Winter Cycling Challenge 21-22 – Report

DCV’s Winter Cycling Challenge, which ran from the 30th October 2021 to the 27th March 2022 and was expertly organised – as such things usually are – by Ride Captain Chris Graham, came to its much anticipated conclusion with the winner being…drum roll…Dave Stevens!

From the 26 members who recorded at least one ride, Dave – often in the company of his dad, Mick, also a club member – racked up 388 of the 4263 points scored by the club as a whole, just pipping the ageless and redoubtable Neville Cain who was frequently partnered by Andrew Edwards (8th with 261 points), by a mere 2 points!

One notable ride of Dave’s was a hilly ‘century’ through the Durham dales that caught the attention of many of us on Strava. From a squinting single-pass of Chris’ master sheet shown in the gallery it looks to me like Dave’s awesome total of 1,488 miles was only 119 more than Neville’s which makes it a pretty close-run thing over the course of a 5 month challenge. Well done to both.

So, with grateful thanks to Chris whose never-ending enthusiasm helped motivate us through another typical winter’s cycling in the UK, it’s a resounding “chapeau” to Dave who is pictured receiving his award from Chris at our monthly get-together at the Kingslodge Inn in Durham. To make it very much a family affair, Dave’s dad, Mick (10th with 179 points) nominated Diabetes UK to receive a donation of £170.

Scott Watson won the photography competition with his chilly night-time shot of the Heugh Cannon on Hartlepool Headland (Destination C). It was tight though, with Tim Belsey’s shot of the Pit Lift at Easington Colliery (Destination E) going to arbitration by Chris’ mother-in-law!

Results

Position	Competitor	Points	Position	Competitor	Points
1	Dave Stevens	388	13	Peter Dawson	123
2	Neville Cain	386	14	Craig Skidmore	114
3	Stuart Elsy	315	15=	Peter Linstead	112
4	Graeme Bradford	311	15=	Gail Linstead	112
5	Dave Tomlinson	295	16	Andy Knight	100
6	Tim Belsey	288	17	John Hitch	67
7	Graeme Watt	287	18=	Ian Buill	64
8	Andrew Edwards	261	18=	Carl Bestford	64
9	Chris Graham	251	19	Mark Wilson	53
10	Mick Stevens	179	20	Peter Grimoldby	43
11=	Mike Wyngard	128	21	Harry Walker	41
11=	Dave Kell	128	22=	Peter Sturman	34
12	Scott Watson	125	22=	Nigel Ball	34