Welcome
Harrogate Nova is a cycling club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.
The Club is made up of a wide range of age and ability. Some riders race most weekends, whilst others meet regularly for a social outing.
Club Information
HARROGATE NOVA CYCLING CLUB - A BRIEF HISTORY
Harrogate Nova Cycling Club was formed in 1971 ( 40th Anniversary in 2011) - an amalgamation of Harrogate C.C. and Harrogate St. Christophers CC. For the first 15 years the driving force of the Club was Warren Considine, who during that time took on all the official positions of the Club – some years two together.
The mainstay of any cycling club is the Sunday club run, which was always well attended. Older member's will tell you of Summer runs into Teesdale and the Howgills, and winter runs in deep snow over the tracks of Pockstones Moor/ Deadman's and Dallowgill.
On the racing side we promoted an open 50 mile TT, known as the last chance 50, because it was the last qualifying BAR event of the season. In 1997 Kevin Dawson set a National Record of 1.37.26. Between 1975 and 1985 the Club was also heavily involved in the Harrogate Festival of Cycling, which brought cyclists from all over the world to compete at Harrogate.
During the 70's and 80's Bob Johnson organised a number of Road Races, using the Follifoot, Markington, and Hilly 19 Circuits.In the 1970's we had 2 Roadmen who were amongst the best in Yorkshire, both rode the tour of Britain, they were Keith McArthur and Roy Taylor. Roy also competed in Warsaw-Prague-Berlin (Peace Race) 14 day stage race. Possibly the most gruelling amateur race in the world. Keith can still be seen riding in the lanes on his mountain bike wearing his white Carrera jersey.
It was in the late 70's that the Evening League was started by Keith Thompson (Knaresborough CC) and sponsored by Ackrill Newspapers, with Nova and North Yorks Cours taking part. Keith sadly died in 2000 and Margaret and I took over the running of the League. Shortly afterwards Ackrill's stopped their sponsorship, but thanks to the efforts of Chris Mawer we obtained generous sponsorship from John and Richard Schumacher of Fulford Cycles of York. The past two years have shown an average of over 30 members taking part on Wednesday evenings.
In 1980's membership started to decline – Margaret and I joined the Nova first claim and took over the running of the Club. Membership slowly increased and then in the early millenium year's an upsurge in cycling took place, mainly through the running of Sportives and Charity Events, and now through the Internet and Web-site membership has grown to over 140.
We have always been more of a social club, trying to encourage more Ladies to be involved, and this is borne out that we have always had a good attendance at our Annual Dinner & Prize Presentation, with all the Trophy Winners turning up.
Vaughan Caswell (Secretary), May 2011