Sean Barker

Event Name = Mr. Pickwick goes to Hay in a day Organised by = Mark Rigby Distance = 205km Total Climb = 1900m Start and finish point = Tewkesbury Entry Fee = £4 Date ridden – Saturday 7th September 2013 205km cycling event starting from Tewkesbury. If I could only ride one organisers audaces it would be Mark Rigby's With a different Audax for every month and all of the highest quality, it seems you just can't go wrong. This one is no different. This was my second year to ride this event and it really is a beautiful course. The route takes you west for a first control at Wormelow Tump Post Office then it's on to to the charming Hay-on-Wye for lunch. Then the course makes its way through a number of villages before making its way to Bromyard for afternoon tea. The final stage (which is the longest section) which circumnavigates Bredon Hill and then drops back into Tewkesbury. This is a hilly course but no particularly big hills but still manages to rack up 1,900 meters of climbing Controls at Wormelow Tump, Hay-on-Wye and Bromyard plus three information controls.

Event Name = East Midlands Forest 200km Organized by = Ian Hill Distance = 207km Start and finish point = Moira, W of Ashby-de-la-Zouch Entry Fee = £5.40 Date ridden – Sunday 1st September 2013 A relatively flat but pleasant and excellently organized event. The course ran clockwise roughly circumnavigating Leicester but on quiet roads and through a plethora of charming and quaint villages and towns. There were three excellent café stops (control points) the last two of which were familiar to me having used them on a number of previous Audax events. The start/finish point (Moira village hall) was well stocked with complimentary sandwiches, cakes and drinks, and a pleasant welcome. Control points – Landyke Lane End, Rockingham and Wistow and only one info control.

Event Name = Neville Chanin Memorial – Over the Severn Organised by = Peter Hutchinson Distance = 213km Total Climb = 3134m Start and finish point = Wickhamford, SE of Evesham Entry Fee = £7 Date ridden – Sunday 4th August 2013 213km cycling event starting from Wickhamford. Now through nobody’s fault but my own I arrived late and set off half an hour after the rest. I also managed to go off course and tack on another 15km but this was due to not being able to see my instructions due to the heavy rain. So despite riding on my own to Chepstow and getting lost sometime after that, there was no escaping the fact that this was a lovely route, some decent climbs and some spectacular views. The start/finish area was expertly run with a warm friendly welcome and a hot drink and food at the beginning and a most welcome bowl of soup at the finish. The controls for the most part were open so just get a receipt and use any of the plentiful choice of cafes and tea rooms along the route. With over 3,000m of climbing it was challenging for some but I don’t remember any of the climbs being particularly difficult. This scenic ride made its way to Chepstow via Tewkesbury, Newent and the Forest of Dean and returning over the Severn Bridge, Wotton-Under-Edge, Stroud and Andoversford. Controls at Newent, Chepstow, Stroud plus 4 information controls.

Event Name = Midlander 100 Organised by = Jim Lee Distance = 110km Start and finish point = Earlswood Lakes Warwickshire Entry Fee = £6 Date ridden – Saturday 14th July 2013 110km cycling event starting from Earlswood Lakes With a fairly straight forward run down to Defford via Pershore and a slightly longer return trip via Evesham necessitating the two info controls, this was a pleasant if familiar route but made special by the large group of Saracen riders who rode it as one group. One control at Defford and two info controls on the return leg

Event Name = Clee and Herefordshire Hills Organised by = Gavin Greenhow Distance = 207km Total Climb = 3050m Start and finish point = Droitwich Entry Fee = £4 Date ridden – Saturday 13th July 2013 207km cycling event starting from Droitwich. This really is a spectacular route, with over 3,000m of climbing you really do enjoy some breath-taking vistas. Perhaps more of a course for a stronger rider but if you can manage it, it is truly a rewarding ride. The route made its way around the Clee hills before making the first control at Cleobury. Further controls were at Bromyard and Ledbury, although most of us took an additional stop at Tenbury Wells for refreshment on what was a particularly hot day Controls at Cleobury, Bromyard and Ledbury plus 5 information controls.

Event Name = Mr. Pickwick Takes Flight Organised by = Mark Rigby Distance = 206km Total Climb = 1800m Start and finish point = Tewkesbury Entry Fee = £4 Date ridden – Saturday 6th July 2013 206km cycling event starting from Tewkesbury. Another intriguing name for an Audax from Mark Rigby but apparently the name is derived from places and landmarks it passes through or are nearby As I have come to expect from Mark Rigby’s events this one is of the highest standard, a pleasant and charming route be there some unavoidable sections along busy roads This is not an overly difficult 200km and perhaps an ideal one for those looking to step up in distance, With good and interesting controls from the café at Wellesbourne to the Aerodrome at Turweston and finally on to his well used café in Chipping Norton, where the selection of cakes is always impressive. Controls at Wellesbourne, Turweston. and Chipping Norton., plus 3 information controls.