Congratulations to Steve Davies who recently became the ACME Cycle Cross Champion for 2015. The event chosen for the tough Championship was a Melin Mynach ‘Cross in Gorseinon -Swansea, a mid-season event and round 7 of the Welsh League.

Steve a recent new member to the club and new to Cycle Cross was riding only his 5th race and what a race for the ACME championship to be decided. An incredible  172 Riders lined up for the start of the event in generally dry weather conditions, but the course was a typical cycle cross event – muddy, twisty, technical which required a high level of skill to ride lap after lap, the unusually fast road section included was a relief to the tough surrounding  terrain.

The Race attracted some top quality names such as, Grant Johnson who came 5th (currently ranked 3 in UK in over 50’s), past Welsh Champion Tim Davies who finished 4th (Tim is very well known to Many ACME members as he was a special guest to the clubs 1990’s presentation dinner), Andrew Parry 3rd (currently ranked no.1 in UK over 40’s), and mountain bike professional Star Monon Carpenter who rides for the Madison Saracen Downhill team and is currently the UCI mountain bike World Downhill Champion, a true field of talented riders.

Steve was pleased to rub shoulders thought-out the race with the stars and managed to finish in a very respectable position, he is now looking forward to riding the remaining events of the Welsh series with training partner Jeff Rees. His championship win will be rewarded with the Dominic Gamberini Memorial Trophy engraved with his name.

Dave long has done the Triple by winning the recent Club 50 mile Championships to add to his 10 & 100 mile Championship wins this year. His time of 2.06.43 was a personal best which made the event even more pleasing. Second in the championship was Simon Kinsey who again produced a personal best with a 2.12.56 a rewarding time after the training he has been doing of late. The Championships have shown Dave’s talent to perform over three varied distances which makes him a great all-rounder in time trials as well his road racing skills. He could also be one of the favourites to win the Hill Climb Championships in November on Barn Hill to round off a successful season of racing.

Representing the ACME, Alec Morris was selected to ride The British GHS Championship after finishing on the podium of the South Wales District GHS.  The undulating course in Hertfordshire was a tough test for the 132 schoolboys competing over the 10 miles where Alec produced a 25.50, a great time considering the terrain and windy conditions.

To round off a good year for Alec at this year’s Presentation Dinner he will be awarded two trophies for his determination throughout the season. Firstly he has become the Club 5 Mile Series Champion collecting the most points during the series as his time trialing as improved month by month, as a result he will collect the “Dudley Thomas Memorial Trophy”. Also the Schoolboy Best All Rounder trophy will be engraved with his name as Alec as ridden the necessary open events to qualify for the award. His fastest 10 mile time this year has been a 24.46 a counting event for the BAR.

Carl Middleton as won the 2015 Hill Climb series in his first year of racing for the club. A talented climber Carl set some great times on the Bwlch mountain climb thought-out the series. Carl Regularly competes in Biathlons so he no stranger to tough competition and regularly trains on the hills around the Rhondda Valley’s. At the forthcoming Presentation Dinner he will be presented with the “Tony Gammon Trophy”.