2007 was another successful year for the Peterborough based Fenland Clarion Cycling Club with the highlight being a bus load of yellow jersey wearing club members descending on the nations capital in July for the prologue of the Tour de France.
It was an early start in the car park of the cities Key Theatre and a surreal sight seeing club mates arriving clad in the special limited edition t-shirts, polos and hoodies. The yellow invasion turned plenty of heads once we arrived in London with one American spectator offering to buy the shirt off my back as a souvenir of their day!
The Tour was, of course, amazing and despite the challenges the race faced in its later weeks I think every Fenland Clarion member who made the trip will look back on it as a great experience and a day to remember.
The clubs socialising didn’t end on the Mall with another trip going to the Ghent 6 day late on in the year. Youngster James Frost taking some tips from none other than Eddy Merckx in trackside conversation.
The club was very active in racing both locally and nationally and caught the sportif bug with a group of riders heading to the continent to ride La Marmotte.
In terms of the club championshops, the prizes were dominated by Ian Waddilove who collected 7 wins during the season and was rightly club champion. His notable victories included the big three distances, 10, 25 and 50 miles.
Paul Lilley was another to collect a large haul with runners up placings in the Place to Place and Helpston Classic amongst others.
Simon Pitchford and Malcolm Jacklin both had productive seasons with great results from first to last and the clubs current crop of potential laden youngsters led by Simon Jacklin and Jordan Wilson will look back on this season as a launch pad in their fledgling cycling careers.
