Again the Giltar Hotel hosted this event and a lovely meal and great time was had! As this year is our 10th anniversary, we invited the founding members to join us and presented them with a certificate of lifetime membership.

Tenby Aces Cycling Club was officially launched in April 2007; it was in the Five Arches Tavern in Tenby where the five founding members signed the club constitution. The founding members were Pat Currie, Shane Dougherty, Jon Mills, Andrew Milward and Gareth Rees, and we were delighted that they were all at the anniversary dinner on Sunday.

Due to the history of cycling in the town we chose ‘Tenby Aces’ as the name for our new club and incorporated the old club badge into ours. A key figure in cycling back in the early days was George Ace. Originally from Swansea, he moved to Tenby and was Welsh Cycling Champion from 1879-1889. George Ace began cycling as a lad and bought his first machine when he was 18. It had a wheel with a diameter of 55 inches and on this bicycle George soon began setting records that stood for many years.

In 1885, he rode for a wager from Haverfordwest to Tenby in 1hour 24minutes, not bad considering his bike weighed 40lbs and gears and tarmac were still unheard of. Later that year he became the proud owner of a Rover ‘safety’ bicycle on which he rode from Swansea to Tenby in 4hours 28minutes.

In 1884, a cycle club was formed and on September 19, 1889, the announcement was made that a cyclists torchlight or illuminated procession would take place on August 25 at 7.30 pm, ‘Meeting at the Gatehouse yard preparatory to going round the town, wind and weather permitting. All cyclists are requested to have their lamps lit and to rig up other illuminates on their cycles - as taste may suggest and discretion allow’. A similar attempt to arouse public interest was made on August Bank Holiday 1893, when the cycle races were preceded by a procession of cyclists in fancy costume round the town, and prizes awarded for the best costume.

In July 1896, the Observer reported that in view of the bicycle craze which was now in full swing in Tenby, it had been arranged that a cycling professional would write a weekly column in the paper. It also reported that during this time, came an indication to the emancipation of women, and moonlight rides with as many as 30 ladies and gentlemen were taking place.

Two new cycling clubs appeared in 1898, The Tenby United Cycling Club and The Westgate Cycling Club, the former stating it had many lady members. Around this time, George Ace set up a cycle repair shop in Warren Street, and before long this enterprising cyclist was to be a pioneer of motoring and car sales in Tenby and in fact the Observer offices in Warren Street, and the dentist opposite were once George’s showrooms.

George Ace died within two days of his 82nd birthday, at his home in Warren Street, following a fall and then a seizure. His Penny Farthing bicycle, on which he set many records, can still be seen in Tenby Museum, Castle Hill.

WELL DONE TO ALL AWARDS WINNERS

FOR 2017

Men’s Time Trial - Colin Barrett.

Ladies’ Time Trial - Julie Andrasko.

Junior Time Trial - Ryan Semper

Sportive Award - Tom Beck..

Triathlon Award - Jamie Silvester.

Competitors Award - Andy Adamson.

Outstanding Achievement Award - Julie Slack.

Runner of the Year - Will Lewis.

Swimmer of the Year - Melanie Morgan.

Most Improved Senior - Hayden Johns.

Most Improved Junior - Lewis Poole.

Club Member - Ceris Hewlings.

Members’ Member - Nicola Coates.

Bull Award - Pat Currie (graciously received!)

A bottle of Champagne was presented to Richie Gardiner, Paul Slack and Anto O’Hara on their selection to Team GB and Ireland at the European Triathlon Championships in Denmark in June 2017.

We have had another spectacular year in terms of performances and results in races, both far and wide. It is amazing how our kit gets noticed in all races and the comments are always complimentary, about the support the county gives to Ironman and Long Course Weekend athletes .

Lots of new members have joined us and it made the decision for winners of awards very difficult!

We have enjoyed great social events where we have got involved with local charities with fundraising and helping local organisations, Tenby Bull Run, Dunk Tank at Summer Spectaculars, Summer Carnival and November Challenge.

Please see our website www.tenbyacescc.co.uk and our Facebook page for information on our training sessions and news.

We wish all our Aces family a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

LANZAROTE MARATHON

Well done to Mandy Draper who travelled to the beautiful Canary Islands last weekend for the Lanzarote Marathon. A 42 km coastal route starting in Costa Teguine passing Arrecife, San Bartolome and Puerto del Carmen, before circling back. Mandy finished in a great time of 4hrs 5mins.

ST. JOHNS CHURCH FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS TREES

Our tree this year was titled ‘Tri-Recycling’ and was kindly erected and decorated by Ann Maggs, Nicola’s mum, as this year she was unable to due to a fractured ankle which she suffered when Colin Barrett pushed her over on a club run session!

N.C