Seaton Cycle Fest and Criterium

Since returning from France it's been as though I've not had a moment to take breath let alone sit down and recount another cycling tale in my blog. We sailed into Pool close to midnight on the Saturday for me then on Sunday afternoon to have to join the AVP troops for the inaugural Seaton Cycle Fest & Criterium. It was then back to work, always a frantic experience after a couple of weeks out. The following weekend my parents were in town and I was back on the bike for the Dartmoor Classic. The weekend following that, was my wonderful wife's birthday. On top of this, I've picked up management of the club's web site and the TdF has kicked off! So that brings you up to date with where I've been and hopefully goes some way to explaining the lack of chat.

So, let's play catch up first with the Seaton Cycle Fest & British Cycling Criterium. It was a very damp Sunday 19th June, when in association with 1st Chard Wheelers and Seaton Town Development Team/Town Council, we had our first ever Cycle Fest and Criterium here in the sleepy seaside town of Seaton on the south coast of Devon. This has been almost a year in the planning so it was such a shame that the weather did not play ball.

In spite of the shocking weather, there were over 200 cyclists across the age groups taking part in the racing, the final event being the mens' race circuit along the seafront and up Castle Hill. A couple of reps would have been enough for me, but this race circuit of around 1.5 miles was repeated for an hour!

Our own Axe Valley Pedaller, Clive Heard joined the starting line up and kept with the pack for a very credible 10 laps before calling it a day. The race was finally won by NTFO pro racer George Fowler; so it was a strong lineup!

10 Pedallers turned out to support marshal the event, while others raised the gazebo and promoted the club from the tented area in Thury Harcourt Place.

I sincerely hope we've earned the right to hold this event again next year .. I'll keep you posted.