October 2000

http://www.sherwoodcc.org.uk  

Well done to the British Olympic cycling team on their medal wins. Their success has meant that even the BBC has recognised the existence of cycle racing!

The recent fuel crisis has had some benefits in making the roads much quieter for a few days. The huge problems caused show just how dependant we have become on oil for transport and have given us a taste of what may happen in the future as demand for oil outstrips supply. Even cycle races were affected, as competitors couldn’t drive to the events.

The growth in motor traffic is a worldwide environmental problem as the atmosphere becomes more polluted and peaceful countryside disappears. Just think of the demand for oil if car ownership in China reached British levels! I don’t know what the answer is but someone has to come up with a solution!

CLUB NIGHT

Club nights and committee meetings are held on Mondays towards the end of each month at the Burton Road Community Centre, (opposite Walker’s Garage) Carlton 7.30-9.30 p.m. The next two are 23 October (not 30 Oct) and 20 November.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The club AGM is on Monday 4 December at 7.30 p.m. at the clubroom. This is your chance to have a say in the running of the club over the next year. If you have any propositions to put forward please let Dave Bostock have them as soon as possible.

There are always jobs that need doing to keep the club going through the year and volunteers are always welcome. Please make every effort to attend the AGM.

CLUB DINNER

The Club Dinner and Prize Presentation is on Friday 24 November (7 pm for 7.30 pm start) at the Westminster Hotel, Sherwood. There will also be a disco and there is a separate room adjacent to a bar if you just want to talk away from the music. There will be a three-course meal (turkey with a vegetarian lasagna option) followed by coffee.

Numbers are limited to 60 and there will be a prize draw if you book by 23 October. A booking form is attached.

Click here for booking form à /

CLUB RACING AWARDS

The time has come when all the club awards need sorting out and trophies engraving. Details of club event awards are obviously known but if you think you qualify for other awards such as BARs, have won points in road races or broken club records please let Wayne have details. Trophy bases need to be returned to Wayne for engraving ASAP but you can bring the actual trophy to the Dinner (suitably polished!).

Wayne Bradley, 3 Glensford Gardens, Rise Park, Nottingham NG5 5BG tel 9754840.

NOTTINGHAM – SKEGNESS RACE 3 SEPTEMBER

After a lapse of several years we had a coach trip to accompany the Skegness Race. Keith Jackson investigated local coach firms and we ended up with Torrs, a firm we have used many times in the past for whom one of our late members used to drive. With a great deal of effort we managed to get enough bookings to cover the cost.

Just seven riders entered the race, which was a bit disappointing. George Minion was riding a private trial for a bit of time trial practice before the Duo Normand two-up in France. Two riders didn’t bring entry forms so ruled themselves out of any chance of the handicap trophy. At least this meant Craig only had four riders to handicap – always a difficult job for this race, especially with little current form by riders over this distance.

Scratchman Nigel White must have had a lonely ride and, for the unfavourable conditions, he did an excellent ride to take the D. H. Brooks Trophy. Chris Pearson took second spot after being down on Rob at half way. Chris hasn’t been racing long and this was by far his longest ever race. He well deserved winning the handicap for the impressive Jack Ferguson Trophy. 

Gavin rode strongly knocking 16 minutes off last year’s time while Keith seemed to be in difficulty. Kevin enjoyed his ride and turned in a creditable on very little prior racing.

Quite a lot of riders were interested in riding to Skegness but did not want to race, so a club run was arranged to precede the event. Pat had been training Ann Spencer for the ride and they set off earlier at 6.35 a.m. when it was cold but dry. Judy Papworth set off with Neil Barks as a guide just after seven. My little group was about to go just afterwards when Paul Baker arrived, so we waited for him to get ready and we were away at 7.12 a.m. The time trial was due to start at 7.30. with Craig timekeeping.

Our group avoided the main roads on the first stretch by going through Kneeton and the centre of Newark instead of the by-pass. The northerly wind made it quite hard to Newark but we kept at a good speed with Orford and I sharing the work on the front. On the A17 the wind was more helpful and as the coach passed by we spotted Trev waving to us – thought he was going to ride with Steven, perhaps he thought he might not be able to hang on Steven’s back wheel!

The route no longer goes up Leadenham Hill as there is now a by-pass. I thought that this would mean it would be easier, but the road swung into the wind and it was quite a tough drag. We caught Neil Barks here, zig-zagging up like Roscioli in the Tour of Spain after his long break. We wondered where Jude was, and then we spotted her waiting at the top. The hill had split our group so we eased off to re-unite as we passed the coach parked at the top.

As we passed Cranwell the wind was very helpful and our line of ten riders was snaking along at around 26 mph. Suddenly, a rider was passing with a greeting, it was Nigel off number 5 and going about 10 mph faster than us. We all thought, “If he doesn’t blow, he’ll win it”. We didn’t attempt to keep up with him, but as I kept a constant tempo at the head of the line, Orford offered to go on the front. In jest I said he could take over when we had a headwind. Turning off the A17 we hit the headwind and Orford took over to give me a rest. Jude and Neil had enjoyed the fast tow but couldn’t hang on in the harder conditions. Around Anwick, Chris, off number 4, came by and looked comfortable.

This was a difficult stretch of road with the cross to head wind making it difficult. Orford and I shared the work just keeping our group together. Around the twisty roads of North Kyne, I spotted another rider some distance behind and a few miles later Gavin came by with a cheery “Good Morning”. Rob, number 7, followed shortly. We thought he didn’t look as fast as normal, but then it is a long time trial.

We planned a quick stop at Tattershall where the coach had stopped again. Trev told us that Pat and Ann, had left about ten minutes before. We thought, “They’re doing well. We ought to have caught them by now!”  Dave Gartside had been in pain with his back and struggling to hold the pace, so he decided to take some Paracetemols and not stop so he could ride at his own pace – we won’t see him again! Jude and Neil came through and also didn’t stop. George was next through “ Is the coach here? Good. I’m packing”

While we were at the refreshment kiosk, Keith and Kevin went through so we missed them. We were now last on the road. So I thought we’d better get moving. George saw us going and now revived decided to come with us. As we stopped to wait Pete ran into the back of Paul – result buckled wheel and Paul onto the coach – he seemed quite pleased at the enforced rest!

We kept the pace going through Mareham le Fen but at West Keal Don started to drop off the line so we eased. The climb up to Spilsby saw Don well off the back so we stopped briefly to re-group. Heavy traffic at Partney Island split us again and the busy narrow road was not pleasant for a group. Pete and George started helping out on the front, then we had some light rain over the last few miles from Burgh le Marsh to finish last riders on the road. It had taken just over 4 hours and we were all happy with that. Jude, Neil, Ann, Pat and Dave had already finished.

I think we all did well, especially the ladies who showed great determination – and we couldn’t catch Ann and Pat.

Non-racing riders were :

Ann Spencer, Pat Ward, Judy Papworth, Neil Barks, Orford Spencer, Alan Green, Pete Alton, Kevin Savage, Don Cunningham, Dave Gartside, Ed Ward, George Minion (part raced) and Paul Baker (abandoned with broken wheel).

I have been looking back at records of previous Skegness Races and found that I have finished 19 events since my first in 1967. You can’t really compare times because of differing conditions and the wide spread of my own times show the effect of wind direction. In 1972 and again in 1986 I did 2-56 with tail winds. In 1969 we had a really strong headwind causing over half the field to abandon. I won it by 10 minutes with a slow 3-49.

By the way, in 1973 the fare on the coach was 80p – sounds cheap compared with this year’s £10, but a pint of beer was only 10p then and of course wages were also much lower.

CLUB “25” MILES CHAMPIONSHIPS 10 SEPTEMBER 2000

The club championships were incorporated in the ANDCC 25 held on a sporting course in the Vale of Belvoir. Unfortunately, the section on the A52 had road works at Elton so a shortened course had to be used cutting a mile and a bit off the 25 miles (3+ minutes short of 25 miles)

Conditions were warm with quite a strong SW wind.

Nigel White was fastest club rider nearly a minute ahead of reigning champion Rob Stevens. Chris Pearson made it two handicap trophies in a row to add the Halford Trophy to the Jack Ferguson Trophy won in the previous week’s Skegness race.

Lesley Cliff did a great ride for fourth spot but she didn’t have a handicap (late entry?).

The event was won by veteran Norman Portess of Melton Olympic with a superb 54-00, beating Chris Storer of Ashfield with 54-45. Ashfield won the team.

Club Champion              Nigel White

Halford Trophy             Chris Pearson

ACORN POINTS TROPHY

The last two counting events have had a dramatic effect on the Acorn Points League with Nigel White topping the table. Nigel has ridden four events winning all four and with a worst handicap position of second. Ian Savage had a good start in the league but then missed events later in the season. In form Chris Pearson, with two handicap wins has climbed into third spot pushing Rob Stevens into an unaccustomed fourth.

CLUB RUNS

Club runs meet at the Shearing Hill/Burton Road junction on Saturdays at 9.20 a.m., on Sundays at 9.30 a.m. from Sunday 8 October until the end of April. (Hard to believe we have to start thinking about winter already!).

On Wednesdays there is a run meeting either at the top of Coppice Road at 9 a.m. or Lowdham (by the war memorial) at 9.15 a.m.

We meet at 9.00 a.m. on Sunday 1 October to go to the club hill climb on Terrace Hill (10.30 a.m. start)

FOR SALE

21½” Langdale winter bike. 531 tubing, mudguards, Shimano/Campagnolo. £300 Dave Woodward 9810849.