Xmas Ride and Awards 2011
They say that time flies when your having fun..... well we must have had lots of fun this year because the Christmas do was upon us before we knew it.
Meeting at the station at 10:30 even the start was sociable and the turn out was excellent, Jeff was riding his new Ghost AMR and with the sun shining it was looking like a good day was ahead of us. With the WAGS being led by Ann and Jeremy leading the MAMILs we went our seperate ways and got cracking. Onwards for a loop out through Champneys, across the woods and down one of my personal favourite singletracks towards Tring. Lloydy was keeping an eye on the time and we made swift progress across the canal and through the pony farm ,up the inevitable steep climb towards the fantastic view from the ridge.
There was that time flying past problem again , so we signed off the ride and decided to make even swifter progress to the Greyhound at Aldbury, with bikes racked and stacked it was time to get smashed... sorry have a few refreshing Chardonnays (eh Jeff) and enjoy some great food. With 40 ish of us filling the back room and bar area and the WAGS having arrived despite Ann's best attempts to wear them out, the Xmas dooooo was in full swing. Having worked in the pub and restaurant industry feeding 40 semi merry guests is always going to be a challenge but the Greyhound did us proud and the food was excellent.
So the inevitable award ceremony to celebrate and remind ourselves of some of the team's high and low points got under way, with Dan doing the business comparing, the results were as follows:
Outstanding Contribution Award ---- Lloydy
Most improved Riders for 2011 ----R6th and Owen
Injury of the Year ---- R3rd
Lifetime Achievement Award ---- Tom & Neil
I just get on and DO IT ---- Steve Hook
WAG of the Year ---- Ann
True Grit Award ---- Scouse Steve
Catering Award ---- Bren & Steph
Members Rider of the Year ---- Tim
Traitor of the Year ---- Jeremy
Amateur Journalist of the Year ---- R4th
With the light fading and the air quality inside becoming thicker it was time to get back to Berko via the Valiant Trooper for a "swifty" and carry the night on in the Lamb, one in the Crown then to finish ourselves off, our second home the Riser. It was rather messy and blurry towards the end and a visit to slur an order to the kebab man was in order and home.........
A big thank you to the Greyhound for the lovely food and a big thanks to the Riser and Leisure Wheelsfor the donation towards the cost of the awards, also a big thanks to Tring Brewery and Compleate Outdoors for the raffle prizes which raised £40 towards the Movember Fund
For more pics click here
Merry Christmas
Rich 4th