AOAC Newsletter
 

Message from the Chair
I hope you are all enjoying the lighter evenings and the spring flowers coming out - my favourite time of year.  I hope you've been able to get out and enjoy your favourite activities, or maybe tried something new.

Good to see so many events on the calendar - new ones appearing all the time so keep a look out - and smiling faces on Facebook page photos.  We are now moving into the season of camping trips and there are a couple of residential trips too.  Huge thank you, as always, to organisers, leaders and coaches - without your input there would be no events running.

AGM and New Committee
Thank you to those who attended the AGM and/or voted for the new committee and on the resolutions.  As I mentioned in the March newsletter, we have a few committee members who have stepped down: Guy Thomas, Cathy Caola and Alan Taylor.  Carrie Spittlehouse is also stepping away from her role as Assistant Treasurer and Alan will continue as support to Derek Redding, our new Treasurer.  Welcome also to Sue Frost, Communications Officer and Sean Grey, Development Officer.  I'm looking forward to working with the new committee this year with hopefully less disruption and restrictions caused by COVID.

Talking of which, the Club's COVID-19 SOP and risk assessments for all activities, including residential trips, have recently been circulated so please have a read.  They are also posted on the website.  These reflect the changes in Government guidelines, including the ending of free lateral flow/PCR tests for the general public and the phase of 'living with COVID'.

We are also reviewing our Safeguarding/ Welfare Policy which will be posted on the website soon so please have a read.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me or any of the committee if you have any ideas/comments/suggestions about Club-related matters. Our email contact details are on the website.  Have fun out there!  
Katie, AOAC Chair - [email protected]

Well this is a first . . . 
Thank you for clicking and opening my first newsletter for the Club!  A huge thank you of course to Cathy for running the Club's newsletter for so many years and doing such a fantastic job of it.

The first few months of 2022 have flown by and now, with the promise of more daylight and warmer temperatures, this has hopefully put a spring in your step and encouraged you to dust off the winter cobwebs and put your activity gear on.  The hard and fast have of course, been continuing their favourite activities throughout the winter months (those hardy kayakers come to mind!) but for those that have not felt like venturing out too much – now is your chance to either get your own activity booked in the calendar, or join one already scheduled.  If you are unsure of how to book an event, check out the Arrange Events section on the website. Just go for it and hope to see you in the great outdoors at some point!
Sue, Comms - [email protected]

Fun and games - table tennis and tiddlywinks!
Thank you to Clare Blackledge who came up with this fun idea for a games night at Clubhaus, Welshback in Bristol in March.  Clare organised exclusive use of the table tennis, everyone brought their favourite card and board games, and a bar and pizza topped off the evening nicely.  What a fun way to spend a chilly March evening.  Brings to mind ideas for something similar for the summer outside with a barbecue perhaps . . . giant Jenga, Connect 4 . . . if anyone has any giant outdoors games for adults this could be an idea for the summer?

Biking bits for 2022
A final few words from Guy as Bike Coordinator who has done a truly fantastic job keeping the enthusiasm and training going for road and MTB.  Guy is stepping down this year to hand over to Sue.  Guy will still be leading rides and sessions and will of course, help Sue take on the role.  Over to you Guy for one last time as bike coordinator . . .  

As we pedal, brake, honk, bonk, slip, slide and clean into the New AOAC year I thought I'd let you know what's happening. With restrictions reducing, the old ways will return and there is a cunning plan.
 
Road riding has a good number of leaders and a variety of rides are likely to be available, with everything from social local rides to longer multi-day trips. It is hoped that the regular mid-week ride will return so that it can be put on the calendar as soon as the days grow longer.
 
Mountain biking has already started with sessions for Beginners and Improvers so those new to MTB can build on the basics and get out and enjoy the tracks, trails and pleasures of cleaning mud out of everything! There are differing levels of ability in MTB, so we hope to have different events to keep everyone interested. MTB leaders will put on trail centre, cross country (XC) and development sessions as much as possible with earlier notice wherever possible.
 
Events such as a Velodrome ride in Newport, Bike Park Wales uplift day and a AOAC Bike meeting are being planned and your input is important. As with these and the normal rides, please don't leave your booking until the last minute. Contact the organiser or book on as soon as possible. It makes life so much easier, and more rides will be put on.
Guy, Bike Coordinator – over and out (but still helping!)

Presenting paddling
Join us for our annual Paddlesport Presentation Evening on 16 June, where we will be showcasing some of the trips and activities involving sea kayaking, touring trips, open canoeing and white-water adventures (and anything else that uses a paddle).
 
This is a great introduction to paddling if you are interested in learning to canoe or kayak. If you're more experienced it's a brilliant way to find out what activities you could take part in throughout the year.
 
It's also a chance to meet some fellow paddlers - come along and have a drink and a chat and then enjoy the show.  The last presentation evening was in 2019. If you have done any great trips since then and would like to share your thrills and spills, please contact Casey Stephens (the event organiser) about presenting.

Easter bunnies in Brecon!
Well, perhaps not bunnies, but there is a fabulous Easter trip on the calendar and if you’re quick and hop onto the activities calendar, you can still get on the trip as Richard has two spare places left.  This is a multi-activity camping trip over Easter weekend in the stunning Brecon Beacons, staying at Cwmdu Campsite, near Crickhowell.  Activities on offer include hill walking, mountain biking and road biking - plus the usual post exercise activities of drinking, eating and socialising, and hopefully all in the sunshine! Follow the link to learn more and contact Richard Simms, the organiser: 
Brecon Trip

New members meetings
It would be great to see you at the new members evening to welcome those thinking of joining the club – currently still a Google meet.  The next one is Wednesday 13 April starting at 19:30 hrs.  Usually on the first Wednesday of the month, we meet from 19:30 hrs for a social with current members, newly joined members or people who are considering joining the club - all are welcome.

How many?!!
We currently have an incredible 86 scheduled events on the calendar for 2022 – thank you to those organisers.  Something for everyone and it’s not hard to guess which activity has the most up at 49 events!  

It is also great so see so many road and mountain bikes rides taking place off-grid but it would be amazing to see some start to appear on the calendar.  I hope to get a ride up there soon - just one ride per bike leader would up the numbers.

And finally . . . 
OK, I will finish here - loads of fantastic events going on so thank you to the great efforts from the membership putting these on and making sure we can all get out there and have some fun doing our favourite thing.

To finish, here's a little anagram to tickle your brain as you finish your read - answer in the next newsletter.  If you are competitive, get your answer over to me at [email protected] and I will publish the name of the first one over the line in the next newsletter!

cagey kannada oinking

Have fun out there everyone and enjoy the Easter weekend.

-- Sue --

Events