| December
2000 |
More bad weather
causing problems for club riders.
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|
A
winter scene. taken near Haytor on Boxing Day 2000.
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And
then it snowed. Tempuratures dropped on Christmas day 2000, and snow fell
on Dartmoor. By Boxing day it was a real White Christmas. Unfortunately
many of the lanes and side roads which are not treated became treacherous.
There have been numerous minor spills on club runs, particularly in areas
where recent rains have run off of fields, frozen and caused some very
thick ice.
At least the cold weather has brought some sunshine, and added charm to
the Devon scenery.
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| December
2000 |
Continued
storms make for difficult cycling on Devons roads.
 |
|
The
"road" between Stokeinteignhead and Coombinteignhead near
Newton Abbot.
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Almost three
months of continuous bad weather is now taking it's toll on Devon's road
network. In addition to the numerous potholes that go with regular flooding,
some areas are very badly affected by landslides, and road surfaces which
have been literally washed away.
The bad weather looks set to continue into the Christmas period.
This year Devon CC began a major repair programme on many roads which had
suffered years of neglect. It now looks as if there will be even more repairs
needed next year.
|
| December
2000 |
Ken
Strong celebrates 50 years with Exeter CTC.
 |
| Ken
Strong (R) receiving a 50th anniversary momento, from Harold Wilson
(L). |
Ken
Strong from Topsham celebrates 50 years with CTC in Exeter this year.
Ken who is also well reknowned as an aircraft artist was given a special
presentation at this years CTC Dinner on 3rd December at the Mount Batten
Centre in Plymouth.
Ken was Secretary of the Exeter section for many years, and has held many
other roles within the DA including President.
|
| November
2000 |
Devon
DA win the District Associations Touring Competition.
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|
DATC
team at DA Dinner in Plymouth. 2000
|
Devon have won the
DATC. They held on to their lead which they gained earlier in the year.
David and Linda Johnston, Mike Hunting, Ian Weatherill, Geoff Sharpe and
Graham Brodie are the six team members whose points are totalled for the
competition. (615 pts - see results pages)
Linda was also the first Lady in the competition.
The riders will attend the CTC National Dinner in Leicester in February
2001, to receive the trophy and medallions.
The win continues a long history of successes for Devon in past touring
competitions.
|
October
2000 |
41 riders finish
gruelling Dartmoor Devil ride.
 |
|
Kevin
Presland sets off for - well you can see where!
|
This years Dartmoor
Devil saw some atrocious weather, with heavy rain and gales over Dartmoor
forcing many of the riders
to pack the event at or before Jurston.
41 riders eventually made it back to Manaton in the alloted time. One
rider was blown off of his bike whilst crossing the moor, and another
was hospitalised after hitting a bank on a descent between Princetown
and the finish.
|
October
2000
|
Devon DA riders
get Audax Super Randonneur 2000 awards.
Nine riders
from Devon have gained their Audax SR2000 awards. The award is for riding
200Km, 300Km, 400Km, 500Km and 600Km events for the 2000 season.
Mike Hunting and David
Johnston from Tavistock, Ian Weatherill from Plymouth; Mark Williams,
Kevan Fleckney, Rod Pash, and Graham Brodie from Torbay section, and Ian
Hennessy and Richard Harding from Exeter have all qaulified for the
special 2000 medal.
|
October
2000 |
Devon DA's
founder member and first secretary dies aged 94.
Our first secretary,
and founder member and great friend Les Sparkes has died.
Ernest Leslie Sparkes (known by us all as Les) was born in London not
far from the Battersea power station.
Having moved to Devon he started up the Devon District CTC in 1931, and
was a great supporter of the club for the next 63 years.
Les was residing at
the Whipton Lodge residential home where he was regularly visited by DA
members and friends.There are several tributes to him in our magazine
"The Highwayman".
Donations in Les's
memory can be sent to: Macmillan Cancer Relief Fund,
c/o Mitchell Funeral Services, King William Street, EXETER. EX4 6PD.
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