here.
Connell freewheeling king!
Phil Connell emerged as a top freewheeler in the club's freewheeling competition held on Tuesday June 3rd.
Just 6 hardy competitors, assisted by holder up Julian Wherrett, turned out on a wet and unseasonally cool evening to contest the fun event on the decline from Winterslow to West Tytherley.
After a tight contest Connell came through to win by a few yards. Afterwards the competitors retired to the handily placed Black Horse pub, where a fire was burning, to discuss the event over a drink (or two!).
National Champion entertains at Annual Dinner
The club held its Annual Dinner and Prize Presentation last weekend at Ampfield Golf Club near Romsey. Guest of honour for the evening was former National 12 hour and 24 hour time trial champion Eamonn Deane from Bournemouth.
Before presenting the prizes to the club’s trophy winners, Eamonn gave an entertaining speech covering some of his exploits on the bike and as an international triathlete. He got his audience involved in his speech through plenty of interaction in the manner of the popular comedian, Al Murray, the pub landlord!
Amongst the big prize winners of the evening were Stuart Martingale from Nursling who was crowned club champion again, and Colin Yeates who was champion at 10 miles as well as producing the best 12 hour ride of the year. Jon Dudley won the season long points competition for men and Wendy Knowlton won the ladies award in the same competition.
Following a vote of members at the club’s annual general meeting Jez Hart collected the trophy for Clubperson of the Year, acknowledging his efforts in producing this great new website and in organising road racing for the club.
The club now starts the forthcoming cycling season in very good shape with 250 members in membership but is also welcoming new riders, especially on their Sunday club runs from North Baddesley.
