I am looking at booking a table at the Dave Rayner Dinner this year as Ravensthorpe C.C.  The Dave Rayner Fund in memory of Dave was set up to raise money to aid young riders wanting to race abroad. There is a committee who decide on which riders are going to receive support each year. Our own Brian Robinson & Martyn Bolt are on this committee. The fund has been very successful over the years in sending youngsters abroad and a lot have gone on to be pros which we now watch on the TV. (The fund was going before the modern BC cycling academy)

The dinner attracts some top names to raise support and money I have previously been to 2 dinners and met the likes of Paolo Bettini, Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins, David Miller and best of all Jimmy Savile. So you will need those autograph pens. David Harmon the Euro Sport commentator holds an auction of donated items. These items vary from signed framed jerseys to cycling art work and go for a lot of money. I bid and bought two pieces of art work 1 year. There is also normally a raffle with some very good donated prizes. These prizes are not bits of Turkish delight and cheap bottles of whiskey or some unwanted denim aftershave. My mate won a signed Giro Ionos 1 year, and there are wheel sets etc. You will be surprised what people give if it’s for a good cause.

Any way now for the Money bit. The cost is £40 per person and includes a 3 course meal at the Hilton Hotel in Bradford. I need people interested in attending to let me know so I can organise a 10 or a 12 seat table. I will then take deposits so I can secure the table. My plan is make our own way there and call for a couple of drinks before the dinner at a good local ale house. So once numbers are confirmed a will enquire and arrange a taxi/minibus if needs be to take us all home as it finishes after 12 for all those Cinderella types. Due to the limited number of places I will have to say this is for members only I don’t think we can accommodate wives/partners. The crack will be good just like a Sunday cafe stop but with beer and wine. No beans on toast with egg though!

[1] http://www.daveraynerfund.com/index.htm - THIS IS THE WEB PAGE IT IS NOT THE BEST BUT THATS NO REFLECTION ON THE WORK THIS FUND DOES.

[2] http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/507146/rayner-dinner-raises-20-000-photo-special.html     - This is a link to a report on last years dinner.

So let me know if you want to come and I will put the wheels in motion to get a table secured.

I know this is in November but we could do with been organized on this event

Tat Ta

Rich