About the Club

Matt Ryan

Chairman
Keen for the unconventional, whilst still recognising the value of tradition and formality, I am honored to be in a position to support Rhos CC for the 2 year tenure of Chair.  Trying new ideas, seeking new ways of doing things but also focusing on the core basics of what the club should be.  The enjoyment of riding our bikes, keeping things simple, remembering that we are first and foremost a social club brought together by our shared passion for the bike. Supporting each other, supporting the club, being open minded and respecting each other’s points of view.

The club is its members.  The members make the club.  This doesn’t mean that we close ourselves off from those who are not members of our club.  The community of cyclists has no barriers and we shall do our part to help those beyond the boundaries of Rhos CC.

Safe Cycling and Keep Pedaling.

Paul Heyes

Vice – Chairman & Membership Secretary
I joined Rhos CC in 2017 after seeing Rhos jerseys out cycling in small groups, they looked a sociable bunch and I was looking for a club to cycle with. I was warmly welcomed at my first Saturday club ride, lots met in Gyffin car park with different rides heading in all directions! As a new starter, I was advised the run up to Betws was a sensible option for a few months, until i built up fitness. A few months later I joined the longer rides which took us round the mountains, over to Anglesey and far beyond! It’s a great club with a strong membership base, lots of friendly faces with members always willing to help and advise. As such, I warmly invite anyone interested in joining the club to get in touch about becoming a member, contact me at paulheyes@hotmail.co.uk 

Graham Davies

Treasurer
I am relatively new to cycling having only taken it up four years ago after retirement. I joined the club started going on the social rides from Gyffin and have not looked back. Cycling with the club has allowed me to meet many new friends and enjoy the wonderful local scenery whilst out with likeminded people. I am an enthusiastic amateur and just love being on my bike. I have also discovered many new cafes in North Wales and that is an added bonus to cycling!

Willi Moore

Secretary
I moved to North Wales in 2016 after a lifetime on the move. Originally from Liverpool, I raced extensively in road, track and time trials at international level, winning medals at the Olympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games. Other experience includes National Coach positions in New Zealand and Great Britain. After completing a degree in Sports Science – a new discipline at the time – I went on to a career in the pharmaceutical industry. Now happily retired, I still love riding my bike and delighted to be serving as Secretary in the Rhos CC.

Toto Gronlund

Time Trial Secretary
Toto did a bit of cycling in her 20’s when that was all she could afford to get around. She had never had the benefit of having cycled as a kid, having grown up on skis instead. After a long gap she picked two wheels again, drafted her husband all around north Wales, and eventually joined the Rhos. Toto likes having a bit of fun time trialing, but mostly just enjoys riding the lanes of north Wales. As long as she has cheese and coffee and a bit of sun, she is happy. She is also a mountaineer and walker.

Carole Barford

Welfare Officer & Social Secretary
I’ve been involved in the Rhos for the past 17 years mainly in supportive role. Assisting in the production of the Rhos newsletter from 2003 -2010 until the web took over. Helping out with the catering at the many racing events and the organisation of the 90^th celebration evening .I was a roady on the Land’s End John o’Groats charity ride – no mean feat looking after 15 to 80 years old riding over 900 miles – a lot more hard work than being an air hostess with 350 passengers! I’ve ventured on 2 club trips to Majorca and although a pure novice at cycling the gang made an effort to do ‘special rides’ to include me missing out all the hills! I’ve also been camping with the club to watch the Tour de France in London, loads of laughs along the way I have found the Rhos a really friendly helpful bunch and have made many friends along the way.

Shari Williams

Women’s Cycling Coordinator
I am very new to cycling I started August 2016. My husband wanted to get fit again so we bought bikes to do the cycle paths. We were encouraged by a friend to join a beginners ride with the club. We haven’t stopped cycling since even going abroad on cycling holidays. Last year 2018 I  was awarded by the club “Best Improver of the Year” which was as a complete shock and a great honour. The encouragement I’ve received from the club has been tremendous I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and I’m not the fastest or strongest on hills but I have never been left behind on a ride. I also started Time Trails last year which i really enjoy. Rhos on Sea is not only a club it cares about it members its a TRUE CLUB.

Chris Pritchard

Time Trial Results Coordinator
I am Chris Pritchard; I have always had some sort of bike since childhood from a 3 wheeler to bikes with extended forks. Steel, Aluminium, Titanium and Carbon. I have been involved with Rhos CC for many years. I am a committee member and also the Club’s TT results secretary since 2005. I have done a small amount of road racing and many Time Trials but enjoy cycling in general.

Graham Hartley

Club President
I joined the Rhos as a school boy in 1953. I took part in road races and won the Llandegla Road Race and North Wales Junior Championship. After National Service I won team prize WCTTCA 12 hour event with Dave Rutherford (236 miles) myself (237 miles) and Tom Jones (238 miles) also won North Wales Senior Champs Road Race (96 miles). I left the UK for Australia and road raced with an Italian club – Australian Italian Peoples Association. Returned to the UK did road racing and TTs and became North Wales Vet’s Road Race Champ. I have been in the Rhos Cycling Club on and off for about 70 years and have enjoyed every minute social events and racing. I was the Chairman of Rhos for 30+ years then Secretary then Social Secretary and now honoured with the position of Club President.

Herbie Roberts

Vice President
I joined the Rhos in the early 1960’s. Started riding Time Trials, the kit in those days was loose fitting tops, baggy shorts and a yellow rain cape – no lycra or helmet. I used to travel to open TTs in Liverpool and Cheshire area with Gil Taylor (club member for 75 years). In the early 1990’s I organised a 45 mile road race based in the Conwy Valley on behalf of the Rhos. I am pleased to be Vice President of the club and still enjoy meeting my fellow vets in the café in Betwys four or five times a week.

Gareth Atherton

I joined the Rhos at 16. I became a keen TT rider club and open events. I rode many distance events Wild Wales and Audaxes where with my fellow vets a pint in the pub at lunchtime would be the order of the day. I held various positions in the club  – 30 years as Treasurer, 5 years as club secretary and I was chairman of the Gwynedd series for a while. For the past 10 I have audited the club accounts, officiated at Rhos promoted events and been a timekeeper and marshal for the TTs.

Ivor Wild

I joined the Rhos aged 13 in 1953 and won the  Junior TT Championships in 1957.  I left the club in 1962 to bring up my family and returned in 1984. I raced from 1985 to 2009 competing in 641 races. I won the coveted BAR cup 5 times, was hill climb champion and held the club record for 25 and 30 mile TTs. I also won the LVRC World event once and came second on 3 occasions. For a number of years I was on the club committee.

Tony Lord

I joined the club in the late 90’s. On my way to work in Llanrwst I would pass this cyclist regularly on Bodnant Hill and my first ride out with the Rhos was a treasure hunt with that same cyclist  – Gil Taylor , the President.

In June 2000 I started the infamous paper newsletter Rhos Racing Riders distributed to each member (approx 25) quarterly and continued until 2009 when the membership of over 200 meant it was not feasible and the introduction of the world of web meant the news was generally out of date at the time of printing.

As chairman in 2004 I introduced the TT League with points and the subsequent presentation nights.

I have always promoted the Rhos –  as a director of Welsh Cycling for 2 years I, on Behalf of the Rhos, held The Welsh Junior Circuit championships held on Marsh Tracks and together with the Liverpool District, the Rhos managed the British Vets 10 mile TT on our A55 course.

The past 19 years have seen me involved in charity rides, cycling holidays abroad and in organizing the Crits Championships in Llandudno, not to mention the promotion of numerous open events along the way. I have enjoyed every minute and made many friends – thank you Rhos Cycling club.

Hughie Hughes

Hughie joined the Rhos in late 1949 just out of his teens. He rode Time Trials and Road Races in North Wales and many summers in Europe (different to riding in Europe today). He became club secretary in the 1950’s followed by the club press secretary along with being North Wales registrar (not a position today). He left North Wales in 1960 returning in 1989 and re-joined the Rhos and was a member until his passing in 2021.

‘I would like to say a few words about a kind and helpful member of Rhos-on-Sea Cycling Club who recently passed away. Hughie, as we all called him, was one of the longest serving members and the first person I met in 1953 whilst I was still at school. I enjoyed all the club runs and races we rode together and the banter that went on in the cafes we frequented.

We toured overseas on our bikes together visiting various places – Paris, Lyon, Nice, Cannes, Grenoble and the Gap – memorable rides for both of us. Hughie was very knowledgeable on the cycling scene in his day – a big favourite of his was Hugo Koblet, he won the Tour de France in 1950 and was known as ‘Beautiful Hugo’.

I and many others in the club will sadly miss Hughie as a friend and team mate.’

Graham Hartley
Club President