Alton Cycling Club have held their annual awards dinner.

The dinner got off to a musical start, with member Kelvin Parker playing some lively sax at Beech Village Hall.

Drinks and canapes were flowing, and a range of wines were available. Beer was donated by fff brewery.

Club chairman Guy Henshaw welcomed everyone to the event and thanked the organising team, the Alton Cycling Club committee and sponsors Owens Cycles and Hi-Tech Heating. Club champions for the 2022 season were presented with their trophies.

Ruth Stratford took home four awards as she was crowned the ladies’ hill climb champion, the ladies’ Strava segment challenge champion, the ladies’ distance challenge champion and the ladies’ climbing challenge champion.

The men’s hill climb champion was Justin Lee, and the men’s segment challenge champions were James Allen and Shaun Blow. The men’s distance challenge champion was Henshaw, and the men’s climbing challenge champion was Ian Ransom. The track champion was John Mansfield, the time trials ten-mile and 25-mile champion was Robert Ditcham and the club member of the year was Becci May.

After-dinner speaker Simon Potter gave a heartfelt account of his incredible and awe-inspiring experience of the Race Across America last year, complete with graphic, as well as images, which told their own story of how challenging this race is.

Publicity secretary Becci May said: “We’d like to say a big thank you to Simon, Kelvin, our volunteer bartenders and organisers, our caterers and Beech Village Hall for making this such a great occasion.”