PTW

It's that time of the year when my 'umble self has to get the old wooden begging bowl out, and appeal to the good and kind members of our great and wonderful club for help. Ok, that was a bit grovelly. Alright then, I admit, it was lots grovelly with a touch of desperation as well!
Right, the club needs help in running this race, and after last years superb effort we have a lot to live up to.
So yes, we are looking for volunteers to stage this event on Thursday night the 17th of May, kick off 1900hrs. If you are not riding, which is quite a lot, as the race is nearly full and only three PTW riders have entered so far, please could you get in touch with me so that I can put names in boxes. I will be over club next week on the 27th of April.
Just like last year, to say thank you to all the helpers there will be a free raffle. We did have a first prize of a mediterranean cruise lined up, however, the company had to pull out due to one of its ships developing extreme rising damp, and the other ship is unavailable because it came to a sudden stop when the engines failed, and its lawyers are now fighting four and a half thousand whiplash claims!
So it will be the normal bottles of plonk etc as prizes.
My phone lines are now open for the rush of calls expected! Thanks.

I was planning / hoping on riding. I'll bring form & entry fee to the club next week, if that's alright.

I'll sit on a junction for you. Although I must pull my finger out and pay my subs!! Les I'll be round soon. Honest

Gunner Williams reporting for duty sah!

Thanks for this initial response lads.
MPH - Only got 8 places left, and we really need to fill these with E/1st and 2nd cats to get the right balance in the groups. Had another 2 entries today which will have to go on standby as they are 3rd cats. I don't know what cat you are, but if you are not E/1/2, then you will go on standby.
Gambo - I think you did the turn at Aberdulais roundabout back down the slip road last year. Do that again please, and you can easily get to see the finish from there.
(Rear?) Gunner Williams - Same job as last year please, on the finish line with the
flag. Also exciting news - You will have a large school bell to ring when the riders start the last lap! Happy days Alf.

I'll be there.

Kev - Mandy's having to bail out mate as she has a School Governer's Meeting on the same night.

No probs Alf. Thanks for letting me know.

OK all you Port Talbot Wheelers, just in case you had forgotten, our Presidents RR is on this Thursday (17th May) and we are still looking for a few more marshals. Everything is organised and set to go! Even the weather may be kind, hopefully.
If you can help, please turn up at the TRW club about 6pm and you will be given a pretty yellow top.
We have a good field, and we are looking forward to great racing.

Thanks.

See you there. Les if you read this, could you bring along mybritish cycling stuff and also i'll pay my fees for the year. went out for a chaingang session last night, starting to feel the tting bug a bit again !!

Anybody fancy me in there 4 up team?

can we fit you with a fairing?

good luck with the president's, which is probably starting about now. Not wishing I was there, since I'm in Italy, 21 degrees, blue skies, food, lots of wine. Beats sitting at the Cricket club with me flask and biccies.

Just like to thank Kevin for putting on a superb event yet again, thanks to all the club members and friends for turning out and helping with the marshalling ,and general dog,s body works, that often goes unthanked but is essential for the smooth running of the event. A special thank you to Kev,s wife Eleanor , for coping with the catering ,until the rest of the troops turned up. To Caryl Bruce for organising, and running the signing on duties.The mobile marshals,the NEG GROUP, ,without whom no road race would take place on the open road.I know that the riders would like to thank Kev as well for the event , and lastly, congratulations to Hugh Wilson for winning the event, and spoiling my birthday present!

Your man in the field reporting, giving you the ‘inside line’…

A cold, windy and occasionally wet night saw JJ in the 4ths, me in the 3rds, Tank, Curtis and Hefin in the scratch group. With short handicaps it was going to be a tough night for all concerned.

Our group started well, with almost everyone working from the off, keeping a nice high speed. I began to get a bit worried that our PT heroes in the scratch group might not catch us so a prolonged dig over the Rock and Fountain by my good self was enough to disrupt our group slightly and get rid of the stragglers.

Amazingly the scratch group, driven by a determined Tank caught us inside a lap (!!) and from then on it was suffering attack-fest, with all the hitters having a pop. We caught the 4th cats on the Rock prior to the bell and it was then all to play for.

Tank and Hefin were very active on the front, but coming up to McDonalds Tank got caught out by a counter attack and a group of 6 went clear (including Hefin). Sensing the danger I went to the front to help and a small determined group of us kept them in sight.

Playing the good team-mate I offered my services to Tank and told him to get on my wheel. With that I hit our group HARD with the intention of getting Tank close enough to the break that he could jump across, without taking any hangers on across. Sure enough just before Resolven I put in a big dig that took James and Hugh Wilson (Willier) across and no-one else.

My work done I sat up and rejoined the bunch. 1km prior to the finish I sat up properly and rolled in with Curtis, not fancying risking life and limb in a sprint for 8th!

Come the finish Tank was pipped by Wilson but another year another PTWCC on the podium, one can’t complain!

Cheers Kev and all involved for a great event, it’s popularity is a compliment to the club.

Til next time….

So it was Disco's fault that Hugh Wilson was brought back to the front bunch !!!!!!

Well I thought Tank was a good sprinter

There's some good pictures of the event on the Welsh Cycling website

Well, Pip said it all really. However, I have got to add my little bit. Thanks to all the club members, who once again made it a successful night. Thanks to the NEG, who make the race so professional. The girls in the HQ, who don't see the race but contribute so much.
One of the difficult things to do on this race is to set the time gaps. But it sounds like Davey put in some big efforts for other club members. Things like that shape a race and make it more exciting.
Well done to all our riders in the race, they all have their own stories to tell, and I am very glad that all the riders were safe and enjoyed themselves.

Anyway, In club tonight we had the draw for the helpers raffle, which was carried out in front of a motley selection of club members.
The winners were:- 1st prize - A bottle of 12yr old Glenfiddich whisky went to CJ.
2nd prize - A bottle of Baileys Irish liqueur went to Christine Lewis (Pip took it off me). 3rd prize - A bottle of red wine went to Griff, and 4th prize, the mystery prize went to Lindsey Jones. Don't ask, it's a mystery!
Thanks to all again.

Well done Kev on another excellent promotion, a grand total of £87.86 raised for Ty Hafen on the night. So well done Ladies on the tea and cakes.