Winter League

Winter league round 7 – wolftrax 19/03/23

Great racing at wolftrax today for the winter league from both young and old! Many thanks to Lance, Stewart and Doug for organising and to Jacqui and Claire for doing the timekeeping. To celebrate Mother’s Day the ladies race included an additional loop up to the top of the Orange, aka the Gill Barnes special 🤣. The next and final race of this year’s Winter League will be at Nevis Range on Sunday the 2nd of April. Steve Bradley is organising this race and it will be an XC loop this year rather than an enduro – you have been warned! This race will be followed by a BBQ and the prizegiving.

Adults Race Results

1. AJ MacDonald 34.34 (e-bike)

2. Liam Moynihan 35.46

3. Stewart MacMillan 36.31 ( e-bike)

4. Lance Marshall 42.06 ( e-bike)

5. Ben Miller 43.11

6. Daniel Parfitt 45.04

7. Scott Rodger 46.07

8. Alexander Pervan 47.53

9. Gregor Muir 48.48

10. Ian Pooleman 52.59

11. Colin Mactavish 55.45

12. Cameron Bungey 1.03.40

13. Doug Little 1.12.09 (e-bike and sign collector)

14. (1st last long course) Gill Barnes 1.23.09

Junior Race Results;

U12 Boys

🥇 Joseph

U10 Boys

🥇 Jethro

🥈 Fraser

🥉 Kaiden

U10 Girls

🥇 Charley

U8 Boys

🥇 Kai

🥈 Archie R

laggan 6
laggan 7
laggan 5
laggan 4
laggan 3
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Committee Minutes

committee meeting minutes 7th March 2023

Minutes of Meeting

7th March 2023

Present: Doug Little, Gill Barnes, Nathan Marsh, Gregor Muir, Dave Parfit, Norman Clark, Lorraine Wheelan, Marian Austin, Steve Bradley. Fort William Foxes (FWF) members also attending were Rhiannan MacIntosh (RM), Stephanie McKenna (SM) and Elise MacGregor (EM).

Apologies: Jacqui Parfit, Mark Clark

Approval of Agenda and Minutes: all agreed

Doug welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked Fort William Foxes representatives for coming along.

Bike Festival: 

  • General discussion around what is happening at the festival and what assistance FWF’s need from WHW. There are brochures available and all info can be found on the Foxes and Wheelers Facebook page or the festival page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/903444154302521/?ref=newsfeed
  • RM, EM and SM: the festival will run over three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (24th to 26th March).
  • Friday will be held at the Highland Cinema and is a Bike Film Contest “Why I love Cycling”, video entries need to be 3 minute long videos about cycling. EM asked if WHW could try and promote this competition to get more video entries, otherwise no further help is needed.
  • Saturday will be at Caol Community Centre, lots happening inside and outside; bucking bronco, bouncy castle, kit sale, stalls and raffle – see brochure or Facebook page for further info. Funds raised by the raffle will go towards the Bike Park. EM: asked if WHW could arrange the setting up and manning the Agility Course, volunteers needed for this and FWF’s have asked if WHW could also source volunteers to assist with parking duties.
  • Sunday is a combination of Social Rides at NR (Bike and Blether), Glen Loy (Foxes) and also a Dig Day (Glen Loy (Erracht side)). WHW and FWF’s leaders will run the social rides.
  • EM: there is a requirement for a wooden roll in feature to be built for the Giant Air Bag and she has asked for help to get someone to build this (included in budget) – NC has offered to do this and will liaise with EM for build requirements.
  • EM: stated that there will be T shirts given to all of the helpers (various sizes available).
  • EM: Nevis Radio will be at the Festival all day on the Saturday.
  • Suggested Volunteers/ride leaders: Jacqui Parfit, Jill Barnes, Lorraine Wheelan, Linzi Beckett, Doug Little, Gregor Muir, Norman Clark, Stefan Baltrunas, Nathan Marsh (tbc) and Dave Parfit (tbc), Ruby Clark and Ava Marsh.

Winter League Discussion:

  • Sunday the 19th of March at Wolftrax ( including a kid’s race) – Stewart and Lance are running this race. Permissions have been granted and the café are aware that we are coming. DL might also help. MA advised that Christian needs confirmation for the race plans/route from Lance and that Lance also needs to complete a Risk Assessment. DL and Lance are going to Wolftrax on 13th March to check out the route.
  • Sunday the 2nd of April at Nevis Range – Steve is running this race. Due to possible complications with the timing equipment, and the fact that it is the opening weekend of uplift, Steve is going to run this race as a cross country race. This race will be followed by the prizegiving and BBQ. DL stated that volunteers are needed for cooking, DL will buy the food. SB stated that he is still considering the route. MA will gather the trophies in. DL will do the kids race.
  • Every rider who has completed 3 races will get a WHW buff.

Time Trials:

  • Proposed dates on Tuesdays (organisers in brackets)

18th April – Commando Memorial (Emma)

9th May –Loch Eil 10 (Andy and Nathan)

30th May – Invergarry (Vince)

20th June- Laggan Dam (Nathan)

11th July- Loch Leven (?????)

1st August- Loch Eil 10 (Doug)

22nd August Commando Memorial (Spook?)

  • Best 4 races out of 7 to count.
  • Emma to register races with Scottish Cycling.
  • GM stated that the Triathlon Club are keen to help with the Time Trials, GM will contact Sam Potter to discuss further.

Wednesday Night Rides:

  • DL discussed having an introductory night after the festival.
  • Discussed options of separating the Weds rides and adult and youth specific rides, GM happy to continue Youth Rides regardless of outcome. NM suggested advertising for an evening ride specifically at Nevis Range, a consistent Youth ride to encourage more to come along. This needs to be explored further.
  • GM looking for suggestions for places to have future Weds night rides.

Lochaber Trail Association:

  • AGM on Tuesday 14th March at the Highland Soap Company. Mark is keen to get more committee members for LTA.

Scottish Cycling Rock Up and Ride Project:

  • The Isla bikes are arrived at the beginning of March and the first lessons were held at Inverlochy and Lundavra primary schools during the first week in March.

Pump Track:

  • GM updated everyone on the progress of the Pump Track; currently they are £5000 short which means that the fence build cannot be completed until the funds are in place, Gillies Fencing have the contract and will start building the fence the last week in March. Velosolutions and Concreate aim to have the whole project built by the end of July in time for the World Champs on the 4th and 5th of August.

Any other Business:

  • Simon at Highland First Aid has very kindly offered to do a free 2 hour refresher for all leaders before Kid’s Club resumes. Venue and times TBC – not discussed.
  • Brief discussion over a community Event around the time of the World cup.
  • Website/social media – not discussed.
  • JP stated that we need more ride leaders for the mixed Bike and Blether at the Festival on the Sunday.
  • NC suggested Pump Track donations tins be at the festival to help raise funds for the shortfall of £5k.
  • WHW Uplift Pass – adult early bird price is £181.95 (full price £194.95, non members £396.95). The U17s early bird is £97.95 (full price £104.45, non members £216.95) as per the WHW email sent out to members. Cut off date for the early bird tbc.

Bank Account:

£17165 (this includes a lot of money for the festival which will be going out of the Account soon).

Next Meeting:

Tuesday 16th May at MA’s house.

ACTIONS:

  • WHW members to spread the word re “Why I love Cycling” video entries for the first event of the Festival on 24th March
  • Volunteers needed for Sat 25th – Agility Course 2 x volunteers needed for parking duties, an extra person for the Smoothie Bike and also a volunteer to float for general enquiries inside and outside
  • More Ride Leaders needed for the Bike and Blether ride on Sunday 25th (festival)
  • Gear sales at festival – have two WHW tables to sell peoples second hand bike gear and ask for volunteers to run this
  • GM to take Pump Track donations tins to the festival
  • Lance Marshall and DL to confirm route plan for Wolftrax on 19th March with Christian
  • Lance Marshall to complete Risk Assessment for Wolftrax on 19th March
  • SB to discuss with the cafe re food available for Wolftrax race on 19th March
  • MA to gather in the Trophies for the Winter League from last years League
  • DL to arrange kids race on 2nd April and buy food for BBQ
  • DL to discuss TT at Invergarry with Emma
  • NM to discuss TTs with Sam Potter (Triathlon Club) and GM will discuss with Bronagh
  • Discuss Youth Rides separating from Adult Social Weds Rides
Committee Minutes

committee meeting minutes 07/02/23

West Highland Wheelers – Committee Meeting Tuesday the 7th of February 2023

Present – Doug Little, Gregor Muir, Mark Clark, Norman Clark, Dave Parfitt, Jacqui Parfitt, Gill Barnes

Apologies – Marian Austin, Lorraine Whelan, Steve Bradley.

Winter League.

  • Thanks to Vince and Cammie for organising a great race at Invergarry at the weekend.
  • The remaining races in this year’s Winter League are;

– Sunday the 26th Feb – Barcaldine (run by NACC)

–  Sunday the 19th of March  – Wolftrax. We still need a main organiser for this. Stewart MacMillan has said that he would be willing to help out but would like someone else to assist/lead. All permissions are done for this race, we just need someone to lay out the course, do the risk assessments and run the race.

-Sunday the 2nd April – Nevis Range ( including a BBQ and prizegiving) – run by Steve Bradley. This may or may not be an enduro. Spook is going to let us know the feasibility and cost of using the timing as this may have gone up significantly. This is the first weekend of the school holidays and the opening weekend of uplift. There may well also be a number of members away racing at Innerleithen.

  • Some research by Andy has shown that the number of racers over each race has remained fairly stable over the past 4 years. It was generally agreed though, that it would be a good idea to do a Facebook poll at the end of this year’s WL to get any ideas on how we might improve things going forward and attract more racers.
  • Ben Miller very kindly offered to do a race at Duror if we were unable to get a suitable date at Nevis Range. We are now ok for Nevis Range but would definitely be very happy for Ben to organize a race at Duror next year.

Festival on the 25th, 26th and 27th of March

  • Elise has started posting information about the festival and is going to ramp this up in the next week or so when posters and fliers are printed.
  • Jacqui is going to contact Elise about her being able to post directly on to our facebook page and the Instagram account that we have just discovered that we have had since 2014!

Time Trials

  • Emma and Vince have had an initial discussion about how to change things up a little and hopefully encourage more riders to take part on a regular basis.

Bike Park

  • Things are progressing slowly. Work should hopefully start in late March, early April and finish

just in time for the World Championships.

Scottish Cycling Rock up and Ride Project

  • Many thanks to Claire Abernethy for all the time and effort that she has put into organising this. The Isla bikes are arriving at the beginning of March and the first lessons will be held at Inverlochy and Lundavra primary schools in the first week of March.

Trail Closures

  • Concerns were raised about the current temporary trail closures and whether the Wheelers need to do anything to try to help to ensure the long term future of these trails. Mark reassured us that the Lochaber Trail Association are having a meeting with FLS in the next week to discuss this very issue. High up on the agenda for this will be the need to work together more.
  • Mark feels that the best way for the Wheelers to try to help to ensure the long term future of these trails is for more wheelers members to get involved with LTA. They are currently looking for more committee members and their AGM is on Tuesday the 14th of March.
  • The next Trail Association trail dig is on Sunday the 26th of February. Meeting at 10.00 at the North Face car park at Torlundy and working on Lockdown/Rob’s trail.

Bike and Blether

  • Lorraine has set up a specific Bike and Blether facebook page which is linked to the Wheelers page.
  • Jacqui confirmed that she will be around on the Saturday and Sunday of the festival to run Bike and Blether rides.
  • Jacqui is in the process of signing the club up to the SAMH and be a part of Scotlands mental health charter for physical education and sport . All agreed that the club would be very happy to continue with this process.

Scottish Cycling

  • Affiliation has been accepted by Cycling – Claire Abernethy, Robbie Cant and Kenny Forsyth to do their CWPS before kid’s club starts up again at the end of April
  • There is a youth development online meeting 21st Feb from 6-7. Doug has said that he will attend this.
  • There is time trial commissaire face to face training on the 25th of Feb at Forrres – do we have anyone interested?
  • It was confirmed that all the required certificates for coaches need to be sent to Marian ( with Gregor copied in) as and when they are acquired/ refreshed.

Wednesday night rides

  • Many thanks to Dave for sourcing 4 new night riding lights. These are now in Gregor’s possession for anyone who wishes to borrow them. We currently have one helmet mount and 3 handlebar mounts. Dave is going to get one more handlebar mount.
  • Numbers have been low recently but the weather has been fairly horrible. Might be worth doing another introductory night for different levels just after the festival.

AOB

  • Many thanks to Simon at Highland First Aid for running a course and getting 8 members qualified/ refreshed. Simon has very kindly offered to do a free first Aid refresher session for all leaders before the start of the next block of Kid’s club sessions. Doug will contact him to confirm this.
  • Mark is keen to get 4 candidates together for a British Cycling Level 2 course so that he can finish his British Cycling tutoring process. Mark will contact Claire to chase up potential kid’s club parent candidates. Gill will speak to Claire Beattie to see if she would be interested.
  • Doug still needs to organise a  meeting with Vince, Jacqui and Evelyn to discuss the website social media etc.

Next Meeting – Tuesday the 7th of March at Doug’s house.

Actions;

  1. Find an organiser for the Winter League race at Wolftrax. Doug to contact Lance and Leon to see if they would be interested in helping.
  2. Jacqui to contact Elise re posting directly on to our facebook page and Instagram.
  3. Doug to attend Youth Development Meeting on the 21st of February.
  4. Dave to source one more handlebar mount.
  5. Gregor to put an introductory night riding session into the schedule at the beginning of April after the festival.
  6. Doug to contact Simon at Highland First Aid re organising a leaders first aid refresher session.
  7. Gill to speak to Claire Beattie about possibly doing a level 2 course with Mark.
  8. Doug to organise a meeting with Vince, Jacqui and Evelyn to discuss the website, social media etc.