SCC Members Newsletters

Social season in full flow – unless you have a couple more cyclo-cross races to do.

Thanks for reading and here’s to a happy Christmas and a safe and healthy 2026

Absent Friend – Dave Elliot

One of our longest serving club members, Dave Elliott passed away on Monday 1st December after a very long illness. He died peacefully with his family around him. Dave’s funeral will take place at Robin Hood Crematorium on Friday 16 January 2026 at 2pm

Club Subscriptions and Direct Debits 2026 – from Sandra Turner

Club membership subscriptions will remain unchanged for 2026 and are due on 1 January.

If you pay by direct debit your subs will automatically be paid via your existing mandate. 

No need to fill in another Direct Debit form. Direct Debits will be collected on or shortly after the 4th February 2026

Membership Payment.

Existing Direct Debit - there is no need to send in an application form.

BACS - there is no need to send in an application form but please let Jean know how much you are paying.

Cheque - please send your cheque to me at 18 Marsland Road, Olton, B92 7BU

Any cash payments (hopefully few) should be put in an envelope with the members name and put through my letterbox.

Members who are now over 65 are entitled to concessionary membership. We don’t know everyone’s date of birth, so if this applies since last January, please let Jean Brownsword know. If you have any membership queries please contact -Jean Brownsword at membership@solihullcc.org.uk

For direct debit queries contact me via e mail to treasurer@solihullcc.org.uk

Mince Pie Run 2025 – from Cliff Dobson

Despite the freezing temperature on the morning of the Mince Pie run, the record turnout was another great example of how good our club is. After costs, we raised over £500 for Solihull Wheels for All.

A big thank-you to our ever-reliable band of home bakers. I sampled quite a few examples, but there were just too many for me to taste them all. The Solihull Wheels for All team managed the event with their usual efficiency. Visitors from Coventry CTC and Evesham Wheelers were among several fellow cyclists from our region.

Club Rides – from Cliff Dobson

The Winter 24/5 club rides programme is complete and on the website. The Tuesday C run will start at 10am, and the Tuesday D run will be a hybrid D/E pace with “Decide on the Day” in January On Sunday the D and E run will be combined.

Club run leaders are monitoring weather and road conditions, and will modify or even cancel led rides if they consider the risks require it. As these decisions sometimes happen as late as possible, we will be using WhatsApp groups to notify riders. If you are not registered to one (or more) of the Club’s WhatsApp groups, ask the run leader to get you added.

Club kit delivery and ordering – from Jean Brownsword

Kalas have delivered the kit ordered last time. If you chose to have your order delivered to your address, it should now have arrived. If you selected delivery to the Club, please contact Jean Brownsword to arrange collection.

The SCC kit store will open again in the New Year, with delivery around Easter. Keep checking the website for details on club kit at: https://solihullcc.org.uk/clothing

Club Dinner and 2025 Awards presentation – from Mike Wood

Saturday 31 January 2026 

Robin Hood Golf Club, St Bernard’s Road, Olton

Details are still to be finalised, and will follow in a member’s bulletin as soon as possible. Once again, we will be subsidising the ticket price.

Those who were awards winners in 2024 will have to clean and polish their silverware ready for this year’s recipients. 

Dates for your Diary – planned but not promised….

Wed 28 Jan 26 Annual General Meeting – Woodbourne Sports Club, Earlswood

Sat 31 Jan 26 Annual Awards presentation – Robin Hood GC

Sun 22 Feb 25 Reliability Rides (provisional)

You can read this and the previous month’s newsletter at: https://solihullcc.org.uk/news-items

Expect the next newsletter to appear in your inbox around 13thJanuary

e&oe

Clocks gone back – mudguards fitted, and wet, muddy roads already the norm. Time for shorter club rides, and the start of the social season.

Membership – from Jean Brownsword

This month we welcome:

Stephen Jones, Noah Filby, Margeaux Snazell and Max Chan

Mince Pie Run – from Cliff Dobson

The best way to start the advent season is this familiar fund raiser, supporting our charity partner Solihull Wheels for All. Sunday 30 November at Lowsonford Village Hall from 10:30.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year….. 

Donations of store bought or home-made cakes all help boost the money going to our charity. I know our SCC star bakers usually provide lots of home baked goodies, but I still get nervous – not sure why, because you’ve always deliver! If you are baking, please let us know if your star-bake contains nuts. Gluten-free bakes are welcome too.

Please drop of your contributions by 6pm on Saturday 29th November to:

Cliff Dobson           Paul Cowley

125 Hampton Lane   29 Stonor Park Road 

Solihull                    Solihull 

B91 2RR                   B91 1EH 

Any questions – or pledges welcome cvmk125@gmail.com or text to 07805 324242.

Find out more at: https://solihullcc.org.uk/news-items

Open cyclo-cross meeting – from Mike Brownsword

On Sunday 14 December our club open cyclocross race (which this year we are running jointly with Mark Leyland of Pulse Events) will be at the Solihull Riding Centre, Four Ashes Road, Bentley Heath, Solihull, West Midlands, B93 8QE.

We're looking for volunteers to support the event. Any time you can give will be appreciated - whether it's helping to set up the course (on Saturday 13th) or with sign-on, car parking, judging or marshalling on Sunday 14th.

If you are able to help, please send me a WhatsApp message on 07909 122799 with your name and when you can be available. We don't need you to commit for the whole day - if more people volunteer for even a couple of hours - we can share out the workload. Also, if you or a family member will be racing, please consider whether you can come early to help during the previous race, or stick around afterwards to help with the next race.

No experience is needed - you will be briefed, and you might even get a lunch and hot drink if you stay all day

Club Runs – from Cliff Dobson

The winter programme is nearing completion and will be loaded onto the website soon.

We will continue to run a merged D & E run on Sundays for the winter.

Club runs are SUSPENDED on Sunday 14th so members can help and support the open Cyclocross event- see WhatsApp and the website for more information.

Most club runs now have a specific WhatsApp group where ride information is posted eg delayed start or run cancellation due to adverse weather etc.

Finally, I am retiring from the role of club runs co-ordinator at the next AGM, after 7 years in the hot seat. Volunteers to take on the role can form an orderly queue, ideally before the AGM. My successor needs to be in place promptly, because I will be unavailable to provide an orderly handover in February, in advance of the development of the March – May 26 programme.

Dates for your Diary – planned, but not promised

Sun 30 Nov – Charity Mince Pie Run – Lowsonford

Sunday 14 December – Club open cyclocross – Volunteers required 

Wed 28 Jan – AGM – Venue TBC

Sat 31 Jan – Annual Awards dinner – Robin Hood Golf Club

You can read this and the previous month’s newsletter at: https://solihullcc.org.uk/news-items

Expect the next newsletter to appear in your inbox around 9 December

e&oe