Reports Index
It has been a busy year for AUK (and I am sure I have written that before).
The London-Edinburgh-London attracted an international field of over 300 riders. Not quite an event on the scale of Paris-Brest-Paris, but, nevertheless, the second largest 1200+ event in the world. All the controllers, and helpers, not to mention Bernard and his able deputy, Simon, deserve praise for their work.
Ritchie Tout has produced a final version of the Articles of Incorporation, by which means it is intended to turn the club into a ‘Company Limited by Guarantee’. While this will alter the legal basis of the club, we have tried to ensure that it will function much as before as far as the membership is concerned.
Membership has topped the 4000 mark. The number of validations is up, so either more people are riding each event, or individuals are riding more events. Either way, it is a healthy sign. We shouldn’t be an exclusive club, our remit is to encourage long-distance cycling.
It was sad to hear of our President, Bry Ferguson’s passing. He had been a stalwart of AUK for many years and liked to think of himself as a steadying influence on the young firebrands of the committee, some of whom are still here.
Finally, I’m retiring from this post. I have enjoyed it, and the rest of the committee has been very tolerant. I trust that my successor, whoever he or she is, brings a fresh approach to the job, with the right amount of diplomacy and humour. I quickly learned that the individuals on the committee work incredibly hard for the club and its members, and I hope we can continue to build on that foundation.
See you on the road
Ian Hennessey