THE

Yeovil Cycling Club May 2008

The season opens with two close fought races

The Ham Hill and Pittards Road Races are the first major races of the season for a lot of riders. Both races were well subscribed with 80 riders contesting the shorter Pittards Road Race and 55 starting the Ham Hill. Both events went round the 15 mile circuit at a particularly quick pace this year. Leaving quite a number of riders falling off the back in the early laps. The Pittards averaged 24.8 mph whilst the higher category riders clocked an average of 26.2mph. The whole event was extremely well organised, as usual our thanks go to Shaun and his team of helpers. The five motorcycle marshals from the Welsh National Escort Group did a fantastic job controlling both the race and the traffic. Since we have started to use them for the road races we have had far less problems and drivers take the event far more seriously when they see 'official' escort riders. Both events saw a lot of attacking and strong riding, not only on the grinding drag up Coppits hill into Yeovil (pictured right) but all round the course. There were a couple of problems, one which resulted in a trip to Yeovil hospital for Tom Southam, but Hold the front page!! no serious damage. The other was when a After months of speculation and horse, complete with rider, was spooked by numerous rumours it has finally the bunch, fortunately again there were no happened. A momentous event that we serious casualties in that one. certainly never expected to see, more important than the Tour in the UK, There were bunch sprint in both races, more exciting than the ToB starting on the Pittards was won by Barry Clewett our doorstep. Quite why it did not make (Bournemouth Arrow) whilst Dave Clarke the National news we shall never know. (Team Lacuna) took the honours in the Ham Are you sitting down? Are you ready Hill. There was a valuable lesson to be had in for this? Well turn the page and see for the latter, turn to page 4 for more details.... yourself...... Look Garry has a new bike!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carbon fibre forks, Easton wheels, a Shimano groupset and even flightdeck Club Runs shifters! Our Chairman and President has There are now two well established runs finally joined the 21st Century. The second each Sunday, leaving from the Sports Club at approx 9:15. The longer ride, led by Nick club run is now getting serious, we have Armstrong covers 55 to 60 miles, whilst the already seen a marked difference as Garry shorter, and more leisurely ride averages said "I am only 100 yards behind on the 45 to 50 miles. So far we have managed to hills now, it used to be 200!" meet at the same coffee stop each week. The longer ride just takes a less direct route. The rides still come back to Yeovil for about Secretary Andy Newbury 01935 421352 1pm, but again as separate groups. 12 Wraxhill Road, Yeovil, BA20 2JZ We have acquired some new riders in the MEMBERSHIP Mike Loader 01935 410790 second group and they have been able to 3 Poppy Close, Brympton, Yeovil, BA22 8US discover some of the more interesting back records Mike Northcott 01458 273576 roads of Somerset and Dorset. No one has been lost yet, well not in the sense they they TVCRA Mark Plummer 01935 824556 didn't get back to Yeovil but there have Time Trials Vacant been quite a few comments on the lines of Road race Shaun Walsh 01749 812298 "I haven't got a clue where I am now". As the warmer weather has now arrived we Newsletter & Clothing can start exploring some more of the Dorset David Notley 01963 440291 lanes (dry and flint free we hope) so why not come and join us on a Sunday morning? 2 Be safe not sorry Open or closed? Sustrans has teamed up with specialist Stormy skies and heavy rain meant that the cycle insurers Butterworths to offer a Open 10 in April was nearly cancelled but comprehensive cycle insurance policy. after a break in the weather at just the right It covers all types of cycle - including time the riders that had either checked, or tandems, recumbents – and covers come in hope, were rewarded with a ride. different types of journeys, from Yeovil CC were well rewarded with nearly a commuting to charity bike rides. With its clean sweep for the host club! Not only did 'all risks' cover, the policy offers peace of Mike Loader win but Dave Driver took the mind if your bike is stolen, involved in a Vets on Standard prize and together with crash or suffers malicious damage. For a Shaun Walsh they took the team prize too. free quotation visit www.ecoinsure.co.uk - 5% off online - or call 0870 141 2324. Thanks to all the helpers, to Paul and Dennis for timekeeping, to all the Yeovil CC members: Nick for pushing off, Derek, Christine, Arthur, Stuart, Colin and Martin for marshalling, and to Jane and Rachel for stocking and running the tea stall.

Prize Winners were: 1st Mike Loader, Yeovil CC, 22:11 2nd Mark Wareham, John's Bikes RT 22:13 3rd David Kiddell, Cavalier CC, 22:27 4th Karl Hodson, Trigon, 23:02 5th Andy Wnterbottom, Somerset RC 23:11 Vets Standard Dave Driver, Yeovil CC +6:36 1st Woman Sarah Roberts, Gillingham and Our man in... Singapore District Wheelers 29:38 From Mark Plummer. We’re now in the Team Yeovil CC, middle of our trip and have had a few M Loader, S Walsh, D Driver 1:11:08 days in Singapore. I managed to hook up with the Australia and New Zealand Rota for Evening TT Series to end of July Association (ANZA) Cycling club and get out for a good ride yesterday. I met with 15 MAY 10 19:15 Andy Newbury a small group of about 10 riders at 6:00 am and we then did an hours ride to 22 MAY 10 19:15 Hugo Baldacchino meet up with the rest of the club at ‘The 29 MAY 10 19:15 Colin Williams Longhouse’ – there were about 80 riders 5 JUNE 10 19:30 Ruth Clements meeting there – it was great to be part of. From the Longhouse there were 3 groups 12 JUNE 10 19:30 Arthur Vince for different abilities - I went with the fast 19 JUNE 5 19:30 Robert Martin group (I’d only been at sea for 2 ½ months 26 JUNE 10 19:30 Phil Clements and it was 30+ degrees – so it couldn’t 3 JULY 10 19:30 Christine Vince be too bad could it?!!). We did a 3 hour ride (about 90 Kms) and then met up at 10 JULY 10 19:30 Chris Absolom Starbucks for coffee and recovery. 17 JULY 5 19:30 Dave Driver I’ll hopefully get a chance for another 24 JULY 10 19:15 Phil Waites ride with them mid May. Mind you, it’s still not like riding in good old Blighty – 31 JULY 10 19:15 Nick Young nothing compares with our countryside! 3 CTC Challenge Rides Oooh the pain 1st June 2008 - David Duffield They say it is never over until the fat lady Challenge - Corsham. Join inimitable TV sings, but in the case of road racing it is never cycling commentator David Duffield on over until you are across the line, and if you his favourite on and off-road routes in the are not well clear of the field then celebrating stunning Wiltshire countryside. The route too soon can mean it is all over before it has includes chalk White Horses, Avebury begun. One object lesson learnt the hard way Rings, Salisbury Plain and Stonehedge. by Jon Pain as Dave Clarke, who had been a Small wheeled bicycle inventor Alex marked man throughout the race got the final Moulton is once again opening up his result just inches ahead of the celebrating home in Bradford in Avon for refreshments GWR rider. en route. 21st June 2008 - Ron Kitching Ham Hill. Memorial Challenge - York. This 1. Dave Clarke (Team Lacuna) challenge is named after one of the UK's 60m in 2:17:28 most prominent and colourful cyclists. The 2. Jon Pain (GWR Team) ride includes Ron's favourite routes over 3. Ben Astie (Chippenham Whls.) @ 3 sec. the North Yorkshire Moors including the 4. Richard Tanguy (Unattached) @ 18 sec. spectacular scenery of the Vale of York, 5. Peter Dibben (GWR Team) before the challenging yet rewarding 6. Greg Sandy (Somerste R.C.) climb of White Horse bank. Pittards 31st August 2008 - Phil & Friends 1. Barry Clewett (Bournemouth Arrow) Challenge - Peak District. Now 45m in 1:48.44 firmly established as the UK's match 2. Mark Bird (Team Certini ) for the Etape du Tour, 3. Johnathon Griffin commentator, Phil Liggett has joined up 4. Jake Durrant (Mid Devon) the most challenging routes in the Peak 5. Chris Peden (Velocity Bikes C.C.) District. The route doesn't disappoint with 6. John Hyde (Velocity Bikes C.C.) beautiful scenery and challenging terrain including Winnats Pass and Holme Moss. Shaun of the dead CTC Challenge rides offer something Well it could so nearly have been. As some of for every cyclist with the option of family you will no doubt have heard Shaun Walsh routes or 150km and 100km romps. was involved in a nasty accident whilst out The rides follow a simple formula: riding with two friends. He was riding rewarding routes, stunning scenery, through Sutton Veny when a car pulled out great camaraderie, coupled with the on the left and he, Mike Donovan and Adrian satisfaction of completing the route and Wyncoll all went over the bonnet, three bikes the knowledge that you are raising vital on one side and three bodies on the other. funds for CTC Charitable Trust. Shaun was air lifted to Bath Hospital and Entry to the rides costs £12.50 for CTC found to have crushed and broken a bone members and £15.00 for non-members. in his back. He is now home and wearing a All participants will receive certificates, back brace, which allows him a great deal of and special event merchandise will also be mobility but is the most uncomfortable thing available. For an entry form, sponsorship you can imagine. He is allowed to start turbo form, or for more details visit ctc.org.uk or training in six weeks and back on the road email [email protected]. after three months. Shaun says "Many thanks to everyone who has sent me good wishes for a speedy recovery." 4 Photos: © Andy Moore 2008

5 The committee meets on the second Monday Press Secretary Little coverage at present. of every month at the Sports Club. Newsletter Editor (Website) January 2008 edition Minutes from the Committee meetings: has now been distributed. Any Other Business. Club Buffet and Prize Giving – January Twenty-one Tickets sold to date. Matters Arising 'A Touch of Glass' in Yeovil was identified as a possible business for having the new February Ivy Andrews Trophy engraved. General Secretary The correspondence log was Matters Arising A new trophy, based on a sculpture reviewed. by Philip Hazard was discussed. All were in favour Treasurer Income: Clothing £78.00; Membership of a similar trophy of a road bike, mounted on £138.00. a map of Somerset. A base to be arranged either Time Trial Secretary Police Forms yet to be via Shaun or our trophy supplier. DN to contact submitted for the Club and Open events. sculptor and obtain estimate and schedule. Affiliation for the Yeovilton Nuffield Pavilion is due General Secretary The correspondence log was in January 2008, DN to contact POPT McConville reviewed. ML had letter from Sports Club with to obtain forms. provisional details of a Open Day on 5th July. We Road Race Secretary SW has been approached are invited to express an interest in attending. ML by Entry-Web, an on-line race registration to confirm we would attend. company, who provide a service for processing race Treasurer Income: Membership £213.00. applications & fees. The Committee considered the Expenditure Trophy engraving and replating possibility of utilising this service, but decided that £149.59; Buffet subsidy £30.00; Yeovilton little benefit would be gained from this. Affiliation £117.50; Newsletter (print and postage) Membership Secretary Fifteen members paid-up and £22.32 one new member has joined. Time Trial Secretary Police Forms will be submitted Runs Secretary The number of riders turning out w/c 18/02/09 for the Club and Open events. Post for the Sunday morning runs remain low. meeting note: Open 25 clashes with Air Day Records Secretary All outstanding claims have now weekend, DN/ML to discuss options. Affiliation for been processed. the Yeovilton Nuffield Pavilion is progressing HQ TVCRA Representative Not Present. Still no news booking in hand. regarding the future of TVCRA. Road Race Secretary Nothing to report. Final reminder Your annual subscription for 2008 is now overdue. The fee for this year is now £18 for first and second claim members, £5 for Juniors, Juveniles and those still in full time education. Please fill in the form below and post it back to Mike, cheques made payable to Yeovil CC please. There is now a list on the membership page on the website showing the names of all those that have renewed. So if you can't remember log on and check for your name.

Membership 2008 Name Address Postcode Telephone e-mail I enclose a cheque/cash for £ payable to Yeovil CC ❑ 1st Claim Senior (£18.00) ❑ Junior/Juvenile/Full time student (£5.00) ❑ 2nd Claim (£18.00) 1st claim club

To: Michael Loader, 3 Poppy Close, YEOVIL BA22 8US Tel: 01935 410790.

6 Membership Secretary Twenty three members £361.90. paid-up so far, slowing down but new TT season is Time Trial Secretary Police Forms have been expected to prompt the late payers. submitted for all open and club events. Club events Runs Secretary Best turn out so far, 8 riders on commence at the beginning of April, DN not Sunday 10. No one the week before, predicted poor available for first two, DT to take charge. HQ will weather, except Nick. A discussion followed on the be Nuffield Sports Pavillion, either in the car park poor turn out for Sunday runs and it was concluded or DN will try and arrange for Barrie Whitehead to a second run needs to be instigated to cater for open it. DN to be available for subsequent weeks. those wanting 30-40 miles. It was agreed to Two new signs for timekeeper, Start Area and promote these on the website, starting with the first Finish, provided by CTT. Open 25 has been moved weekend in March. The runs will have a common to 27 July to avoid Air Day. CTT notified and destination, approx 15-20 miles from Yeovil. website updated. Earlier starts and returns were also discussed and Road Race Secretary 44 entries to date. Information may be implemented from March to September to be with DN on 3 April to allow for printing of once a month. NA to contact the Wessex Wizards start sheets and envelopes, all to be delivered to SW to see if a common meeting point and start time for posting. may benefit both runs. Membership Secretary Twenty eight members paid- Records Secretary Not present up so far, three new Doug, Dean and Joan Ward. TVCRA Representative Various e-mails from Stuart Reminder posted on website and ML to e-mail Dodd and Brandon Ellis were circulated prior to the those for whom we have a contact. meeting. These were debated and the consensus was Runs Secretary There are now two runs each week, that a ‘wish list’ by formulated by the Committee which have managed to meet at an agreed coffee and then circulated to the TVCRA. The initial stop. The format is successful but it will take some points that were proposed were: More accessible, weeks to rebuild the numbers. Wessex wizards still either remove the requirement for BC Silver to be contacted. membership or allow other third party insurers Records Secretary Not present such as LVRC and CTC to be accepted. Reduce TVCRA Representative GM and DN reported on the cost, achieved principally by the above. Better the meeting they attended in Somerton: There is a structure to the evenings. Coaching to be provided new momentum behind the TVCRA and Brandon for different ability groups. Ellis, Neil Taylor and Emma Bourne were elected Clearer leadership. A small group needs to to head up a committee of a representative from take charge of the structure, which can then be each affiliated club. It was agreed that the TVCRA supported by the participating clubs will become affiliated to BC, which will provide Review the impact of the Thursday evening races. the third party insurance required by the MoD. Move the racing to Tuesday and alternate between The licence has been applied for and this includes training and racing. Tuesday and Thursday evening events as well as Phased development of the facilities to make it the weekend events. A separate fee is payable for accessible to a wider audience. each event, £15 for the evening. Riders will not be Press Secretary Little coverage at present. required to be BC members this season. There will Newsletter Editor (Website) April 2008 will be next be a Time Trial on the last Tuesday of the month edition. Print costs may increase. in addition to the road Race Training, for those Any Other Business Club Buffet and Prize Giving that wish to participate. Coaching sessions for much discussion took place on the timing of the young riders will be developed over the season. Tor event. The changing nature of those attending seems have three level 2 coaches and Chard are training to lend it more to an evening event. Possibly either more. There will be a mass start, depending on in November or January. To be discussed further.. numbers, but novice riders will have to ride with a training group initially to ensure their riding skills and fitness are suitable for the main bunch. Each March affiliated club will be required to take charge for a Matters Arising New trophy, all the information set number of weeks each season, dates tbc. Team has been sent to the sculptor. He will provide an Tor and Chard to commence with the April and estimate soon. He also offered us a commission for May sessions. an trophy ordered if we are prepared to promote Press Secretary Little coverage at present. his work to other clubs. Decision deferred until Newsletter Editor (Website) April 2008 will be next the actual trophy arrives. New race numbers have edition, after the road race and Open 10. arrived from Impsport. 1-200, two sets in black on Any Other Business DN tendered apologies for the white. April meeting. General Secretary Not present. Treasurer Income: Membership £81.00; Clothing £94.00. Expenditure Yeovilton HQ Hire £200.00; WTTA affiliation £15.00. Impsport Race Numbers 7 RACES TO PLACES By Tony Taylor There are many reasons, apart from the of the industrial workers from the city for obvious one of logistics, why the vast majority their annual holidays and day excursions. The of road races are held on circuits. Amongst the start was from outside the Council House relative few that have not been circuit based, in Nottingham city centre, and the finish at and have started in one location and finished Butlins Holiday Camp in Skegness. This event in another, are events of some significance. The was recognised as the fastest road race in the first road race held on open roads in Britain, country. ( Wh.) organised by so called 'rebel' Percy Stallard, was himself a winner in 1948. from Llangollen to Wolverhampton in 1942, The most prestigious and best known, was a monumental milestone for the sport in as well as being by far the longest road race this country leading to the foundation of the in the country, was London to Holyhead. British League of Racing Cyclists (BLRC) later First held in 1951, the winner was Les Scales that year. This race was next held in 1952 to (Dayton Cycles), who out-sprinted his two commemorate the tenth anniversary, and was breakaway companions Geoff Clark (ITP) won by Scotsman (Viking Cycles). and Fred Nichols (Viking Cycles). The event To commemorate the 20th anniversary it was was then held again from 1961 to 1965, and held again in 1962, with Wes Mason (Sheffield was sponsored by the soft drinks firm Corona, RCC) taking victory. To celebrate its silver and given considerable media coverage. Due jubilee in 1967, it was held once again:, but to its length, 275 miles, the start was at 5am this time as a 2-day event, Wolverhampton- from Marble Arch. The winner in 1961 was Llangollen-Wolverhampton. The overall winner Albert Hitchen (Viking Cycles), in a two was Dave Bonner (Condor-Mackeson), and man finish from Pete Ryalls (Henry Holmes many of the riders and officials of the 1942 Cycles). The 1962 winner was Denis Tarr event were in attendance. (CondorMackeson), and in 1963 Alan Jacob From its inception in 1946, the Dover (Condor-Mackeson) took the honours. In to London Road Race, using the traditional the 1965 event the field included a number link between the Continent of Europe and of riders from the Continent, including Barry the English capital, soon became the season's Hoban (Mercier-BP) and Tom Simpson regular opening classic. Ted Jones (Wrekin (Peugeot-BP) who won the event, just inches RC) was the first winner, and he repeated this ahead of Irishman Shay Elliott (Ford - France), in 1949 as an independent (semi-professional) with Albert Hitchen (Falcon Cycles) third. riding for Viking Cycles. In the following years, With the urbanisation and increase in victory went to some of the most outstanding road traffic across the country, coupled with riders of the day – 1950 George Lander the additional manpower and costs that were (Frejus Cycles), 1951 (Dayton needed for such races, the demise of these Cycles), 1952 Bevis Wood (Viking Cycles) and events was inevitable. 1953 Stan Jones (BSA Cycles). Due to some 'reinterpretation' of the rules at the time, the 1954 event was restricted to 'professional' category riders only, with the winner being Trevor Fenwick (Wearwell Cycles). The winner in 1957 was Brighton's Ron Beck (Witcomb Cycles), one of the few south coast riders to leave the amateur ranks. Due to increasing traffic problems, the course was reversed in 1965, with the finish in Dover. The winner that year was George Drewell (Condor-Mackeson), who in the previous year, then an amateur, had finished second to Alan Jacob (Condor- Mackeson). Another place to place classic was Nottingham to Skegness; first held in 1947. Tommy Simpson, 22nd May 1965, setting off from Skegness had been the traditional destination Marble Arch on the Corona London to Holyhead.. 8