Last season Randonneurs USA created the Ultra-Randonneur Award for our members who have ridden ten Super Randonneur series of brevets (200-300-400-600 kms.)
Doing a single SR series is a sterling sporting accomplishment, but doing nine more means one is indeed a very determined individual: it is a "Lifetime Achievement Award" of sorts for our randonneuring community.
It didn't take long for someone to earn the first medal.
Our first Ultra-Randonneur is Ron Himschoot of Seattle. (Ron caught us somewhat unprepared-we're still developing the medal design itself.) Obviously a Randonneur with a capital "R", Ron has ridden an incredible 12 SR series in the last seven years! (His actual number is even higher: if he had saved all his brevet cards for verification, he would have added two more SR series in 1995 and 1996 as well!)
Taking advantage of the very active randonneuring scene in the Pacific Northwest, Ron has ridden countless brevets in Washington, British Columbia, and Oregon. He did double SR series in 1998, 1999, and 2000. In 2001 he even outdid himself and rode THREE series! Good Grief!
From 2002-2004, Ron "only" rode single SR series each year, but given his track record and relative youth, he may be resting up to make a run at becoming the first RUSA rider to earn TWO Ultra-Randonneur Awards.
Congratulations, Ron-BRAVO!