National Association for the over 40 year old racing cyclist NATIONAL EXECUTIVE 2011/12 President Alan Colburn (Midlands) 01886 888575 Honorary Life Vice President Keith Robins Vice Presidents Mrs D Mahar E A Green Chairman Jim Burgin (London and Home Counties) 33 Pinelands Park Padworth Common Reading RG7 4QB 0118 9701147 : [email protected] : 07925503819 National Secretary Ann Butterworth 4 Whitehall Close Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 1NP 01625 527074 : [email protected] Treasurer AGM Organiser Clifford Grant (London & Home Counties) Ann Butterworth (Manchester) 41 Southfield Drive, Hazlemere 4 Whitehall Close Wilmslow High Wycombe, Bucks HP15 7HB Cheshire SK9 1NP 01494 712126 01625 527074 [email protected] [email protected] Records Secretary Membership Secretary Geoff Perry (London & Home Counties) Merv Player (East Anglia) 8 The Meadway Loughton 18 New Close Knebworth Milton Keynes MK5 8AN Herts SG3 6NU 01908 200680 01438 814154 [email protected] [email protected] Editor & Advertising Secretary Webmaster Jim Burgin (London & Home Counties) Jim Gibb (Wessex) 33 Pinelands Park Welshman’s Road 4 Hispano Avenue Whiteley Padworth Common Reading RG7 4QB Fareham PO15 7DS 0118 9701147 & 07925 503819 01489 564735 [email protected] [email protected] National Recorder National Executive Committee Vacant Gordon Scott (West) Awards Secretary Les Lowe (Midland) : Vacant Greg Lewis (London & Home Counties Website : www.vtta.org.uk 1 Christine McLean - Ladies BAR Champion (again) Officials Reports 3 Records 2011 54 24 Hour Championship 7 Results Pages 56 Around the Groups 10 Obituaries 65 BAR and Three Distance Results 42 Letters 67 Advertising Rates Full Page £75 Half Page £55 Third Page £40 Quarter Page £35 Copy Dates 17th February : 17th May 17th August : 17th November 2 My own experience of conflict was in the Canal Zone in ‘52/53 and was very low key when I realised, to my intense surprise, that the appearance of a row of small holes in the side of my emergency ambulance was the result of machine gun fire by terrorists. That was about 60 years ago and still remains clear in my memory but another event that occurred 68 years ago made no mark in my diary. And why would it ? The formation of the Veteran Time Trials Association held no interest for a 21 year old but the main aim of the Association, to encourage riders over 40 to continue racing, has been extremely successful. You have only to look at any time trial start sheet to note riders who are in their 60s, 70s and 80s who are still competing using the Standard Tables introduced by Ernest Strevens. Due to better competition, more scientific training, lightweight multi-geared cycles and improved road surfaces the balance in recent years seems to have swung in favour of the older riders and following a proposal at the last AGM a Working Party was formed to address the situation. They have worked very hard and For the vast majority of us the season has following a presentation to the National finished, the clocks have changed and we’ve Executive, a Special General Meeting was had the extra hour in bed, the diet now includes arranged to present these findings to a wider the odd one or two cream cakes and the odd section of the Association before a firm proposal one or seven pints is consumed ! A time to is put before the National AGM in January. relax and reflect perhaps on the past season. Contemplating a change to a system which has For some of us, at this time of the year, the been working for nearly 70 years is a serious reflection can go back a few more years to business and I would urge everyone to take World War Two and the sacrifices made by men advantage of learning about the Review before and women during four years of world conflict mandating your delegates to the National AGM. and further back to the senseless slaughter of the first World War. I’m writing these few lines Whatever the outcome I sincerely hope that all on the eve of Remembrance Sunday where the members have the opportunity to listen and focus of attention will be the Cenotaph and discuss the points at issue before voting takes many smaller memorials throughout the country place at the end of January. as the whole nation remembers the sacrifice made by so many service personnel. Alan Colburn 3 audience and the result was a very orderly, yet exciting, meeting. Whatever their views, I think members left with the feeling that their journey (some from as far away as Scotland) had been well worthwhile. You will perhaps be reading this at the start of the festive season, so I wish all members a happy Christmas and, to those of you who will be racing, a successful season in 2012. Ann Butterworth _________________________________ My last report ended with the topic of the Special General Meeting due to take place on 26 November and urging as many members as possible to attend. In fact, a total of 39 assembled at Kings Court. Andrew Simpkins and Steve Lockwood gave an excellent presentation, supported, where necessary, by other members of the Standards Review Party: Geoff Perry, Bill Lloyd and Frank Kerry (The sixth member, Mick Fountain, was unfortunately The trickle of Record Claim forms turned into a unable to attend). The presentation was divided flood as October turned into November. Even a into four parts, with questions after each part, few arrived by e-mail. As it was my first season and ended with a summary and discussion. as Records Secretary I found it quite touching All members of the Standards Review Party that riders would write, telephone or e-mail to deserve our admiration and thanks for the check the safe arrival of their claim. I apologise enormous amounts of time and effort they have if I did not reply to every enquiry but I was expended on this exercise. They started focusing on the task in hand. It is worth immediately after the AGM last January and remembering that an e-mail address makes have not stopped since then. Steve actually responding far easier, cheaper to the VTTA started many months before, compiling over and, consequently, it is more likely to happen. 26,000 results taken from the CTT website, and This efficiency also applies to Group Recorders/ these have provided the basis for the Party’s Age Record Secretaries. recommendations. I had some interesting conversations with On the day, credit was due to the skills of the claimants, made more relevant due to my being presenters who managed to capture their a member of the Standards Working Party. 4 I sent out a chasing e-mail to all the Groups to try and mop any loose ends and had to work on a few riders to get all the appropriate paperwork. Some were contacted via the Time Trialling Forum website. In many cases I had ridden the same event so had the results sheet to hand or could foresee that a claim would be forthcoming, in particular the E2/30 on 1st October, when competition record was broken. It is clear that a few organisers are still tardy in supplying results sheets within a reasonable time scale, which causes extra work for claimants and those responsible for accumulating the statistics. As part of the ratification process, I cross- checked against the National VTTA Database which enabled me to check any ineligible writing and complete any empty boxes in the database – the revised information will be feed back to the Membership Secretary. This was a very December saw the launch of an updated beneficial task and cross-check. version of the VTTA's website. If you're a My initial understanding when I took up the role regular visitor to our website, you'll notice it was that a number of certificates were looks a little different. Over the last few months, outstanding from 2010, due to Les Lowe’s the site has been undergoing some behind-the- illness. A few reminders during the year scenes changes in readiness for the 2012 suggested that they could all be outstanding so, season. The website builds on the sterling work when I went on to the mass printing of the of Tim Carpenter and is now managed by Jim record certificates, deciding to print all the 2010 Gibb. certificates as well as the 2011 certificates. If you've never looked at the website, why not In all fewer than 200 record certificates will have make it your New Year Resolution to take a been printed to cover both years. The various peek. You'll be able to keep up with news and combinations of solo/tricycle/tandem, club and results as well as group information and Group names create great complexity in the upcoming events. final process. Whether you're a first time user or a seasoned Due to the close proximity of Group AGMs/ surfer, I'd be interested to find out what features Awards ceremonies and the delays of the 2010 you'd like to see incorporated into the website. certificates, I decided to send out the certificates In the meantime, I hope you like the new look to each Group promptly by registered post, and would be pleased to receive your feedback. without getting them signed by the VTTA Visit the VTTA website at www.vtta.org.uk and President, as this could be remedied later. send your feedback to [email protected] .Geoff Perry Jim Gibb SORRY WE’RE LATE! The wealth of information arising from the NEC meeting on the 4th of December meant a delay in getting this edition to the printer in time for pre-Christmas delivery.