We have been given permission to hold a criterium in Kirkcudbright on Sunday 27th August at 3pm. A criterium is a road race on a short closed circuit; this one will be from the Masonic Arms on Castle Street north to the Castle, left onto the High Street, round the High Street past the Tollbooth, and left onto Castle Street again. The race will be for an hour plus six laps, about an hour and a quarter in total.

The Council's objective in giving us permission is to extend the stay in the area of people who come to watch the Tour of Britain, so it is to be held two days before the Tour comes through.

There are quite a lot of conditions to this. Only 40 people will be allowed to race. Contrary to the previous announcement, you will not need a racing licence. Kirkcudbright Festivities Committee have agreed to help us with barriers, and with marshals, but we have to inform all the residents in the area in advance of the event.

This will be an open event - open to people with racing licences from all over the country - and we hope to attract some good riders and teams.

Please could I ask all club members to reserve this date in your diary now. I would like to have a team of our fastest people representing Stewartry Wheelers in the race, but I also need a lot of marshals. The job of the marshals is mainly to keep spectators from stepping into the road, and to summon first aid in the event of a crash. This should be a fun and colourful event, and will be the first criterium held in the region for many years. Please give it all the support you can!