This is the third full year of Stewartry Wheelers, and my third report to an Annual General Meeting as Chairman. But it's the first year I've reported to the AGM as chairman of the galloway Sports Team of the Year, and that's a proud achievement. It's a proud achievement, but it isn't my achievement; it isn't the committee's achievement. It is, fundamentally, the achievement of our young riders, our under 16s. So I want to open this report by saying a big congratulations to Ross, to Ryan, to Richard, to Rory, to Adam, to Dean, to Sally, to Jenna, to Murdo, to Keith, who through their efforts in the SXC series, in the cyclo-cross series and on the road, have won us that award. And special thanks to all of you who wore the lion in those competitions!

Our young people have to be a core and focus of this club in the coming years. Helping them to develop their talents as far as they want to take them has to be one of our key objectives. But we may find that there is a tension between developing those young talents and our objective of being the club where 'naeb'dy gets drappit'.

So what have been the achievements of the year? We've mounted, and run, the 7/24 challenge ride for the third year running; this time with eight teams, and again enjoyed by all who took part. We've mounted, and run, the second Kirkcudbright Criterium, and that, too has been a success. Both of these events will, hopefully, continue and develop into the future, and we're very grateful to ScottishPower Renewables for guaranteeing the funding for the Criterium to continue, for two more years at least. We've run a successful ten mile road time trial series, as well as mountain bike time trials, 25 mile time trials around Loch Ken, and a hill climb up Screel Hill. We've seen, on the whole, good turn out for these events. For the fourth year running, we've ridden an autumn 'roof of the world' ride up to Wanlockhead and Elvanfoot. Our young people have worn the lion in SXC and cyclo-cross events across Scotland; Andrew has again worn it over the Bealach na Ba. It's becoming one of the recognised club shirts of Scotland, and I find that very pleasing.

We've been much less successful with our sunday ride programme this year, with the rides much less well attended; one of the jobs for the new committee after this AGM will be to try to draw up a plan of events which will attract people. Because unless we do things together as a group, the club will not hold together, and that, in my opinion, will be a shame.

We're grateful for the continued support of Castle Douglas Cycle Centre, who have agreed to continue their sponsorship of the club for another year.

I'm standing aside as chairman at this meeting; I've served three years, and I think that's enough. I wish the incoming committee well, and look forward to seeing the lion racing successfully - but also riding lazily round the lanes of Galloway - for many years to come.