We have a winner - HUGE congratulations to Corinne Clark (Velo Vitesse) who has won the 2017 Steele Davis Ltd Women's Cotswold League.

Full details and final standings now on the league website....

Anyone who knows me well will understand how passionate I am about our sport and pastime. Cycling in the U.K. Has experienced an incredible rise in it's popularity in the past few years and as such all the different governing bodies of the various cycling disciplines have had to adapt to a very rapidly changing market.

For me as an old fashioned traditional club cyclist coming from a cycling family, I have many fond memories of the old fashioned ways of riding and the values behind those ideas and ways. However, in order to continue to thrive we need to adopt modern ideas and thoughts to make sure we continue to develop interesting initiatives that the "new" cyclist will find exciting and inspiring.

I like to think of myself as someone able to consider the very best aspects of the old traditional values but at the same time someone who is keen to engage with new thoughts and ideas. Classic change process I guess.....

The incredible increase and popularity appears to have levelled off in the last year or so and I now sense a period of consolidation. Many "new" cyclists are now well established and as such and have joined clubs or indeed formed new clubs/teams.

British Cycling as a governing body is, in my opinion, managing the process well and mirroring within it's own organisation amongst staff and volunteers much of what I have described above.

At a local level governing the regions is generally covered by similarly enthusiastic and passionate volunteers. The South region is holding its regional AGM on Saturday. Clubs affiliated to BC are entitled to send delegates(the number depends on the number of BC members in your club) to this meeting.

Traditionally apathy rules and South region is no different to any other where often the same enthusiastic volunteers continue to give up time to administer our wonderful sport and pastime.

Whatever your views on previous or existing administrations I urge you to attend or at least make sure that your club delegate(s) attend to ensure that the democratic process is followed.

Each clubs secretary will have received details regarding the date and time of the meeting. My own club is entitled 5 delegates to attend and vote.

The South region has a huge pool of willing people who commisaires, organise, coach, and generally help out with increased numbers of races, coaches and accredited marshals our region is in a strong position. However, as always when dealing with volunteers careful and considered management is required.

I understand the politics of governing our sport at all levels, club, regionally, nationally and internationally. However, for me personally I have one very altruistic motive and that is to ensure that others particularly novices and newcomers gain the same level of joy and pleasure that I have following a lifetimes involvement in this amazing sport and pastime.

I urge you to either attend yourself or ensure that your club delegate does in order to encourage forward thinking and professional governance of the sport.

Sorry for the long post.......!!!

PS sadly I will not be present due to having to work that day.

PPS I am also conscious that the OVO Tour of Britain visits the North of our region that day which may have an impact on attendance. Not an ideal situation obviously. Please do not respond negatively to this post. Take any thoughts or comments to the meeting instead.......!!