Magazine of the National Clarion Cycling Club
In this issue Letter from the Secretary Race Roundup
Wortley Hall preview Preview of 2008 Stamford Easter Meet Round the Sections
Cover Pic: Ken Clarke accepts the coveted Tom Groom Trophy as General Secretary of
the winning Fenland Section.
FROM YOUR GENERAL SECRETARY
About a year ago, stood in as acting secretary of the National Clarion and at conference I was elected. What an interesting conference it was, probably the most heated in recent years. We have another excellent committee this year with the only sadness of two officers standing down, firstly Julian Mortel (racing secretary) who is leaving for Italy and secondly Denis Pye our standing orders secretary who has chosen to leave because of his differing views to the current committee. Denis and Julian have both contributed greatly to the National Clarion over recent years in quite different ways, they will both be missed from committee.
There has been much discussed about the change of National Secretary, especially since our former secretary has chosen to form the National Clarion CC 1895 and now acts as the secretary of this club. After much democratic discussion, committee has decided not to allow this club (the 1895 club) to be a section of the National Clarion CC. Members of the former Oakhill Clarion have been invited to transfer their membership to the National Clarion and/or other sections.
We felt that we could not accept links between this new club, when it’s formation was done
without any discussion with the National Clarion or debate at conference. The committee hopes that the majority of the membership will see this as appropriate action. We can therefore state that the National Clarion 1895 is NOT connected to THE National Clarion Cycling Club, our Clarion, the Clarion that many of you have been members for 10,20 and even 60+ years.
We want the Clarion to represent you, the members and we want the Clarion to evolve for today and tomorrow and continue to be a modern organisation, with traditional club values.
I value the opinions of the membership and would like to hear from anyone who wants to express their thoughts about the running of this great club of ours. Feel free to email me at clarioncc@ntlworld.com or write to me, or just bend my ear when you see me.
Great news...next years Easter Meet will be the first one (I think) organised by a section. Fenland have stepped foward to organise a great Easter Meet at Stamford in Lincolnshire.
lan Clarke
RACE ROUND UP
It is now two years ago that Derek Hodgins, Stockport, aimed to do a 4.10 ride at 100 miles but an abandoned event and weather conditions frustrated this ambition. Despite his 73 years Derek proved he still had it in him when be posted 4hrs 10 mins 40 secs in the recent B.D.C.A. event. This splendid ride which was faster than the all comers record up until 1950 means that Derek is now Veterans record holder for his age group. His 59.47 at 25 miles and 1.58.12 at 50 miles mean that he is unlikely to be beaten in this year’s Clarion Time Trial Championship. David Allbutt was a strongly challenged Derek in last year s competition and it would be splendid if he could again lift his
current performance to give us a cliff hanging competition. Dave does have the potential to improve on his best 100 this year of 4.25.26. Tandem racing is an attractive option for some time trialists who will enjoy the exhilaration of the speeds that a duo can achieve. Chris Goode and Andy Fisher paired up last year and have continued racing together in the current season. They started off the year with wins in the VITA and Wigan Wheelers ten-mile time trials. In the latter event they posted 21min 25 secs which is only five seconds short of the Clarion record. In a first class field of 10 pairs in the Tricycle Association 10 they finished in second place.
NATIONAL CLARION CYCLING CLUB FIFTY MILES CHAMPIONSHIP 2007 (In conjunction with MDTTA open event) 20 July 2007
hr min sec 1. Damian Field Central 20407 2. Derek Hodgins Stockport 21142 3. Andy Horner Bury 21297 4. Greystone Small M/c& Stretford 2 13 50 5. Chris Goode M/c& Bury 2 2150 6. Bob Duckwoth Bury 25128
The rain was throwing it down as watched the tour riders in their time trial they were enduring similar conditions. The Clarion Call was strong though and I set off (in my car might I add) to support the above event. There were eleven qualifying National Clarion entrants for the championship but three non-starters and two non-finishers reduced the result sheet to my six heroes’ above. The evening weather though was not too bad with only very light rain and working on the precept that the last shall be first I mention Bob Duckworth. He rode to support
Bury’s and the National championship when he would not normally have chosen to enter a time trial of this distance. He was obviously well below his best but he responded to my encouraging words of ‘keep going’ by mournfully crying ‘I'm trying to’ well done Bob I say. Andy Horner was a contender but it was not his day and Damian Field a regular supporter of Clarion events was Clarion 50 champion for the second time in his first event of the season. To all who enjoy this sport just look to Derek Hodgins who at 73 is riding to win Clarion championships. Not his event, this one, but he will probably win the Clarion Time Trial championship again this year. So roll on retirement and think of the difference it will make this did not work out for me alas but] am getting vicarious enjoyment from performances of others not least, Bob Duckworth.
Peter Roscoe
Nat. Clarion 2up Easter 2007 Hereford. Result
No Name 1 Duncan Hewitt Julian Mortel 1= J. Tetley A. Haings 3 I. Peake Chris Hughes 4 P Tomkinson P Murrieri 5 Greystone Small Chris Goode 6 lan Clarke dayne Clark 7 John Royle Steve Hope 8 Andy Horner Bob Harber 9 Edward Perfect Steven Giles 10 S. Hughes (W) A. Hughes (W) 11 Martin Perfect George Fenwick 12 Ruth Coates Charles Jepson 13 Richard Newcombe
Lindsay Clarke
Club Time Stockport Clarion 23-17 Stockport Clarion
Hereford District Whs. 23-17 Hereford District Whs.
Hereford District Whs 24-11 Hereford District Whs.
Hereford District Whs. 25-35 Hereford District Whs.
Bridlington C.C. 26-40 Clarion C.C.
Fenland Clarion 26-47 Fenland Clarion
Fenland Clarion 26 54 Fenland Clarion
Bury Clarion 27-43 Clarion C.C.
National Clarion (London) 29-13 National Clarion (London)
Hereford District Whs. 32 22 Swansea Whs.
National Clarion (London) 32-31 National Clarion (London)
Oakhill 36-41 Oakhill
Fenland Clarion 38-57
Fenland Clarion 3
Clarion Cyclo-Cross Champs counting event
Date: 15th September 2007
Cheques Payable To: Matthew Hall
Entries on the day: Yes Location: Shipley Cricket
Club
Promoted By: Heanor Clarion CC Race Organiser: Mr Matthew Hall
Race Details:
Name Starts Fee
Under 10 12:00
Under 12 12:30
Youth 13:00 £4.00 (£4.00) Seniors, Veterans,
Women 14:15 £10.00 (£10.00) Junior 14:15 £5.00 (£5.00)
THE 2007 POINTS COMPETITION SO EAR
Section Points
1. Fenland Clarion 221
2. Manchester and Stretford 129
3. Bury Clarion 109
4. Stockport Clarion 100
5. Oakhill 40
6. Bolton Clarion 33
7. London Clarion 29
8. Brighton Clarion 9 Name Section Points 1. Andy Horner Bury Clarion 109 2. lan Clarke Fenland Clarion 100 Greystone Small Mcr. Stretford 78 4. Chris Goode Mcr. Stretford 77 5. Mike Cowland Fenland 68 6. dayne Clarke Fenland Clarion 53 lan Taylor Sunderland 50 Damian Field Central 50 Duncan Hewitt Stockport 50 Julian Mortel Stockport 50 Tan Waddilove Fenland 50 12. Derek Hodgins Stockport 40 13= Steve Hope Fenland 20 John Royle Fenland 20 Simon Pidduck Fenland 20 16= Lindsay Clarke Fenland 19 Jody Warrington Bury 19 18= Vince Eastwood Bolton 17
Malc Jacklin Fenland 20. Peter Lane Bolton Paul Frost Fenland 15 23= Martin Perfect London 13 Philip Merritt Fenland 13 Chris Wright Oakhill 13 Culshaw Oakhill 12 Paul Kersley Fenland 12 28= J Hunt Bury 11 David Saunders Fenland 11 30= Ralph Stevens Fenland 10 Chris Taylor Bury 10 32 Bob Harber Brighton 9 33= Steve Giles London 8 D. Gilliband Oakhill 8 Edward Perfect London 8 Andrew Surman Fenland 8 37= Carl Bolton Bury Steve Clarke Fenland vi George Fenwick London 40= Ruth Coates Oakhill 6 Keith Kinsey Fenland 6 42= Frank.Jefferson Bury 5 Richard Newcombe Fenland 5 Birgit Scott Fenland 5 Bob Duckworth Bury 5 46= Dave Albutt Crewe 2 A.Grace Crewe 2 Martin Stout Stockport z
Please contact Chris Goode if you can supply the full names of individual riders or if you spot a
mistake. Email
twentytwowheels@hotmail.com or phone 01723 341050.
Malcolm Elliott wins Stockport Clarion road race
Malcolm Elliott won the E123 event of the Clarion Road Race Championships last weekend. Unlucky for Malc, he’s not a member of the Clarion and Mike Cowland of Fenland came home 1st Clarion rider taking the Clarion Championships. Mike now has eyes on the
season long points competition, but he needs to get ahead of Andy Horner in the Hill Climb, 10mile TT, Track Champs and Cyclo-Cross Champs it could be a long end of season campaign for those hoping to get in the high places of the Championships.
Ride with Pride in a National Clarion Jersey
Clarion Short Sleeved (as Illustrated) £37.00 Clarion long sleeved Cycle Jacket £47.00 Clarion Trumpet Badge £5.00
‘Fellowship is Life’ the story of the National Clarion Cycling Club £4.95
Cash with order please to: Peter Roscoe,
6 Horncastle Close,
Bury BL8 1XE
Archive material wanted
Any members, or members families who own any material, documents or memorabilia which is relevant to the Clarion are respectfully asked to donate such material to the National Clarion Committee if it is no longer wanted.
A serious lack of archive information has been noticed by the Committee who are currently investigating having a permanent display at the Pump House. People’s History Museum.
Alvin Smith (Hereford) and Ken Hemsley (Central
Section) ride the beautiful hills above the Golden Ken Hemsley proudly displays his citation on Valley during the Easter Sunday ’cyclosportive’.
becoming Life Member and Vice-President of the National Clarion, flanked by Fenland’s Ken Clarke and Nottingham’s Francis Grafton.
J
Tea cake! at The Dog’ at Ewyas Harold
Thanks to Paul Mitchell
Colin (Hereford), Tony Bowles (Bolton) and Merlin Nottingham Section for this selection of photographs Evans(Stockport) take refreshment during Easter from this years Easter Meet
Sunday’s ride.
THE WORTLEY EXPERIENCE
A full range of social and cycling of activities plus the opportunity to brag about your outstanding cycling achievements to members other sections
Friday evening 5th October
Bar meals in Wortley Hall from 6pm. Then chat, imbibe and maybe challenge fellow members to a duel of brains and skill the dashing duo from Biggleswade, Jayne lan will entertain. Prizes at prize presentation on Sunday morning.
Saturday 6th October
Book sale etc and Clarion Goods in Henry Collins room will run throughout the day. Please denate books/videos of any kind. The proceeds help to defray the costs of the hire of rooms for entertainment.
10.00am Annual Ramble led by Steve Heath (Central Section) Start from in front of Hall. Will be planned to allow riders to get to the ten miles time trial.
2.01pm First man off in 10 miles time trial on course V915. Start Shepley just south of where A639 crosses A635, which is the out and home course down to Hoyland Swaine Island. Volunteers needed for marshalling at this good vantage point. The Harold Lamb award of £50.00 to the fastest rider breaking the course record of 21min 54secs. This is an open event and entries are required per handbook. Entries for 10 to: Will Sanderson
28 Higher Bent Lane
Bredbury
Stockport
SK6 2JN
Telephone: 0161 292 8908
7.00pm Annual Dinner and Fair Trade Raffle. Glorious Clarion Cross toasting. Think up something to entertain. The Mayor of Hereford was so impressed with our toasts at the Easter Meet that he resolved to introduce it at his functions.
8.30pm Cycling talk in the Henry Collins Room by Chris Smith, U.K. to Beijing. Chris s acclaimed book Why Dont you fly will be on sale. If you have already bought it bring it along and gat it autographed.
Sunday Ist October
9.30am Group Photograph on steps of Wortley Hall be there be part of a legend.
10.00am_— Signingon for Clarion Hill Climb Championship at start of course on nearby Finkle Lane (left through village from hall then first right). Ride or cheer Fun Prizes first, second, third, first lady, slowest, record breakers (records include mountain bike, age categories, fully equipped touring bike mudguards and saddle bag).
10.31lam Precisely First man despatched on this fun course hill climb of 1000 metres. ie. you dont have to be super fit to get up. If you are competitive and super fit it is likely that you will be a worthy winner of this event, which is also the Clarion Hill Climb Championship.
11.15am_ Presentation of Hill Climb awards back at the Hall in the Aslef room. Then at
11.30am Peter Shepherdley s annual eagerly anticipated quiz. The usual fun prizes will be awarded to the winning team.
12.30pm Farewells to those on their way home and pledges to meet at Wortley in 12 months time or stay until 1.00pm for the excellent modestly priced carvery lunch.
1.00pm purchased in bar.
Carvery lunch £7.25 tickets
THE WORTLEY 2007 CLUBRUN
(2007 Impromptu and Café ride after 10 miles time trial)
Diamond Geezer, who led a dozen of more eager participants out of the grounds at 14.30, planned the route. Good progress was made past Wortley Old Station, where some recalcitrants, who had lunched late at a nearby hostelry, were picked up. Splints soon opened on the drag up to Green Moor from where, having passed the Rock Inn without losses, the front runners set off along the ridge at a good pace and after an hair raising descent at the far end reached Langsett a short while before the arrival of the rear guard, who been abandoned at the first climb. Everyone managed to squeeze into the caf to the obvious discomfort of some of the established customers. After refreshment the slow party decided to return the way they
had come (the shortest route) while the rest headed for the hills. Arriving at map reference SK239977 a further division occurred, the hardy brigade went forward along the Strines road (with steep bits) to examine the spot where Tom Boonen had lost the road a few weeks earlier, while a few lesser mortals (names and addresses on application) headed for Bolsterone and then back to the Bridge Inn for a recuperative break before the clime back up Finkle Street (practice for the following morning s hill climb) eventually reaching the Hall in time for supper.
Disclaimer: any inaccuracies in this account are more likely to be due to aging then to alcoholic excess.
FINANCIAL REPORT
At the 30 June the balance at bank was £8 686. Of this amount there are ring-fenced funds amounting to £1141, which includes £900 from UNISON. The committee have determined that these funds shall remain ring fenced until an appropriate use emerges. Expenses for the second half of the year will deplete estimated accumulated funds at bank to around £6000. At present the committee have decided that we should normally aim for £4000 liquid funds for any contingencies that might arise. All things being more or less equal our club should not
have to seek a subscription increase for a few years. I would remind you that the current £6.00 income is in real terms roughly equivalent to the £4.00 subscription that applied in 1994 when it was last increased. An increase was not required since that time as a result of discovered funds that had been raised for a purpose that is no longer. The current subscription of £6.00 is the minimum amount required to maintain basic services.
If you have any observations or questions would be only too pleased to answer these.
Dave Whitehead
In recognition of his 24 years service to the Manchester District Council of Cycling Time Trials(RTTC), Stockport Clarion member Dave Whitehead has been awarded Cycling Time Trials’ Certificate of Honour.
Dave was a committee member and then District Treasurer of the then RTTC District during the 1970's. He rejoined the committee in 1992 as Assistant Secretary and has been
District Chairman since 1995.
Before his retirement to North Yorkshire Dave was for many years the Stockport Clarion Treasurer and Chairman.
In his racing "heyday" Dave was a very respectable short distance time trialist. He held| the Manchester District 25 miles record for a number of years in the 1960's
NATIONAL CLARION RECORDS
New record setters will receive a certificate in recognition of their achievement and everlasting glory
Men (Bicycle)
10 Mile: D.Langlands (Fenland) 19.57 (1998)
25 Mile: PHodgkinson (Crewe) 51.29 (1996)
30 Mile: G.Wharton (Notts) 1.06.01 (1993)
50 Mile: A.Roberts (Crewe) 1.45.00 (1997)
100 Mile: A.Roberts (Crewe) 3.48.48 (1997)
1 Hour: D.Hodgins (Stockport) 42.409km (1995) 12 Hour: R.Hodgkinson (Crewe) 270.99 (1995) 24 Hour: M.Botteley (Fenland) 469.277 (2002) Juvenile (Bicycle)
10 Mile: David Lunds (Teeside) 22.35 (1980) Junior (Bicycle)
10 Mile: Paul Hodgkinson (Crewe) 21.23 (1989) 25 Mile: James Williamson (Crewe) 56.10 (1998) Women (Bicycle)
10 Mile: L.Clarke (Fenland) 22.11 (1994) Spotswood (Crewe) 57.18 (1997) Smith (Notts) 1.14.30 (2003)
Roberts (Crewe) 1.59.35 (1987)
100 Mile:C.Roberts (Crewe) 4.10.03 (1994)
12 Hour: C.Roberts (Crewe) 256.78 (1994)
24 Hour: C.Roberts (Crewe) 461.446 (1993) Veterans (Bicycle) Men
10 Mile: Horner (Bolton) 21.09 (2005)
25 Mile: R.Hodgkinson (Crewe) 54.16 (1994)
30 Mile: Derek Hodgins (Stockport) 1.08.11 (2000) 50 Mile: R.Hodgkinson (Crewe) 1.50.09 (1994) 100 Mile: R. Hodgkinson (Crewe) 3.52.48 (1994)
1 Hour: D.Hodgins (Stockport) 42.409 km
12 Hour: R.Hodgkinson (Crewe) 270.99 (1995) 24 Hour: K.Clarke (Fenland) 414.787 (1975) Veterans (Bicycle) Women
30 Mile: K.Smith (Notts) 1.14.30 (2003)
Tricycle
10 Mile: Not claimed
25 Mile: W.Fisher (Sunderland) 1.03.58 (1986) equalled by V.Trigger (Crewe) 1.03.58 (1992)
30 Mile: Not claimed
50 Mile: Trigger (Crewe) 2.05.53 (1992)
100 Mile: V. Trigger (Crewe) 4.54.50 (1990)
12 Hour: V. Trigger (Crewe) 218.00 (1990)
24 Hour: Not claimed
Tandem (Men)
10 Mile: D.Hinde/ A.Roberts (Crewe) 18.59 (1982) 25 Mile: A.Barraclough/ A.Wray (Calder) 48.35 (1984) 30 Mile: J.Waddilove/B.Waddilove (Crewe) 1.03.40 (1986) 50 Mile: Not claimed
100 Mile:A.Wray/K.Hartley (Calder) 3.56.50 (1985) 12 Hour: Not claimed
24 Hour: Not claimed
Vet Tandem
10 Mile: A.Wray/K.Hartley (Calder) 21.20 (1982) Tandem (Mixed)
10 Mile: D.Hinde/J.Connell (Crewe) 20.03 (1985) 25 Mile: D.Hinde/J.Connell (Crewe) 50.02 (1985) 30 Mile: Not claimed
50 Mile:C. Roberts/A.Roberts (Crewe) 1.51.35 (1991) 100 Mile: Not claimed
12 Hour: Not claimed
24 Hour: Not claimed
Team Records
10 Mile Vet. Tandem:
A.Wray/K.Hartley (Calder) 21.20 R.Asquith/ A.Lumley (Calder) 21.17 (1982) D.Smithers/L.Smithers (Calder) 22.09
50 Mile Bicycle:
ETaylor (Notts/Derby) 1.46.01
D.Hoe (Notts/Derby) 1.51.05 (1976) EGrafton (Notts/Derby) 1.53.50
12 Hour Bicycle:
A Roberts (Crewe) 262.81 R.Hodgkinson (Crewe) 257.51 (1994) C.Roberts (Crewe) 253.88
24 Hour Bicycle K.Clarke (Fenland) WAirey (Fenland) R.Glover (Fenland) Track Team Pursuit
1.Clarke (Fenland)
D.Langlands (Fenland)
d.Mortel (Stockport)
Sanderson (Stockport) 4.45.274
Super Veterans
10 Mile TT:
60 69 Derek Hodgins (Stockport) 22.03 (2002)
25 Mile TT
60 69 Derek Hodgins (Stockport) 55.14 (1997)
30 Mile TT
60 69 Derek Hodgins (Stockport) 1.08.11 (2000)
50 Mile TT
60 69 Derek Hodgins (Stockport) 22.03 (2002)
100 Mile TT
60 69 Derek Hodgins (Stockport) 3.56.02 (1997)
1 Hour
60 69 Derek Hodgins (Stockport) 42.409km (1995) National Record
12 Hours
60 69 Derek Hodgins (Stockport) 253.150 (1996)
24 Hour
50 59 Ken.Clarke (Fenland) 414.787 67 481.787 (1975)
60 69 Ken Hartley (Calder) 400.79 69.65 470.44 (1987)
Indoor Track Records
5km Derek Hodgins (Stockport) 6m.54.506s (1995) 10km Derek Hodgins (Stockport) 13m.55.202s (1995) 20km ~Derek Hodgins (Stockport) 27m.57.085s (1995)
5 Mile Derek Hodgins (Stockport) 11m.10.226s (1995) 10 Mile Derek Hodgins (Stockport) 22m.27.402s (1995) 25 Mile Derek Hodgins (Stockport) 56m.00.506s (1995) 1 Hour Derek Hodgins (Stockport) 26.351 miles (1995) Veteran Standard Records (25, 50, 100)
40 49 Arthur Hutchinson (Teeside)
23.66 4.39 28.05 (1972)
50 59 Roy Hodgkinson (Crewe)
26.85 7.03 33.88 (1995)
60 69 Derek Hodgins (Stockport)
26.251 7.99 34.241 (1997)
392.047 376.111 total 1138.631 miles (1975) 370.473
Claims for records can be sent by Section Secretaries or by individuals to the Records Secretary,
Mrs, Audrey Waddilove, 36 Brookland Drive, Sandbach,Cheshire CW11 2LX.
She needs to know: DATE, EVENT, COURSE NUMBER and YOUR RESULT.
To bea Record Holder at any level of sport is a really meaningful thing as it gives others the incentive to improve, so our National Record Holders really do deserve a BIG VOTE OF THANKS.
They have done their bit for The National Clarion, will you do yours?
CLARION EASTER MEET 2008
Proudly organised by Fenland Section.
Friday March 21st 6pm onwards Meet at the Headquarters for drinks and gathering. Registration and collect Meet Ribbon
The Lady Anne Hotel, St Martins Without, Stamford, Lincs. PE9 2LJ Tel: 01780 481184 Fax: 01780 765422
The Hotel has kindly reserved all rooms for Clarion members up til the end of November. All those wishing to stay at the headquarters Hotel would be advised to book as soon as possible.
Events organised include:
Ghost Walk around the ancient and historic Town of Stamford.
For those wanting to ride there will be Cyclo-Sportive rides with a choice of three distances, 50k, 100k and 160k, through the scenic countryside around Stamford and a Time Trial. These events will be held on separate days so the real cyclists can ride both.
On Saturday night at the Lady Anne there will be a free buffet for all those registered plus entertainment from an excellent local Band.
Sunday Night Banquet and Prize Presentation at the Lady Anne Hotel.
Minutes of the last Committee Meeting
Arden Arms, 23 Millgate, Stockport. SK1 2LX (behind Asda) 1lam Saturday 23rd June 2007
Venue: Date and Time:
Present: D.Lever, P Roscoe, J K Leese, K were covered later in the meeting. Hemsley, I J Clarke, J Mortel and M Evans.
The President was offered the chair for the 4. Correspondence:
meeting but declined. Ian Clarke resumed the chair.
1. Apologies for absence: D Pye, R Newcombe
2. Minutes of the last meeting:
Minutes of last meeting: 3/2/07 Arden Arms: Accepted as a true and correct record of the meeting Proposed: Ken H, Seconded: Peter R.
3. Matters arising: All matters arising
A few items of correspondence that were covered later during the meeting.
Officers Reports:
5. Treasurer:
Provided a written report stating that by the end of the year we may have £2000 excess funds beyond the ‘liquidity reserve’ of £4000. Reduced spending by committee together with increased subscriptions have balanced the income and expenditure and stopped the
declining funds. Peter Roscoe stated that he hoped this would mean that we may not need to raise subscriptions for a targeted 5 years. The ring fenced funds of £1141 come from the Harold Lamb/Manson fund £241 and £900 from Unison. Ken proposed a vote of thanks to Peter.
6. Racing Secretary:
19th August RR champs. Hope to have winners jerseys to help promote the event.
2nd September Track champs. Newcastle. Can we have a junior Omnium?
Can we have the second claim youths to go for the Handforth Cup?
Peter wishes to make an Omnium prize at the Track Champs. Budget £250 for the Track Champs. Merlin thanks Julian for his hard work.
7: Easter Meet:
Fenland section have booked the Lady Ann Hotel for the main function in Stamford. The hotel is large enough for the functions but does not have so many rooms. There are plenty of little hotels in Stamford. Events include time trials, randonee, mountain bike trails, Ghost walk round the town. Proposal from Peter that surplus is kept by local section. Julian seconded.
8. Membership secretaries report: The membership secretary presented a written report. 586 members at present. Due to increase in subscriptions, we now have extra monies. We have a new/revived Barnoldswick section with 6 members and 4 to come. Clitheroe Clarion has had a revival and has 20 members.
The club has 32 members down on this time last year and the main reason for this decline is that Crewe and Heanor have lost 18 14 members respectively. The membership card will have to be changed as we are now National Clarion in name.
Peter proposes that we reinstate Mac Lambert (Heanor life member) who appears to be missed from the records. It was stated that Peter Roughton is the acting secretary of Heanor section.
10
lan proposed a vote of thanks to Donald for his hard work.
9. Boots and Spurs is under way in the next few weeks.
10. Value of the trophies: £5700 (3 trophies). The valuation was based on only 3 trophies valued in 1987. We cannot increase the insurance cover without a revaluation which will cost 5-10% of the value. (potentially a valuation charge of over £1000) Julian proposed that we do not value the trophies. Peter seconds this proposal. Donald disagrees and believes that they ought to be valued if possible.
11. Records: D Hodgins: Peter said committee can ratify D. Hodgins records. Rule 9.4 makes no mention of age.
Travers Wallett recorded a new Junior record of 55:02 claim was received. Claim accepted by committee, but Merlin believes there may have been a faster time set by a Stockport member and will investigate to see if this is so.
12. Ring Fenced Unison funds: Previous committee minutes show that we agreed to keep the money and this item was to discuss what do we spend it on.
Julian proposed that £250 goes to the Barcelona ride and seconded by Merlin. This was voted on 2 for, 5 against, proposal not carried.
The secretary stated that as far as he was aware that the ride was not a charity fund raising ride in recognition of the men who died but the funds requested are to support the costs of a support vehicle, painting and roof-racks etc. The secretary stated that there are many other charitable concerns such as RoadPeace that may be better options. However the money from Unison was given to benefit the members not to be sent on to a charity.
Peter Roscoe proposed that we should leave it in the Harold Lamb fund until we decide what to do with it.
The President stated that we should put the money in the general fund. President also stated that the money should not be spent on Barcelona ride but should come from the individuals own pockets who wish to go on the ride.
Proposal by Donald: £900 into ring fenced funds, 2nd by Peter. 5 in favour none against. 2 abstained.
13/14. Wortley Hall weekend: 5th to 7th October. Ian proposes that we continue the 10 into a club ride and find a caf Will Sanderson needs to ask for permission to use the car park at the Sovereign for the 10. Peter has a budget for prizes.
Wortley 10: Include prize of £50 for breaking the record, proposed by Peter, Jayne 2nd all in favour. It was agreed that the clubrun will follow on from the 10 finish and ride to a caf perhaps the cyclists caf in Langsett.
15. Website: Julian is going to see if he can get forum style website up and running. The current website is out of date and is important to the promotion of the club.
16. Sections without all members in National Clarion (e.g. Crewe, Heanor, Nottingham)
A large number of riders riding in name of Clarion but they have opted out of National Clarion and not paid their subs. Nothing in our constitution says that all our members have to be affiliated.
Peter Roscoe proposed, 2nd by Donald Lever, that we should write to those sections where not 100% of their members pay subscriptions to the National Club. That those sections should call an AGM of members that have paid subscriptions and they alone should decide on how to vote on conference matters. All agreed that this is a fair suggestion.
The. secretary stated that these 3 long established sections have lost membership recently and we must ensure that they and other sections appreciate the benefits of being part of the National Clarion.
The President stated that the reason Heanor
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members opted not to renew subscriptions was more to do with the unwanted political element and activities.
Proposal to conference: That we review the constitution such that sections should have 100% of members subscribed to National Clarion. Strengthen the wording in the constitution to prevent people opting out of the National Clarion. Clarify in the constitution that a paid up section member shall also be a member of the National Clarion. The secretary offered to draw up modifications to rule 4.1 for the next meeting to review.
The secretary will also draft a letter which Donald can send out to lapsed members from Nottingham, Crewe and Heanor. The letter will invite them to rejoin and also to promote the benefits of the National Club.
17. Membership benefits
The secretary circulated a list of membership benefits, which was added to by committee. All agreed that need to promote these benefits to our members.
The club has already secured discounts from one major retailer (Cotswolds). Committee members were asked to individually try to find others. A 10% discount can very quickly pay for our membership fees of £6.
18. Today and tomorrows National Clarion Cycling Club:
The committee discussed the club’s current identity following the secretary’s statement that it was important for the club to have a clear identity. The identity we had during the early years is not appealing to a large proportion of the club’s members who only join us because they have joined a local Clarion section.
The secretary stated that we should stock 6 extra jerseys for new members.
19. National Clarion (1895) (previously Oakhill)
Minutes of the emergency meeting 21st April: Everyone in agreement that it was a true and
correct record.
There was significant discussion on this matter, the President had attended this meeting especially for this item on the agenda.
The secretary read out the recent correspondence between himself and Charles Jepson. He also stated that he had a telephone conversation with Charles following the 1st letter.
Committee has asked Charles to revert from the conflicting name of National Clarion (1895), but Charles has stated that this is only possible if the committee agreed to channel funds that he raises (in the name of the National Clarion) through the club and onto Charles for the Barcelona ride.
The president stated that he has no objection at allin Charles changing the name of the club, he just objects to the choice of the name.
It has been made clear that the Barcelona ride will take place under the Clarion name with or without the blessing of the National Club.
Merlin Evans asked that we should seek a compromise and embrace those members back in the club to avoid creating a split which could be damaging to the club. The secretary stated that the committee had not created this conflict but it was Oakhill that changed the name without discussing it with the National Club. The name change was hidden for several months until conference.
The secretary stated that the options are to carry on with the actions agreed at the emergency committee meeting. Or to accept Charles’s conditions and act as a conduit for fund raising. The secretary also stated that despite trying to reach a compromise, Oakhill have not attempted to be cooperative with our wishes. The secretary then made the proposal to continue with the agreed actions from the emergency meeting. This was seconded by Ken Hemsley.
Voting for 6 against 1. In the absence of the President it was stated that he had already made it clear that he too would have been in favour.
Merlin Evans made a proposal that we endeavour to seek a compromise with Oakhill. This proposal did not receive a seconder.
The secretary proposed that he will draft a letter for Donald to communicate with all Oakhill members and that he will write to Charles.
In order to explain our actions, the secretary will draft a statement for Boots and Spurs to explain to members what has been done. 5 in favour, 1 against.
20 AOB:
Donald Lever asked if we should allow the membership card to be signed? It was agreed that Donald is to purchase a stamp saying
21. Date of next meeting: 3rd Nov
If you want to be kept informed about goings-on in the Clarion, please forward your email address to: clarioncc@ntlworld.com most years we
Clarion email newsletter
send out 4 or 5 messages of news to members but sadly people change their email addresses and we sometimes lose touch.
GET YOUR NEWS AND VIEWS ALL AROUND THE CLUB
EMAIL OR POST YOUR INFO TO: Richard Newcombe, 67 Hall Lane, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 6RA
or email: richard@hallane.com good sharp photos welcome, or high resolution jpeg if sent by email
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Round the Sections
Every issue of “Boots” will have a round up of local news or items of interest from the various Clarion Sections providing can put sufficient pressure on someone from each section to send the info to me. Please send me photos and text of your sections activities and it will all go in.
Email: richard@hallane.com
BARNOLDSWICK
Pictured here are newly reformed Barnoldswick Clarion members (left to right) Mark Faulkner, John Idle, Mark Bonsall and Craig Steventon at the top of Halton Gill. Beautiful Penyghent can be seen in the background... Who needs the Alps??
The Barlick branch has recently been revived and the members meet every saturday for a group ride. Recent rides have included tours of Bowland forrest and the Yorkshire Dales. We usually set off together for a total ride of around fifty to sixty miles. Some peel off early if they
don’t fancy doing the full ride and some go on further by adding an extended loop. This allows some flexibility within a group of mixed ability and means that each member gets the ride he or she wants.
Riders meet outside Creaseys bike shop opposite Gisburn Rd School in Barnoldswick at 09:00hrs.
Forthcoming events for the Barlick section include a 100 mile tour of Pendle and the Cat Fiddle Challenge in the Peak District.
B OLTON extract from their newsletter
In preparing to write this one I found myself considering serialising the whole weekend over a period of twelve months, so much happened, so much to talk about, it really was a weekend to remember.
In the run up to the event I took it upon myself to announce that would be trevelling to Hereford on my bike, quite a surprise to some people, after all it was a distance in the region of 125 to 130 miles there and 125-130 back again. However being in the year of the Paris-Brest- Paris some of our hopefuls gave the ride some consideration, the equivalent of two 200k events inside four days with another ride sandwiched in between. Initial interest brought forward eight to ten ’genuine prospects’, great I thought, the most miles travelled to the event trophy was already in the bag.
In a matter of a few weeks it became apparent that a silence descended on the plans for the ride and the usual early bravado seemed to evaporate. Fortunately the fact that I was still to the fore in the commitment to riding meant that others were of the opinion that if a sixty nine year old was riding then it would be an easy enough ride. As the committed numbers fell one by one we were down to five definite riders with just five days to go, then a phone call from Lord Charles saw the possibility of the number being six. Two days later we had an affirmative, Lord Charles was making the trip.
6am Good Friday morning, Four Lane Ends.
A fantastic weekend of weather was forecast but at 6am after a frosty night and still very dark it was cold enough to freeze the thingummyjigs of the proverbial brass monkey.
As we sped across Cheshire in the early hours the fields were covered in low lying mist typical ofacold but promising start toa fine day but boy was it cold to the feet. My Walkers crisp bags over my socks and overshoes were helping to offset the biting cold.
The sun eventually rose quite high but despite this the cold breeze stayed with us into the afternoon before the welcome warmth began to filter through.
Our first scheduled stop was at Beeston, the cafe
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under the bridge and full breakfasts were quickly demolished, indeed a fight almost broke out as the piece of toast I had left was hotly contested for. True, the first stop was in the region of forty miles so appetites were really whetted, Dave Bisset had been enquiring about breakfast after a mere twenty miles so must have appreciated the stop more than most,except for ,Charles who was eyeing up the leftovers and quickly grabbed Richards leftover tomato with the declaration that he was still hungry.
Back onto the A49 to Witchurch, the pace still quite good but steady, where we left the main road to take the B road through Wem, a very inviting prospect. The A49 was not too busy but the stretch between Witchurch and Shrewsbury is a little narrow in places and best avoided. Shrewsbury arrived after a detour through Wem where Dave struck up a friendship with a little old lady after presenting her with an easter egg. As we left Dave was still chatting her up and we had to stop and wait for him on the outskirts of the town. Paul decided to adjust his headgear while Dave caught up and was still doing so as Dave shot past thus beginning a disruptive and disorganised element to the ride that had so far been absent. It was only a set of temporary traffic lights that stopped Daves headlong dash to Shrewsbury, much to the relief of Paul who had been unsuccessfully trying to close the gap. Order was once again restored and the ride into Shrewsbury was pleasurable.
A stop long enough to refuel was taken, Macdonalds being good enough for four of us though I kept away from the ,big macs It was here that Charles intimated that he had lost his nuts from his newly fitted panniers rack, had anyone got any spare bolts? A general tightening up of other loose ends gave us the first sight of the later to be familiar Charles s comprehensive tool kit.
After had given Charlie a spare pair of bolts was carrying, they were fitted and we got underway againon the next leg of our journey to Hereford, the A49 once more our route. Leominster was to be our next port of call and it was on this leg that we enjoyed some fantastic scenery, the Long Mynd on one side, Wenlock on the other, Ludlow, Craven Arms and the surrounding areas have much to offer tourists
but we had to push on to reach Hereford by late afternoon. I might add here that the pace had been quite goodand we were ahead of the schedule I had in my head. While conditions were so good we made the most of it. Leominster was reached and we began to look for a tearoom eventually settling on one where the proprietor was most accomodating. A home made apple pie, of which the pastry was a secret recipe and ice cream seemed to be the favourite order nand I was served the largest piece. Such was the jealousy at this, I was in danger of being mugged for it. The pot of tea to wash the whole thing down was heaven sent.
The owner, on enquiring where we were from, was taken aback when we explained we were on aride to Hereford from Bolton in one day. Other customers in the cafe began to look at us as if we were some kind of super men, they were car tourists, so suppose we are supermen compared to their sedentary way of life.
dust thirteen miles now from Hereford and the only thing in the way was the ONE hill all the way down the A49.Some might dispute the
claim but after a hundred and fifteen miles it really was a struggle. The railway engineers thoughtfully drove a tunnel under the obstacle, the road engineers, obviously Roman, decided to go over the top.
Steve Menhams romped up the hill as if there was no hill at all, even Richard could not keep pace with him. One explanation for this was the fact that Rodney had taken Steve s panniers by car so allowing him minimal weight to be dragged 1300dd miles. Richard was also travelling light tee shirt and trackie bottoms and that was it, what about spare underpants, you might well ask, better still, don t.
The run into Hereford was just fantastic, down hill mostly, not just the easy run in but the sense of achievement at completing the ride. We were almost an hour ahead of the estimated time of arrival, time to find our digs and get ready for the early evening meet at the Clarion HQ.
The rest of this entertaining write up details adventures over the weekend and is sadly too long to include.
BURY
Since 1997 we have been running an annual Come and Try It hill climb in June. This incorporates our club hill climb championship and this year Andy Horner, last year s winner and former Clarion Hill Climb champion not only lost his title to 14 years old Simon Yates but was beaten into fourth place by Simon s twin brother Adam and Josh Hunt. The Yates twins along with Simon Horner are having a busy season travelling up and sown the country to track events and criteriums. All three are competing in the area competitions for the under 16 track championships. At the recent Edinburgh meeting Simon was second and Adam seventh in the omnium. In recent under 16s crit events Simon was third and Adam fourth at Otley and at Preston Simon won a senior event and Adam won the under 16s
event. Because of their interest in the track these three are second claim Bury Clarion and first claim Eastlands Velo. This arguably underlines the merit of second claim members but we do have as a first claim junior rider Josh Hunt (see above) who is the brother of* international roadman Jeremy. Josh supported the Clarion 10 championship posting 27min 49 secs and in Bury Clarion hill climb very promisingly finished in second place. It was good to see dosh s name in Cycling weekly for winning a junior prize in the West Pennine Road Club 10. Recently he got down to 24min Olsecs at ten miles and intends to ride the National Junior Road Race Championship as well as taking up track racing. Andy Horner, Rick Warrington and his son Jody are racing regularly and posting under the hour rides at 25 miles.
MANCHESTER STRETFORD
Stuart Walsh, Greystone Small and Chris Goode had a wind-assisted ride to the Easter Meet, pedalling through the Peak District,
Wolverhampton and Malvern. We stayed at two Youth Hostels and at relative’s homes. Terry Lynch, Andy Fisher and Margaret Hunt joining
us in Hereford. Terry and Stuart particularly relished the 50 km ride on the Sunday. Stuart averaged half a pint for each 7 km. His computer calculates the necessary calorific intake required. Greystone and Chris did a repectable performance in the two-up, complete with racks and mudguards.
Many thanks from the section to lan and Jayne for organising the Easter Meet all thoroughly enjoyed it.
The section enjoyed the Heritage ride from the Pump House, Manchester, to Roughlee Clarion House, at the end of April. Greystone went off course, in Bury, to get a few extra miles in, via Bacup. Members from NCCC 1895 joined us and the meet was a successful one with the first airing of a new banner.
Onto a brief racing round-up: Greystone Small smashed his personal best at 10 miles on 30 June with a rapid 21 minutes 58 seconds ride. This is an improvement of 89 seconds. Chris Goode and Greystone have also been active in
the Points Competition. The section are currently in second position after three rounds. I would like to say how impressed we all were with Martin Perfect’s appearance in the Clarion Ten Championship London to Preston and back in one day. He is not in our section, but we can spot a Clarion star when we see one. Andy and Chris have been riding well together on the tandem, securing 5 wins from 7 races. Round four of the Points Competition is on 21 July so hope to see some of you there.
Quite a few of the section met up at York Rally and it was good to meet up with Charles, Andrew Spittlehouse and two Bolton members. Stuart helped
Charles on the Clarion stall and sales of Fellowship is Life sold well. Congratulations are due to our newest member of the section, Ian Turton, for his impressive recovery from a broken hip. In February of this year he rode the Allsports International Hilly, near Beverley, and is currently riding 30+ miles per day. Boots and umbrellas.
SUNDERLAND
Having missed the closing date for the spring publication of the Boots and Spurs magazine, it is a rather belated report of the section s annual dinner and prize presentation which took place in January that is now sent in.
Held once again at the Sea Hotel in the nearby and popular seaside resort of South Shields, a total of sixty five guests, a modest increase on the previous years number, attended the function. Section secretary Allan Smith welcomed our visitors once again, among whom were members of the Barnesbury C.C., Houghton C.C. and Zeus C.R.T. Guest of honour and presenting the awards was Tracy Luckett. Tracy is a committee member of the regional (north east) Cycling Time Trials governing body, and as such carries out the responsible duties of both treasurer and assistant secretary. In addition to those duties she is also the most frequently called upon timekeeper of the many open time trials held each year throughout the region. Dedication and commitment indeed, you may well think!
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Well worthy at the very least of being our sections guest of honour at its annual prize presentation. Perhaps it is also worthy of mention that this was the third occasion in fairly recent years where ladies who make major contributions to our sport have attended
our annual function in the capacity of guest of honour.
to know by what other tangible means
The fact that women are willing to give time and energy to an overwhelmingly male-oriented activity no doubt deserves recognition beyond that of being guests of honour at annual functions, but in the circumstances it is difficult Once again Ian Taylor was our most successful rider in open road races and time trials and it was he who also received five club awards on the evening. Veteran Allen Armstrong (four awards), Kirk Robb (two) and Peter Foster (one) were the other competitive award
winners. The non-competitive Clubman of the Year prize went to Eddie Hall in recognition of outstanding help and support in the sections race promotions.
Peter Foster
In March the section received word of the tragic death of 18 year old Peter Foster in a road accident while on a cycling holiday in Spain. Peter had joined Sunderland Clarion in 2005 and had quickly become involved in club activities
including racing, club runs and hostelling trips. Although keen on other sports and outdoor activities, in particular, climbing, he was keen to take up road racing and only a badly broken wrist as the result of a cycling accident in early 2006 prevented him competing much last year. Peter started cycling again in the late summer of 2006
and a second place in the club hill climb was followed his winning the National Clarion Hill Climb at the Wortley Hall weekend last October. These result and his performance in a number of time trials and circuit races indicated he had great promise as a competitive cyclist. At the same time, Peter was studying for his A levels, planning to go to University to study aeronautical engineering. In the short time he was in the club, he made a big impression and many friends with his enthusiasm and outgoing nature. He is very much missed. Bill Childs
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS:
Join both a local and national club £6 membership to National Clarion Plus local section’s fees
Cycle with clubmates throughout the UK
2magazines per year
e@ Annual Easter Meet, Dinner, Prize Presentation, Race Ride
Race Competitions, TTs, road, track, cyclo-x
Season long point competition
only £6/year
Central members can race under the Clarion name
Social events, twice a year
10% discount from Cotswold Outdoors
20+ sections throughout the UK
Established since 1895 Come and ride with us and be welcomed into the Clarion, a true bike club. Ride as hard or as easy as you want,
we'll be riding with you.
The TransScotland
I have now snapped twenty frames in 19 years of mountain biking. have always taken great pride in the fact that I have broken them before they have broken me. This time it was different, I had been left in the lurch and I felt sick.
The TransScotland, the sequel to the TransWales was imminent. It was less than 48 hours before I had to sign on. My Marin Mount Vision had gradually morphed from a mean trail machine to a sleek racing machine. In the end, the frame could not handle the abuse and two hairline cracks, one on the swingarm and the other on the seatpost proved my point. *What am I going to ride in the TransScotland?’ is all that I could think about. Who in their right mind would loan me a bike knowing my bike smashing reputation. Despite this bad reputation, I received several offers, begrudgingly I suspect, as no one wanted their bike to be number 21. This focused my mind
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back onto my own potential solutions to the problem.
1. My cyclo cross bike 2s My singlespeed bike aie lam sure that this option was not legal for
a mountain bike race and was quickly discounted.
2. I really did not want to spend a week riding approx 600km with over 14,000m of climbing on a one-geared rigid bike. Although there were a few nutters, who did just that and one of the pairs even finished in the Top 10!
I needed a bike and after many frantic phone calls, Royles in Wilmslow agreed to hire me another Marin Mount Vision for the week. I did not even have to lie I told them I would be riding the TransScotland on it and they still agreed to
hire it out! There was one proviso] would have time by 15mins. I was exhausted, wet and to pay for any damage. This was a major worry, miserable and really could not understand why as the bike was too small for me. Ispentall week I had entered this event if this was how it made riding what to most people looked like BMX me feel. Then without warning, the sun started as I had a 400mm post on it with about 360mm shining and everything was fine.
of it showing. There were a few arse-twitching
moments on the trails, especially when riding Day 2 Moffat to Drumlanrig Castle (55km,
through bomb holes! 1600m climbing) Today’s linking stage was much shorter than
Once I had packed my bike and kit into my car yesterday and the terrain covered looked on the and started the long journey north to Selkirk in map to be more of the rideable type, rather than Scotland, felt most of the immense stressI had yesterdays ’bogfest’. was still worried that I was been under instantly disappear. Let the good not as ’race fit’ as I thought. Normally on a times roll, a week of full linking stage, you on mountain biking was pace yourself to
waiting, life felt great. conserve energy for the Time Trial stages
where every second counts. On a linking stage if you finished within the time limit you received the same overall finishing time as everyone else. Today was different. I needed to prove to myself that I was going all right. [lined up next to the favourites for the overall title of TransScotland champion. There were maybe 10 people capable of winning and they all generally rode the first hour of the linking stages very fast before easing back later on. They could then enjoy
Life remained great throughout the remainder of that day. I signed on, met up with old friends, made some new ones, re-established rivalries and generally started to be immerged in the whole TransScotland experience. This was to be my life for the next 7 days.
Day 1 Selkirk to Moffat (70km, 2100m climbing) came as a bit of a shock. I thought I was in good shape but I was having a bad day. I started to doubt whether I had done enough training. had changed my training from last the clear trails and year. Out with the mega jump in the showers at long rides in with the high quality hard for 3 to the finish before the queues! I was with the first 4 hour rides etc. All day I was behind schedule ten riders over the first big climb of the day. At trying to ride at mainly fat burning intensity to the top I peered back over my shoulder, I got an save energy. can’t remember much about the incredible rush when I seen another 300 riders riding this day, most of it did not feel likefunand snaking there way up this mammoth climb there was so much pushing/carrying your bike
it made the ’3 Peaks’ feel easy. made the cut off On the second climb, I had found my rhythm
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and was riding behind the two riders from the *Extreme Endurance’ team that included World 24hr mountain bike rider Rob Lee. decided there and then that I was obviously fit enough to compete at the top level this year so I eased off and enjoyed the rest of the ride. This included loads of quality single-track most of which I had never ridden before in my life. Life was getting better and better all the time!
Day 2 Time Trial (10km, 250m climbing)
I have ridden a lot of this route before. Virtually every kilometre of this ride is tree root infested making for insanely technical riding. This course played to my strengths, today would be the day where I found out exactly at what level I would be competing at this year. I had ridden a perfect ride, no mistakes, no loss of momentum, used some cunning lines that had saved time. I knew I was flying I had caught the twelve riders who had started in front of me. Then it happened, the one incident that would shape the rest of my week. This is where the bitterness started, the feeling I had been *cheated’ out of months of hard training. The sacrifices I had made, all for nothing. Minutes were lost due to poor marshalling and non-
existent signing on the course. When I eventually crossed the line, had ridden an extra downhill and climb. still finished in a respectable 17th but was livid.
In retrospect, the stage was a joke and the results should never have stood. Other riders had got lost like me. Others had only ridden 8km rather than 10km and so there were some amazing times from some happy go lucky riders. These too were allowed to stand, what a joke! I complained to the organisers, realising already that they probably would not have the balls to own up to their mistakes. Still, I needed to express my grievances to someone and they were the ’ones’ in charge. I was furious that night and did not sleep at all. was now way down on the overall and had been denied a Top 10 finish on the stage.
Life was no longer great it was sh*t and it was all their fault L
Did the week get better? Did I show them all? Will I be bothered writing anymore? (Well hopefully but run out of time for this newsletter).
I have had these pics before in Boots but now Melvin Hirst has added the interesting details
from some personal history involving the Clarion. Ed.
Richard I should perhaps mention that in the 1930s my uncle Billy Hill invented and patented the loved by
Trivelox gear, much tandem enthusiasts because it maintained a straight chain line across all three rear sprockets.
In the years after the Second World War he
was the frame builder for Hill Special bicycles at the Clarion Works in Padiham near Burnley. See the item by Charles Jepson in the current edition of
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Boots Spurs. He was no relation to Clarion members Adam and Tom Hill, the owners of Hill Special.
I have read the article in the current issue of Boots Spurs on the Bath Road 100. The article includes a photograph of a group that inludes [Harry] Aspden. Harry was my uncle by marriage. He married Caroline Hirst, sister of my father Ben and my uncle Tom. The link was Blackburn Clarion, of which Adam and Tom Hill were also members.
Melvyn
22 March 2007
Richard
lattach three photographs. The first two feature characters mentioned in Denis Pye’s book, "Fellowship Is Life: The National Clarion Cycling Club 1895-1995". On page 64 Denis notes that the first National Racing Secretary of the Clarion was Tommy Hirst of Blackburn, elected at the 1930 Easter Meet held at Buxton. The photograph <newhirst.jpg> shows on the left Tom Hirst and on the right his brother Ben, my father. It was taken at Muker in Swaledale in 1928. My father was on a touring holiday at the time and he told me that Tom had ridden up
to meet him that morning from Blackburn, via Fleet Moss and the Buttertubs, on a single speed machine! <newhill.jpg> is a photograph of my mother’s brother, Billy Hill, taken c. 1926, probably in Cottingley near Bingley. The girl is his cousin Dora. As you will read on page 69 of Pye’s book, Bill was expelled from the Clarion for competing in the Red Workers’ Sportakide in Moscow in 1928. He was later re-admitted.
The final photograph <newmemorial.jpg> is the memorial seat at Bracewell, near
Barnoldswick, to my grandfather Harry Hill, of the Barnoldswick Section, and to his son, the above Billy Hill.
I trust you find these photographs of interest.
Norah Guest
Dear Mrs Burchell, thank you for your card and the kind words about my mother. The Clarion meant a great deal to her and please pass
apparently her brothers were in hysterics as she learned to ride on a ,sit up and beg bike, namely Jumping Sarah Why the bike had a name and why Jumping Sarah
on any of her letters or my correspondence to anyone who is interested. My sister and are sorting out her things and will be sending her time trial medals etc to the new Museum of Clarion artifacts. Here is a little about her life and the Clarion.
Cycling was so much a part of my mothers life that an old friend managed to find her by asking in a local pub for the address of the lady who
Mum never knew or never said. Having learned how to ride, cycling became and remained a major force in her life. She joined the Clarion in the thirties and became branch secretary. She raced in club time trials and organised club camping weekends. That was when camping meant carrying all your equipment on the bike, washing in astream and cooking on open fires. The club used, of course, to join the Easter Meets. She
rides a bike she was over eighty at the time. She didn t learn to ride until she was about 18,
usued to talk about the (I think) 1939 Easter Meet when the Welsh contingent sang the Welsh National Anthem, heart
churning at the best of times, but as everyone knew that war was coming and many did not expect to come back to another Easter Meet it was especially poignant.
Through the Clarion she met Les, her husband, eight years her junior. He asked her out when he was just seventeen and she was twentyfive. She told him not to be so ridiculous but he wouldn t take no for an answer and eight years later they married. Their honeymoon was spent riding their bikes in North Wales.
She rode her bike for pleasure and as a means of transport. She rode until a fortnight before the birth of her daughters and then transported
them around first in a sidecar later in a seat on the back. She shopped with her bike, went visiting by bike, went on holiday on her bike. When Les was taken seriously ill while in hospital she got out her bike and rode to the hospital with him, she was in her late sixties at the time.
It was with regret she had to stop cycling in her eighties due to her failing sight. The nearest experience she could then enjoy was travelling in her daughters soft top car with the roof down! But to the end of her life she would look wistful when she saw cyclists and you knew where her heart was.
SECTION SECRETARIES
Barnoldswick Clarion Birmingham Roger Shayes Bolton Clarion Bolton Wood Street Clarion Denis Pye Brighton Hove Clarion Tan Bullock
Peter Roscoe
Bury Clarion
Calder Clarion Andrew Spittlehouse
John Idle Tel: 5 Co-operative Street, Barneldswick, Lancs. BB18 SJU
Tel: 0121 603 7536 19 Princethorpe Close, Shirley, Solihull, Warwickshire B90 2LP
Dave Bissett Tel: 10 Vale Street, Turton, Bolton BL7 0EB
Tel: 01204 842869 denis.pye@ntlworld.com 34 Temple Road, Halliwell, Bolton BL1 3LT
Tel: 01273 682133 104 Bonchurch Road, Brighton BN2 [XE
Tel: 01617616856 proscoe@beeb.net 6 Horncastle Close, Bury, Lancashire BL8 1XE
Tel:
07773 722224 idlejm@tiscali.co.uk
01204 853127 david. bisset @rbh.nhs.uk
i.bullock @ntlworld.com
01226 709436
12 Hardwick Close, Ryhill, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF4 2PR
Ann Burchell Tel: 01404 891740 The Engine Shed, 2 Wulphere Close, Dunkeswell, Honiston, Devon EX14 0UU
Central Section
Martin Catlow Tel: 01200 425852 41 Henthorne Road, Clitheroe BB7 2LD
Clitheroe Clarion martinhilcat@ aol.com
Crewe Clarion Wheelers Andy Grace Tel: 01270 841836 ruthhydes @btopenworld.com
7 Artlebrook Cottages, Audlem Road, Nantwich, Cheshire CWS 7QT
William Edgington Tel: 07840 403200 Flat 6, 3 Charmouth Grove, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset BH14 OLP.
Dorset Clarion
Ken Clarke Tel: 01733 562217 16 Bew Close, Stanground, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE2 8TF
Fenland Clarion
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Gwynedd Robin Hartley Tel: 01248 605424 the.navigator@ntlworld.com 5 Tandderwen, Rachub, Bangor. Gwynedd LL5S7 3HD
Heanor Clarion Peter Roughton Tel: 01773 748142 5 Belle Vue Avenue, Upper Marehay, Ripley, Derbyshire DES 8JQ
Hereford Clarion Alvin Smith Tel: 01568 770327 alvin.smith@btinternet.com Castle Cottage, Castle Street, Wigmore, Herefordshire HR6 9UA
Lancaster Clarion Donald Taylor Tel: 01524 382673 lancasterclarion@mac.com 9 Buoymasters, St Georges Quay, Lancaster LA]
London Clarion Peter Shepherdly Tel: 0208 5729672 74 Albion Road, Hounslow, Middlesex TW3 3RT
Lowestoft Clarion Sian Charlton Tel: 01502 563262 btopa@blueyonder.co.uk 5 Avocet Close, South Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, Suffolk
Manchester Stretford Christopher Goode Tel: 01723 341050 twentytwowheels @hotmail.com 56 Raleigh Street, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO11 7LQ
Nottingham Clarion Paul Harwood Tel: 0115 9126436 Pump Station House, Daleside Road, Nottingham NG2 4DH
Oakhill Clarion CC Charles Jepson Tel: 01254 51302 clarioncc yahoo.co.uk Aysgaard, Beardwood Brow, Blackburn, Lancashire BB2 7AT
Stockport Clarion Julian Mortel Tel: 01625 575959 jules stockport-clarion.org.uk 14 Ingersley Road, Bollington, Cheshire SK10 5RF
Sunderland Clarion Allan Smith Tel: O191 584 8948 allan.smith @tiscali.co.uk 5 St Aidan’s Terrace, New Herrington, Houghton-le-Spring DH4 4LZ
Teeside Clarion Colin Armstrong Tel: 01947 880488 2 Eden Lea, Mount Pleasant, Robin Hoods Bay, Whitby, N. Yorks YO22 4RE
West of Scotland Clarion John Harris Tel: 01236 730157 20 Lomond View, Condorrat, Cumbernauld, Scotland G67 4JR
If you know of people who are not near a local Clarion Section then please encourage them to start a new Section. A Section of just one member is better than no Section at all. For further information please ask them to
contact the National Secretary
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com
Clarion members now have a new benefit, that can save them many pounds.
We have a group discount set up under the name of the National Clarion Cycling Club at any of their 23 stores around the UK. You will need to carry your Clarion membership card as proof, plus you may need to quote this Acc number N2102
In return you will save 10% on all purchases, for items such as outdoors clothing, camping equipment, maps book and many great things for the outdoors.
dust think, buying a new waterproof jacket for £60 could pay for your Clarion membership.
We spent £250 the other day, saved £25, not bad for a £6 membership to the Clarion.
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CURRENT CLARION OFFICIALS
President John Lees 38 Nook End Road, Heanor, Derbys, DE75 7QQ
Vice President Ken Hemsley
117 Southcliffe Road, Carlton, Nottingham NG4 ......................4 01159 873118 Secretary Tan Clarke
31 Poppy Field, Biggleswade, Beds.SG18 8TU 01767 314207 Treasurer IRetenROSCOe seer proscoe beeb.net Standing Orders Sec. Vacant
Racing Secretary Vacant
Membership Secretary Donald Reverissntemcrs) orcei dlever@ beeb.net 14 Mosley Avenue, Ramsbottom, Bury BLO9UH................-.....-.-4 01204 883584 Minute Secretary Jayne Clarke
Social Secretary Vacant
Easter Meet Organisers Steve Hope/Marion Royle/Richard Newcombe
Fenland Section
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Merlin Evans, 3 Green Lane, Heaton Moor, Stockport SK43LE .............4 01614 428441 Richard Newcombe, 67 Hall Lane, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 6RA 01733 706498 BOOTS SPURS EDITOR Richard Newcombe, 67 Hall Lane, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 6RA 01733 706498
ANOTHER SPARKLING CLARION EVENT THE WORTLEY HALL WEEKEND
Friday 5th October to Sunday 7th October