San Fairy Ann Cycle Club

and have groups of riders spread across the road as they hand in their cards and plastic discs? Not good PR for the club.

By all means make the church gates the finishing line for the sprint if there is no traffic there but then slow down to get into the car park.

Not for all riders*, but having a finish line meters after turning right across traffic seems a little dangerous!

In the past the winner has always soloed it, but it looks like there could be a bunch finish this year!

*Only relevant for those competing for the club trophy.

Maybe someone should "Hutch" a plan of sorts !?

Ron,
I was joking when I asked if I would have time to get from my check point to the finish in time for all these fast men!!! I shall have to get used to using the emoticons!!!

I also hope Rob is joking!! With so many entries from other clubs our PR on the road is important, & not only to the locals!

Pasty

I'm up for a sub 3.35 group again as it seemed to work well last year sharing the effort (or was I catching a ride on the back of the two Ian's wheels).

I thought I might not go for gold this year. It'd be nice to have a silver in my collection I feel.

Lol at John!!!!!

I might try for gold, then decide on-route that a silver would go better with my livingroom decor!

Thanks
Ron and your huge team of helpers, great organisation, marshalling, signage, check points, refreshment bar at HQ and on the canal.

It was my first time doing the SFA sportive.

Hope Tony Richardson is not too serious or the other guy who also was taken to hospital.

A mention should be made of the residents who were really helpful.

Just want to say how much I enjoyed the sportive today, this also been my first ever sportive. The organisation was great and also a big thank you to all the marshalls and also the tea ladies and the excellent cakes at the finish HQ.

I must also say a special thanks to the people at the half way refreshents on the canal, who had me arrive all flustered and in a big-time hurry to keep moving, during my brief time there, they managed to stuff a banana down my jacket, plus some cake and get me going again very rapidly, very gratefull for that! more so for the fruit cake!..... I got stuck at the level crossing in Tentenden and was able to sit there and eat my fruit cake and watch a very slow steam train crawl past!

I was also saddened to hear about the awful accident to the six cyclists in the group behind me. really hope nobody got too seriously hurt and also that Tony is ok and can get back into the saddle very quickly!

I'd just like to add my thanks to those above - I did a sportif last year that was average and realised just how spoiled I am having access to this brilliant one. I'm not sure if it's the great route & signs, the marshals, the feeding station at Rye, the SFACC train or the organisation, but all of the above make it truly spectacular.

That was one of the hardest rides of my life - I've felt better with some serious hangovers before!

Ron,

Would like to echo the above.

I was thinking on my slow ride home that it was the best sportive I have ridden.

The route was very well marked, the checkpoints were quick and effective and the food was all great.

The route itself had sections of everything, flat, hills and sections in between,
so couldnt ask for any more.

(Hope Tony and the other rider recover quickly)

Thanks again

Joe

I can't add anything to the above that hasn't already been said by Lee, Michael, Rob & Joe. A brilliant day; thankyou to all involved who worked and organised, you have a tough act to follow Steve!

Final thanks to the SFA Inters Train (you know who you are) slightly more branch line than express at times , but I think we all achieved what we set out to.

Awesome ride today and after cycling to and from marden my speedo clicked past 100 miles with an average of 18.8 mph .

If anybody gets any info on Tony's and the other riders involed injuries please let us all know.

Many thanks to all the helpers who gave up there time for others today.

Thanks for all the nice comments. It was a real team effort and nowhere is there a better team than SFA.

I have received this e-mail about Tony from Jan

Hello Ron, Firstly many thanks to all those who went to Tony's aid and
supported him today, especially to Richard, who kept me informed of
what was happening. Unfortunately I don't have his contact details to
make personal contact with him. Tony is fretting that others will have
compromised their times!!!
Tony is in William Harvey Hospital as he has fractured the top part of
his pelvis, an unusual place to fracture we are told. He is not very
comfortable as every movement sends him into spasm down his left side
and he has difficulty sitting let alone standing and walking. The
treatment will probably be time, and lots of pain relief, as the
fracture is not into his hip socket and is not displaced, but we will
know more after the big wigs have seen him tomorrow.
Please pass this info onto whoever asks and I or Tony will update you
when we can.

Let's hope it isn't too long before he is out and about.

Hi Ron

Thanks for the update on Tony. Sounds horrific. I sincerely wish him all the best and that he can get comfortable as soon as possible. I'm sure like everyone else I wish him a very speedy recovery. I hope all the others involved are ok.

Would like to add my thanks to all those involved today. Brilliantly organised and a huge team of helpers made for a very enjoyable day. Thank you one and all. The fruit cake was a particular highlight for me![/i]