Fixed Focus

Looking back over the whole of the season just ended, despite it being between the Grande Randonnées of LEL and PBP, the year must be considered a success. For the FWC the number of entrants was significantly up (43) as was the number of successful validations (17) The SFW Challenge, too, showed an increase with 12 cards issued and 7 validated, the lower levels demonstrating the greater challenge and shorter time limit allowed. The Derek Shuttleworth Memorial Trophy has a new champion in Shaun Hargreaves whose total of 292.25 points has previously been exceeded only by Steve Abraham. (He doesn’t now figure in these stats, so I wonder what he’s doing now?...) The female counterpart, similarly, has a new first-season champion in Yvonne King. I am looking forward to more noteworthy exploits from both champions, and no doubt on the mens’ side, Justin is likely to try to regain his top position. The full list of all valid claims received is below in descending points order for the FWC and aphabetical order for the SFW.

Name Points Shaun Hargreaves 292.25 Justin Jones 172.00 James Skillen 160.25 Dean Clementson 106.75 Ivan Cornell 76.00 Mike Thompson 75.00 Andrew Preater 74.50 Malcolm Mitchell 55.00 Nick Wilkinson 54.00 Paul Manaseh 44.00 Tim Pickersgill 43.25 Tim Rusbridge 27.00 Peter Hammond 25.00 Mick Bates 24.00 Tom Deakins 23.00 Allen O'Leary 18.00 Mark Oakden 18.00 Richard Phipps 12.00 Fixed Wheel Challenge (Male)

Name Points Yvonne King 24.00 Lindsay Clayton 2.00 FWC (Female - opposite sex)

Super Fixed Wheelers Dean Clementson Ivan Cornell Justin Jones (Hyper) Yvonne King Mark Oakden Allen O'Leary Tim Pickersgill Andrew Preater Tim Rusbridge James Skillen (Hyper) Mike Thompson Pablo Walsingham Nick Wilkinson

The designation “hyper” indicates 4 x 600km rides comprising the series, though this is really for personal satisfaction, as pushing the envelope is the Audax norm and not currently an official award. These listings will be available shortly on the AUK website. Audax UK has a history of celebrating past illuminati, although over time the personalities get forgotten, becoming just names and following a recent enquiry, it seems appropriate to remind fixers especIally in our 40th anniversary year, about the start of the FWC. It was originally the brainchld of Gordon Allen at the start of 1993 and Derek Shuttleworth was one of the early entrants to the challenge. He was an engineer at Rank Xerox and a high-profile afixionado in the Welsh and Welsh borders areas, who also organised and led many CTC events for local DA’s (Member Groups in this week’s terminology.) As if this was not sufficient, he also built cycle frames in a workshop close to his home. Sad to report that very shortly after achieving early retirement from RX, while leading a CTC ride, he was fatally injured in a road accident. The AUK committee at that time accepted a suggestion to purchase a trophy in his memory and this was first awarded – along with an unnamed counterpart for the female sex - in 1994. Gordon Allen continued organising the FWC but was forced to pass the job on in 2001 due to ill health. Under various organisers, it has continued to prosper as evidenced by last season’s exploits. Hopefully, the historical details will be of interest and spur Auks on during the current season and beyond. Best wishes to all refusing to freewheel and hopes for a successful and – above all – safe 2017 season. Richard Phipps, Fixed Gear Challenges Organiser