BOOTS&SPURS
THE NATIONAL CLARION CYCLING CLUB MEMBER MAGAZINE £2 (FREE TO MEMBERS) AUTUMN 2017 CELEBRATING VOLUNTEERS + A BIKE RIDE TO PARIS + YOUR SECTION NEWS TIME TRIAL RESULTS + 2018 EASTER MEET + MASTERS TRACK CHAMPS
2 | BOOTS&SPURS | AUTUMN 2017 FELLOWSHIP IS LIFE
MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.CLARIONCC.ORG
CLARIONCOVER
THIRD PARTY LIABILITY INSURANCE
GUARD AGAINST CLAIMS MADE BY OTHERS FOR ANY ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY YOU WHILE CYCLING
ONLY £12 FOR MEMBERS ONLY
AUTUMN 2017 | BOOTS&SPURS | 3
CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME Membership management I
n recent years the National Clarion Cycling Club has grown and now has an annual membership that exceeds 1900 members. Though this is very welcome, the change in scale means we have had to outsource such functions as the printing and posting Boots & Spurs and the production and distribution of membership cards, as they had become beyond the capacity of volunteers. In order to produce cards, and distribute magazines, we need to maintain an accurate and up-to-date register of members, and the processing of memberships, both new and renewals, has become increasingly onerous. At present we have no membership secretary, and attempts to find one have been unsuccessful. The National Clarion CC committee has come to the conclusion that we shall have
to consider outsourcing the handling of memberships to a commercial company, and several possible candidate companies have been found. This change will incur costs to the club, but will have benefits both to the National Club, and section membership secretaries. One possible outcome would be that all membership applications cold be done online, perhaps as early as 2018. With or without this change we still need a membership secretary, but if this change was instituted the job would be far less onerous than at present. The committee will consult with the club, via section secretaries, to seek suggestions and opinions from the membership. In addition, any member may send suggestions or comments to me at davidbisset55@hotmail.co.uk DAVID BISSET
NATIONAL CLARION
Editors Matthew Ball and Kirsty Ball (mball@matthewball.co.uk) Cover Illustration Garry Marshall Printed by prprint.co.uk Submissions Contributions to the magazine may be edited or omitted if there are space constraints.
Chairman DAVE BISSET (Bolton) davidbisset55@hotmail.co.uk
Treasurer ANDREW MARTIN (Tuxford) andrew.martin1971@btinternet.com Tel: 07514 130461
National Secretary IAN CLARKE (Tuxford) Markham Cottage, Low Street, East Markham, Newark NG22 0QQ Tel: 01777 872097 bike@clarioncc.org
Standing Orders Secretary BOB HARBER (Brighton) bikerider@phonecoop.coop
Points Competition CHRIS GOODE (Yorkshire Coast) twentytwowheels@hotmail.com
Website Manager ALAN KIDDLE (London)
National Clarion: www.clarioncc.org
Racing Secretary STEVE CLARKE (Fenland) Tel: 01733 706498 racing@fenlandclarion.co.uk
Vice President KATH LEESE (Heanor)
President KEN HEMSLEY (Fenland)
BOOTS&SPURS
WANTED: NATIONAL CLARION MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Please send applications to Ian Clarke Membership details should be sent to National Secretary in interim
CLARION CYCLO CROSS CHAMPS
ENTER THE LAST CLUB CHAMPS OF THE YEAR
Sunday, 17 Dec 2017
STADT MOERS COUNTRY PARK,
POTTERY LANE, WHISTON,
MERSEYSIDE, L35 3TJ
Event Organiser: Matt Hacker
Daintree151@gmail.com
GARRY MARSHALL
4 | BOOTS&SPURS | AUTUMN 2017
NEWS
30 March to 2nd April 2018 Y
ou are invited to attend the National Clarion’s 123rd Easter Meet for a weekend of sun, sea and cycling in Southend-on-Sea! The weekend is family friendly with both cycling events and lots to see and do in Southend. You can take a trip along the longest pier in the world, visit Adventure Island amusement park or stroll through the quaint fishing village of nearby Leigh-on-Sea. For those cycling, there will be both mountain biking and road cycling, as well as an opportunity to visit the 2012 Olympic MTB course Hadleigh Park.
WHAT’S GOING ON? Friday evening (Meet HQ: Park Inn Hotel) l Official opening by guest of honour, and welcome drink. Collect Easter Meet ribbon, cycling route maps and a goody bag.
Saturday daytime (Hadleigh Park, Essex, SS7 2PP) l AGM l Opportunity to ride the 5km 2012 Olympic Mountain Bike Course. Test your MTB skills on the pump track l Visit Hadleigh Castle
Join us at the Southend-on-Sea
l Visit the Rare Breed Centre and meet Dylan the Donkey or Cookie the Exmoor Pony l Social ride exploring the 500-acre Hadleigh Country Park
Saturday evening (Park Inn Hotel) l ‘Pub Quiz’ with prizes, hosted by Chris Goode (Yorkshire Coast) l Disco and buffet dinner l A collection of cycling short
films will be shown by Microcosm Publishing of Portland, Oregon.
Sunday daytime l Time trial, details tbc l Social rides, 20 or 40 miles
Sunday evening (Park Inn Hotel) l 3 course dinner including speech by guest of honour, prize presentation and raffle
BOOKING YOUR TICKETS IS EASY AT EVENTBRITE
AUTUMN 2017 | BOOTS&SPURS | 5
Easter Meet
l The Park Inn Hotel overlooks Adventure Island amusement park, pier and seafront. It is a short walk from both stations and opposite the multi-storey car park (discounted for hotel guests). A number of hotel rooms are available at a discounted price; just call and mention Clarion Cycling Club. Tel 01702 455155.
FAQs What are the transport/ parking options for getting to and from the event? There is a car park opposite the Park Inn Hotel and parking at Hadleigh Park for Saturday. Southend Central train station is 5 minutes walk from the Park Inn Hotel.
Can I contact the organiser with questions? Please email londonclarion@gmail.com or visit National Clarion Cycling Club Website
What’s the refund policy? 7 days before the event starts.
How do I book my place? Go to https://clarioncc.org/ and click on Easter Meet in Events menu (you will not need to bring the ticket)
Can I find out more about the 2012 Olympic MTB Course, Hadleigh Park? There are several videos on YouTube. Try searching fpr “Hadleigh Park Olympic MTB course - October 2016”
Dates and Location March 30, 6pm to April 2, 12 noon. Park Inn Hotel, Church Road, Southend-On-Sea, SS1 2AL Tel: 01702 455155
GUEST SPEAKER Maurice Burton will be our Guest Speaker at the Annual Awards Dinner. As a three-time British champion and someone who beat the legendary Eddy Merckx, Burton knows a thing or two about cycling. Maurice Burton was the first black British champion in cycling. He represented Britain at the 1974 Commonwealth Games.
GO TO: https://goo.gl/EbaXDV
6 | BOOTS&SPURS | AUTUMN 2017
NEWS Major new developments
The results are in for the recent member survey with members keen to adopt legal assistance and liability insurance proposals
By Alex Southern
LONDON T
hank you to the 220 members who completed the recent membership survey. The results indicate that 80% think that the National Clarion should be offering some form of cycle insurance to our members. Most popular was Third Party Liability Insurance followed by Legal Assistance and then Bike Insurance. When members were asked how much they would be willing to pay for Legal Assistance the most popular response was £5–£10. When asked about Third Party Liability Insurance responses varied significantly, however the most popular answer was £20–£30. As a result of our findings, the National Committee is pleased to confirm that from January 2017, the following additional benefits will be offered to our members.
Legal assistance T
he majority of cycling accidents involve some sort of personal injury through no fault of their own: this includes damage to rider, their bicycle or other property. Most incidents arise through the negligence of the driver of a motor vehicle, a small number involve defects to the public highway and, in occasional cases, accidents are caused by other cyclists. In these circumstances a 3rd party is at fault. The National Clarion is delighted to announce that it has entered into a partnership with Smooth Law Ltd, who will provide our members with free Legal
Assistance to pursue such personal injury claims against at fault parties. This added benefit comes at no additional cost to the annual membership subscription. In the event that a claim is successful, Smooth Law Ltd, like other legal practices, will take a success fee, which for members and families is reduced from the standard 25% to 15%. That said, in circumstances where it recovera all its fees or for monies it receives which is to replace or repair a member’s bicycle, a success fee will not be taken. Smooth Law Ltd is a specialist personal injury solicitors. It will use its experience to assess claims
AUTUMN 2017 | BOOTS&SPURS | 7
for Clarion members
and where it thinks good grounds exist will undertake the claim for compensation on our members’ behalf on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis. In addition, it has kindly agreed to extend this offer to our members’ families. Smooth Law will provide a Help/Support Line through its dedicated National Clarion Freephone number: 0800 470 1174. This will operate on weekdays, 9.00 am–8.00pm (except on public holidays). Smooth Law has also produced some handy stickers, which can be stuck on to your bike or inside your helmet for reference. These will be sent out with 2017 membership cards early next year.
Third party liability insurance I
f you cause or are found to have caused an accident which results in injury or property damage then you may be liable for a significant financial claim made against you, and the associated legal costs in defending that claim. This can be averted by holding Third Party Liability Insurance. The National Clarion hasn’t provided Third Party Liability Insurance since the early 1960s. Current options are for our members to purchase insurance from Cycling UK for £24 per year as a result of the £96
affiliation fee which the National Clarion pays to it. Alternatively, our members can purchase a silver membership from British Cycling for £42 per year. Now, the National Clarion is able to offer a low cost insurance product of our own, so from January 2017, for an additional premium of just £12 per year, members will obtain ‘Clarion Cover’. The policy, underwritten by Royal Sun Alliance, provides cover for any claim made against a member while they are cycling anywhere in the world (except USA and Canada) for injury or damage to a third party up to a maximum of £5,000,000 per incident. It covers commuting and club runs, time trials or audax events. As with all insurances there are certain things it will not cover but full details and policy document are available on the Clarion website.
CLARIONCOVER
THIRD PARTY LIABILITY INSURANCE
GUARD AGAINST CLAIMS MADE BY OTHERS FOR ANY ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY YOU WHILE CYCLING
ONLY £12 FOR MEMBERS
THIRD PARTY LIABILITY INSURANCE
8 | BOOTS&SPURS | AUTUMN 2017
CHECK OUT THE NEW WEBSITE The National Clarion website has had a revamp. Alan Kiddle has spearheaded the new look – take a look at https:// clarioncc.org
KEY FEATURES 1 A page has been created for each section. 2 Clarion events from around the UK are listed (submit yours via the site). 3 Includes all the usual resources, like national records, trophies, champions and Clarionfriendly venues. 4 The club is delighted to announce new partnerships with Wiggle, Chain Reaction and Planet X. Members making online purchases with these companies should click through the various banners found on certain pages on the new website www.clarioncc.org. By doing this, a percentage of your purchase will be donated to the National Clarion at no additional cost to you. You will also be greatly helping the club.
15% DISCOUNT AT 40+ COTSWOLD OUTDOOR Stores across the UK and online . Quote ‘AF-NATC-99’ at the store till and show your National Clarion membership card. See www.cotswoldoutdoor.com for your nearest store.
10% DISCOUNT ON ‘IN MOTION’ PRODUCTS Big discounts on cycling clothing, accessories, tyres, tubes and sundries. Just select ‘Clarion Cycling Club’ in the drop down options for ‘How did you hear about
us’ at payment, and add your membership number in the ‘Other information’ box. Buy at www.inmotionproducts.com.
ANNUAL 3RD PARTY INSURANCE (JUST £12) See full details at https:// clarioncc.org/join-us/clarioncycling-insurance/
IT’S WORTH IT! For the £8 National Clarion membership fee you get a lot of potential discount for little investment. Make the most of your membership!
Use your benefits!
BOOTS AND SPURS NOW ONLINE Alex Southern has built up an online library of Boots & Spurs magazines using past issues provided by members of the club. Alex has been scanning back copies and uploading them to Issue, a digital magazine viewer. It’s a great resource which shows what the club has been up to over the years and contains issues
from as far back as 1937 as well as the more up to date magazines. Check out the site for more details, and if you have any editions not yet uploaded please get in contact with Alex.
https://issuu.com/ nationalclarion
ARCHIVE
NEWS
EastEr MEEt 2010+thE FuturE OF thE ClariOn+MErit winnErs+sECtiOn nEws arChivE stOriEs+survEy rEsults+10 ChaMpiOnship+Club rECOrds sMashEd Boots&spurs
The NaTioNal ClarioN CyCliNg Club MagaziNe £2 (free To MeMbers) suMMer 2010
stirling easter meet preview + touring advice + 2010 championship results your section's news + membership boost + clarion kids + archive stories Boots&spurs
The NaTioNal ClarioN CyCliNg Club MagaziNe £2 (free To MeMbers) wiNTer 2010/11
stirling easter meet + raCe rePOrts + aUDaX eXPlOits + awarD winners FUnD raising aDViCe + news FrOm YOUr seCtiOn + ClariOn in tHe COmiC Boots&spurs
The NaTioNal ClarioN CyCliNg Club MagaziNe £2 (free To MeMbers) suMMer 2011
AUTUMN 2017 | BOOTS&SPURS | 9
Garry Marshall’s cover illustrations will feature in an exclusive 2018 calendar with all proceeds going to the West Lothian Cycle Circuit fundraiser.
Linlithgow Community Development Trust, a community-led charity, has ambitious plans to build a 1km traffic-free cycle circuit for everyone to enjoy. This
calendar will raise funds for the community fundraising target of £25k.
MORE DETAILS AT: http://trust-linlithgow.org.uk/ west-lothian-cycling-circuit/
ON SALE NOW! JUST £15 + P&P
2018 CYCLING CALENDAR
Featuring 13 Boots & Spurs cover illustrations
ORDER YOUR COPY AT www.cyclecalendar.co.uk
10 | BOOTS&SPURS | AUTUMN 2017
NEWS Clarion tandem to borrow T
The National Clarion has a nice Roberts tandem that can be loaned to Clarion members for short periods, so that they can either try tandeming, enjoy a few rides, or maybe even race on it. The bike is 22” centre to top seat tube (front and rear), but with longish seat posts for taller riders. For example, a 6 foot person on the front and a 5 foot 6 person on the rear could be accommodated. It’s complete and only needs pedals of your choice.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL CHANGES
You may be pleased to hear that the National Clarion is hoping to move to an online renewal and joining system for each and every section. Following a successful trial with Tuxford, Heanor, Saddleworth, Fenland and London, the Clarion is planning to roll-out a very similar system for 2018 for all members and sections to use. The trial was a centralised system, with all the above sections joining in the same place. Our plan is to implement a decentralised system, giving control to sections, whilst allowing the National club to view all sections for the
purposes of sending Boots & Spurs, Membership Cards, and checking membership status. Your section secretaries will be kept informed along the way, and we are just starting with our consultation and implementation.
NEW BOOTS & SPURS EDITOR WANTED
After many years of production and editing of a superb magazine for the Clarion, Matthew and Kirsty Ball have decided it’s time for someone else to take over. Matthew has been dedicating a lot of his time to getting the new West Lothian Cycle Circuit off the ground, which will be a superb legacy for the WLC Section.
We’d like to thank Matthew and Kirsty for the current style and content of Boots & Spurs: it is probably the single most impressive thing we have in the Clarion, and helps bring together so much news for the different Clarion sections. If you would like to get involved, and possibly take over, please don’t be daunted about the prospect. I am sure Matthew will provide a quality handover and the committee are waiting in the wings to provide content and direction. You will be given the freedom to develop your own style, one which reflects the values and spirit of the Clarion, yet can have your own personal creativity throughout. Please get in touch: bike@clarioncc.org
BY IAN CLARKE
Contact Ian Clarke to arrange to borrow: bike@clarioncc.org
AUTUMN 2017 | BOOTS&SPURS | 11
Lindsay’s return to glory
Lindsay Clarke from Fenland is a multiple UK masters champion. Her coach Bryan Steel talks about how she rediscovered her form L
indsay Clarke has been a member of Fenland Clarion for some 40 years since joining as a teenager. Her cycling exploits have included World Masters Cyclo-Cross, National Championships, racing in Japan and Russia for the National Squad, and winning many a National Clarion title including the National 5-mile track champs. Her coach Bryan Steel won Olympic Bronze at Sydney and Silver at Athens with the GB Pursuit squad. He also holds many National titles. We interviewed Bryan to get a coach’s view on training a talented Clarion rider, and getting some great results: So Bryan, how long have you been coaching Lindsay? I started with Steve and Lindsay at the start of 2017, when they came to me with their plans to ride the World Track Masters Champs in Los Angeles this year. What were your first impressions of Lindsay? I’ve known Lindsay for a long time and known her as a talented rider. She’s achieved a lot over the years, but we felt that with more structure to her training, breaking down the basics, that we could make good progress.
What were your biggest coaching challenges with Lindsay? Firstly, she’s a busy person and we needed to make the most of her time. But secondly, Lindsay really enjoys her cycling and I didn’t want to spoil her fun of the sport: the Clarion and I try to remain aware of that. How has Lindsay responded to your structured training and advice? Very well and I’ve been delighted that she’s over achieved my expectations. She’s won National Masters Gold medals in the Pursuit, the Points Race and the Masters Criterium Championships; she also got Silver in the Scratch race at the Track Masters. Which of those would you say is the greatest result? I’d say the Pursuit title. She
won that by 7 seconds and missed the World Masters record by 3/100ths of a second. Arguably, if she’d had a closer opponent to chase, firstly she wouldn’t have lost time going over her, and secondly it would have driven her even harder. But the Points Race title was fantastic on a different level because this was very tactical and she had to beat a better sprinter to win that. How would you compare Lindsay to much younger female riders? Well you only have to look at the wins she gets in the Derby track leagues against girls in their twenties. But what she lacks in youth, she makes up in experience and tactical knowledge. What’s her next big target? Ultimately it’s the World Masters in LA, and getting her best result in the Pursuit firstly, but also in the Scratch Race and the Points Race. And what’s the biggest challenge she has to overcome to achieve that? My biggest worries are about overcoming the long haul flight, her routine and the hotels over there ,and how she tapers her training when she is there. These can be tricky elements to balance.
STOP PRESS! Lindsay won two silver medals at the World Masters Track Championships in LA. One in the scratch and one in the points race.
12 | BOOTS&SPURS | AUTUMN 2017
ON TOUR
Yorkshire-based Fenland section members, brothers Nigel and Michael Cowling, take to the French roads for a raid on the French capital.
Michael Cowling
FENLAND T
his 270-mile round trip from Dieppe to Paris starts and ends fairly easy; the middle three days are for those who enjoy cafe stops and don’t mind some hills. The Avenue Verte, roughly translated as Green Way, starts in London and ends across the Channel in Paris. We only had five days to
spare and the French leg looked more attractive. Leaving the car at Newhaven ferry terminal we boarded the DFDS service to Dieppe with our tourers safely stored. Four hours and a decent snooze later we disembarked to a tail wind and warm(ish) weather early in the afternoon. The climb away from the ferry port in Dieppe was a good leg stretcher and, as it turned out, completely unnecessary. If I had followed the route correctly we would have kept to the flat roads past the marina and out of town. The route was quickly rejoined and we left Dieppe
to find the start of the Avenue Verte, an old railway line repurposed for the joys of cycling. The first couple of miles of path suffer from raised tree roots but once these have been negotiated it’s plain sailing. The path rises and falls almost without notice, past remnants of a bygone era of transport, and the rider is only slowed for minor road crossings. We rode along the path until it joined a main road near a supermarket, taking the chance to stock up with some food and water, and entered Forges les Eaux, our stop for the night. With the bikes under lock and key, in
Paris can wait
MICHAEL, LEFT AND BROTHER NIGEL, AT THE START OF THE AVENUE VERTE OUTSIDE DIEPPE
AUTUMN 2017 | BOOTS&SPURS | 13
a spacious garage, we relaxed with a drink. After a good breakfast we loaded up the bikes and set off with the sun breaking through fluffy clouds – it was going to be a hot one. Out of Forges the route sticks to mainly side roads through deserted villages and small towns. Now the chain moved up the cassette in sympathy with the rolling countryside, I’m not a great climber, unlike my brother, who seemed to breeze up the hills. I got him on the descent though.
We bought our lunch in Gournay en Bray after a coffee stop in a local bar. It was market day and the bar was doing good business at 11am. Two regulars, faces flushed with years of starting their day off with a snifter, joked with us and asked if we had cycled across the channel. The route took us out of Gournay en Bray and back to quieter roads and the delightful St. Germer de Fly. Stopping every so often for a drink and to check our route we made medium to slow progress through the French countryside up to the Vexin Plain. The climbs can be tiring and the plateau would be exposed in any sort of
wind. Our next port of call was Marines, some 27 miles away. A long stretch without too many places for food and drink. We had our lunch to look forward to and scoffed it down as we sat in a village near its church. I had thoughts of a refreshing post lunch snooze. It wasn’t to be, as the local maintenance contractors turned up with their noisy mowers and blowers to beautify the village’s grass borders. Into Marines, we stopped for a great coffee at the welcoming Kington Lounge and to use their wi-fi. Refreshed, we set off to get
NIGEL ON THE ROAD
THE CHARMING TOWN OF ST. GERMER DE FLY
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to our B&B at Boismont. A couple of climbs and descents later we arrived and parked the bikes in another lock up. This was to be our base for two nights and provided cooking facilities if needed. In my best French I managed to order a takeaway pizza, washed down with half a bottle of red wine. Only half a bottle as I wanted to be in a fairly good state to tackle the ride to Paris the next day. A brilliantly warm day started with a blasting descent to the River Seine, our conduit to the heart of city. The drop was enjoyable, tinged with the thought of the climb at the end of a long, hot day. We rode through a series of forests, up a long, neverending climb in one, thankful for the cooling shade. Eventually the traffic noise increased and we were in the suburbs of the capital heading for Versailles and some complicated path
finding. Through Parc St Cloud, with its traffic calming bumps and dips that cannot be avoided and over the Seine again via an old aqueduct, now a footbridge. We could see the Eiffel Tower and had the Bois de Boulogne and Longchamps racetrack to go before we could stand under the iconic metal tower. The peripheral road outside Longchamps is used as a training circuit by large groups of ‘rouleurs’ who ride in enormous groups. Don’t ride on the inside of the road here, stick to the outside and let them ride by, faster than you, on the inside. A few more miles of busy roads and
intersections and we were standing under the tower with all the other thousands of tourists, recording our effort with photographs. Reversing the route, avoiding the one way streets we had cycled down, we stopped at a roadside cafe in the Bois de Boulogne where locals while away their afternoons. A much appreciated sandwich and ice cream later we set off to Longchamps and the large groups of cyclists. We were heading against the flow of ‘peletons’ but braved the insults and made it to the safer area of road without incident. Back the way we came, stopping at a petrol station to recharge our bodies and bottles we eventually arrived at the base of the climb up from Triel sur Seine to the B&B at Boismont. I hitched into my granny gear and plugged away for twenty minutes. We finished off the remnants of last night’s pizza and wine and slept blissfully. Back on the bikes to ride a long stretch back to Neufchatel en Bray for our last night before a comparatively short ride back to Dieppe and the boat to Newhaven and the long car drive back to Yorkshire. The Avenue Verte can be ridden from London but we had limited time so chose the French portion to ride. We followed a route devised by Donald Hirsch that was well explained and easy to follow.
ON TOUR
A brilliantly warm day started with a blasting descent to the River Seine.
MICHAEL AT THE TOWER NIGEL AT THE TOWER
AUTUMN 2017 | BOOTS&SPURS | 15
CONSTITUTION
Find out the rules for joining more than one club
Ian Clarke
TUXFORD S
econd claim membership only really affects racing members, and means that you are expected to state which of your two (or more) clubs, you consider to be your primary club. For example, years ago I lived near Ashwell in Hertfordshire, but of course the Clarion was always my first (and only club). However, as there was no Clarion section in the area, and I still wanted to ride with them, I joined the CC Ashwell as a second claim member. The National Clarion allows second claim members, simply because if someone wants to join more than one club then why shouldn’t we let them join us and welcome them into the Clarion, too? Of course there have been examples where people have joined the Clarion solely because we have great events, or run track events, even though they don’t want to fully take part in, and be a fully-fledged member of the Clarion. The concern here is that we want to make sure that our Clarion competitions are
fair and not taken over by ‘pot hunters’, who might push long standing and loyal members down the results list, but never be seen again. With this in mind, over the years, the National Conference has decided on rules which aim to be fair to all, but likewise still allow the club to be inclusive and welcoming to all. So that you are aware of those rules, we list them below. Of course, sections are allowed to propose amendments which would go forward at the annual conference at Easter for all to vote on. RULE 4.6 Second claim members are permitted to join at the same
fee as full members. Second claim members may participate in all activities and races. Second claim members are eligible to compete in the Clarion points competition during their first year. In the second year of membership second claim members who have previously completed at least four events of the points competition are eligible to compete for Clarion championships. Otherwise, second claim members have to wait until payment of their third subscription before they qualify to compete for Clarion championships.
RULE 9.10 In any ‘Clarion Member Only’ race or championship, all riders (even 2nd claim members) must compete in their current Clarion section colours. In order to identify themselves clearly amongst officials and other competitors, 2nd claim members (subject to rule 4.6), must also compete in their registered Clarion section colours and not any other colours or design.
Our full rules and constitution can be found on www.clarioncc.org
Second claim, what’s that all about?
Second claim members may participate in all races
16 | BOOTS&SPURS | AUTUMN 2017
MEMBER PROFILE Dave Langlands Fenland superfast vet
Ian Clarke
TUXFORD A
member of Fenland Clarion for some 21 years, a Clarion record holder and multiple champion, National Clarion team pursuiter, ex-trackie, and with a penchant for Belgian beer (as many Clarion members will testify) Dave went 2nd Claim Fenland in 2017 and, in order to pursue his time trial targets, joined Team Bottrill. Here, his old Madison partner Ian Clarke catches up with Dave to discuss his record breaking year.
What are your best performances over the last couple of years? I was really pleased with the 1.41.13 50TT. I’d only gone out to beat the Fenland record of 1.49. And then there was the 47.50 for a 25 I did this year. Team Bottrill broke the National Competition Team Record four times that day, and I was part of the record breaking team twice, until faster riders made the team as the riders came in. How much training are you doing and what’s the hardest session? Around 10hrs a week. Every session is hard, but sessions with an hour of sweetspot (just below threshold), is particularly hard due to the
time you have to hold it. Pound for watt, what is the best bit of tech’ that money can buy for time saving? A good fitting top skinsuit is best by a mile, maybe something like the Endura ones. What motivates you? Erm… good question… I’ve lots of energy and need something to put it into. That, and curiosity. After finding a bike fit saved me a minute in time trials, I wanted to find out how much faster I could go. What would be your top three tips for someone wanting to improve their times? 1: bike fit 2: using low cadence/high gears in some training sessions to build muscle and 3: doing winter training on the TT bike. What’s the best thing about being in the Clarion? Just the friendships over the
years: you are such a likeable friendly group of people and these are friendships that last a long time. What’s your next target? The age group [50-54] title in the National 25 in August. (Dave has already won the 50 age group title by 7 minutes this year).
MEMBER LETTER
Having reached the ripe old age of 85 I have many happy memories of my days in the club: when Bob [Cleveland] was president and when we lived in London and went to the Clarion Fellowship – taking our babies with us. I send greetings to anyone who will remember us.” Gwyneth Cleveland
AUTUMN 2017 | BOOTS&SPURS | 17
RESULTS
How many roundabouts does it take to make a 25 mile champs?
Ian Clarke
TUXFORD Only five! While that sounds like quite a lot, take note that this course built on the old Great North Road south of Peterborough, performs two out and back loops of these five roundabouts, making a total of 17 roundabout junctions in one 25 time trial. This fact makes Dave Langlands’ of Fenland Section’s ride of 53.01 – a 28mph ride – even more impressive. Dave, a Clarion member for some 22 years, is riding this year in Team Bottrill colours and took the win under our second claim rules. Dave also headed up the Fenland team’s win for the Kalkhoff Trophy, with team mates Paul Lunn 56.01 and Simon Pitchford 57.43 making a very fast team ride. Indeed, some five Fenland members, three Tuxford riders, one Heanor rider and Bury’s 14 year old Francis Woodcock, all went comfortably under the hour on the day. Francis’s 59.40 matched the National secretary’s ride exactly, but appears to have set a new Juvenile 25-mile record for the Clarion. With only one lady riding, the Ladies Rosebowl goes to Barbara
Gunn who completed the 25 miles in 1.30.32. Thanks go to Emma Emmerton and the promoting section of Fenland for finding enough marshals for all those roundabouts, and still having enough left over to serve teas. It was a fine day with some cracking times.
Results 1 David Langlands (Team Bottrill / HSS Hire) 53:01 2 Jack Levick (Tuxford) 55:17 3 Paul Lunn (Fenland) 56:01 4 William Perrett (Langdale Lightweights R T) 57:24 5 Simon Pitchford (Fenland) 57:43 6 Shawn Gough (Tuxford) 58:29 7 Steve Kaye (Fenland) 59:18 8 Paul Lilley (Fenland) 59:28 9 Francis Woodcock (Juvenile) (Bury) 59:40 10 Ian Clarke (Tuxford) 59:40 11 Malc Jacklin (Fenland) 1:00:41 12 David Norman (Junior) (Fenland) 1:01:20 13 Ian Aunger (Fenland) 1:08:16 14 James Piercy (Juvenile) (Fenland) 1:10:14 15 John Royle (Fenland) 1:11:34 16 James Fell (Fenland) 1:15:29 17 Barbara Gunn (Female) (Fenland) 1:30:32 50 miles in the Vale of Belvoir Some courses are perfect for a Clarion championship: central, safe, fun and challenging. The Nottingham-run 50 champs is proving to be a regular and almost permanent fixture in the Clarion annual championship calendar. What made it for me was not the warm day, not my 30 year PB, nor the great roads, but the fact that nearly all the marshals cheered me on by name. This is an event that Nottingham organise well and should be proud of. The course is somewhat sporting but not too hard. It runs on a
triangular course, taking in two and a half laps, thus taking away the boredom and continued pain from out and back courses. It was attended by members from four different sections, most of whom are quite close to Nottingham and with three of those sections sending three members, although there is no team prize. There is only one prize and that’s for the outright winner – the Rylance Linklater Ogden trophy was won by Fenland’s top tester and champion triathlete Paul Lunn, with two Nottingham riders – Michael Cooke and Anthony Jackson – taking the next two places. Another notable result was from Amy Ogden from Tuxford, with a highly creditable 2.05.15. Results 1 Paul Lunn (Fenland) 1.50.03 2 Michael Cooke (Nottingham) 1.54.35 3 Anthony Jackson (Nottingham) 1.55.24 4 Simon Pitchford (Fenland) 1.57.37 5 Ian Clarke (Tuxford) 2.00.22 6 David Thorold (Fenland) 2.00.58 7 Steve Hancock (Calder) 2.03.57 8 Amy Ogden (Tuxford) 2.05.15 9 John Odell (Nottingham) 2.10.12 10 David Smith (Tuxford) 2.15.53
50TT winner: Paul Lunn
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RESULTS
Two’s company, three’s a crowd
Ian Clarke
TUXFORD Three sections, Nottingham, Fenland and Tuxford, competed in the 3-up TT, fielding six teams in all. The top three places were shared between the sections, all with excellent times, improving on the inaugural winning times from last year. The course is sporting, with drags, four junctions and a roundabout. On a warm, relatively calm day, Nottingham took first place by 27 seconds from Tuxford, and less than a minute back was Fenland in 55.53. The Nottingham boys take the new Tuxford TTT Trophy, to be awarded at the Easter Meet next year. The course, effectively two laps (and a bit) of Tuxford’s evening 11.3 mile TT course, was measured by Francis Grafton of Nottingham, who has said he will run the event in 2018 as an open event on the same course. No doubt Tuxford and Nottingham will join forces to make it an exceptional event. It was great to see Tuxford, one of the newer sections in the Clarion put up four teams, with some competing in their first team time trial. They fielded an all ladies team and it should be noted that rules state that medals can be won if there are more than one team of ladies, and the same applies for Junior only teams.
Results 1. Nottingham (Stewart Bates, Anthony Jackson, Mike Cooke) 54.28 2. Tuxford (Ian Clarke, Jack Levick, Shawn Gough) 54.55 3. Fenland (Steven Kaye, Simon Pitchford , Paul Lilley)55.53 4 Tuxford (Gareth Newman, Sean Longworth, Andrew Martin) 1.01.38 5. Tuxford (Archie Hollingsworth (J) , Nigel Wilson, Neil Pike) 1.04.18 6. Tuxford Women (Jayne Clarke, Amy Ogden, Jess Barrington) 1.13.04
Clarion Points Competition
(AFTER 4 ROUNDS)
Clarion Points 24th October 2017
Section positions: 1. Tuxford 265 points 2. Fenland 177 3. Nottingham 155 4. Bury 83 5. Calder 62 6. Sunderland 49 7. Heanor 35 8. Stockport 19 9. Blackpool 15 10. Yorkshire Coast 13 11. N. Cheshire 6 12. Barnoldswick 5 13. Saddleworth 5
Men 1. J. Levick Tuxford 140 points =2. M. Cooke Nottingham 80 =2. P. Lunn Fenland 80 4. I. Clarke Tuxford 79 5. A. Jackson Nottingham 60 6. D. Langlands Fenland 50 7. S. Pitchford Fenland 47 8. S. Gough Tuxford 46 9. P. Whatmough Bury 40 10. S. Degnan Calder 23 =11. J. Cadwallader Bury 22 =11. S Hancock Calder 22 =11. R. Robinson Sunderland 22 =14. M. Lowden Bury 21 =14. T. Stokes Fenland 21 16. M. Williams Fenland 20 =17. D McLaren Stockport 19 =17. A. Martin Tuxford 19 =19. P. Campbell Heanor 18 =19. J. Duffy Bury 18 =21. S. Bowering Calder 17 =21. M. Perrett Heanor 17 =23. D. Ives Blackpool 15 =23. S. Kay Fenland 15 =23. J. Odell Nottingham 15 =26. P. Cotrell Sunderland 14 =26. P. Lilley Fenland 14 =28. C. Goode Yorks Coast 13
TUXFORD : OGDEN CLARKE BARRINGTON
=28. L. Mc Avoy Sunderland 13 =30. R. Burton Calder 12 =30. S. Harrison Tuxford 12 =32. M. Jacklin Fenland 11 =32. A. Spittlehouse Calder 11 =32. M. Usher Bury 11 =35. I. Aunger Fenland 9 =35. F. Grafton Nottingham 9 =35. T. Guy Sunderland 9 38. D. Thorold Fenland 8 =39. P. Barett Sunderland 7 =39. J. Royle Fenland 7 =41. S. Clarke Fenland 6 =41. J. Fell Fenland 6 =43. C. Moreham Saddleworth 5 =43. C. Urmston Barnoldswick 5
Women =1 J. Byer-Lyons Nottingham 50 points =1 L. Clarke Fenland 50 =1 B. Gunn Fenland 50 =1 A. Ogden Tuxford 50 5 J. Clarke Tuxford 40 =6 J. Barrington Tuxford 30 =6 H. Kitching Calder 30 =8 F. Smith Calder 20 =8 H. Osguthorpe N. Cheshire 20
Junior Girls 1. H. Osguthorpe N. Cheshire 50 2. H. Bayes Yorks Coast 40
Junior and Under 16 Boys =1 A. Hollingworth Tuxford 50 =1 F. Woodcock Bury 50 Juvenile =3 D. Norman Fenland 40 =3 S. Young Fenland 40 =5 C. Howe Heanor 30 =5 J. Piercy Fenland 30 Juvenile =7 J. Clifton Calder 20 =7 T. Stegeman Fenland 20
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TUXFORD: LONGWORTH NEWMAN MARTIN
TUXFORD: WILSON PIKE HOLLINGSWORTH
TUXFORD: GOUGH CLARKE LEVICK
NOTTINGHAM: BATES JACKSON COOK
FENLAND: KAYE PITCHFORD LILLEY
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CELEBRATE VOLUNTEERS Why we volunteer
DIANE CLAYTON CHISHOLM Coach
I have been a coach in the youth section for five or six years, and got involved in the club when I saw how much my son got out of being a member. I thought that if I could help even a few youths a fraction, then it would be worthwhile. Also, we lacked (and still do) female coaches. My bike skills have really improved since I became a coach, as I get coached by some of the best coaches on development days, and I am now also qualified in first aid. I have made so many good friendships and met so many like-minded people, which is one of the massive benefits of volunteering. We have had many good times in the club. My favourite was when Matthew Ball carried the Commonwealth Games torch, and all the kids turned out to walk beside him wearing ‘Matt Ball’ masks that coach Mike Mason had produced. It was hilarious. Many of our youngsters are developing a lifelong love of cycling, and we are keeping
them fit and active – and they have to put their phones down! I think our club is contributing significantly to our local community, thanks to our volunteers. All you need to be a good volunteer is a desire to make a contribution, big or small. You don’t need to be a cycling buff or a racing snake. You can sell T-shirts, or count laps, or clear up after an event. Being a coach is fun and rewarding and I get to ride my bike with awesome people. IAN ELLIOT Race organiser
I am a Level 2 coach, the Communications Secretary of the club since last year, and have also been the organiser of the club’s Battle of the Black Loch road race for the last four years. I joined the West Lothian Clarion back in 2011 and was really impressed by the enthusiasm and commitment of those that ran the club, and I was keen to put something back. When a role became vacant I saw it as my chance to contribute to the club’s success
as others had done before me. Training to be a coach helped me understand how I could use my own bike experience to help others. Often, it’s nothing more than observation, direction and encouragement. Coaching sessions are always fun to deliver, as those that attend are keen to learn, and enjoy stretching themselves. It’s a great sense of achievement seeing someone make noticeable improvements in their confidence and ability in the space of a few hours. It’s a truism to say it, but the club only exists because of volunteers. Whether it’s an official role on the committee or just spending a few hours helping to marshal at an event, they’re both equally important to the success of the club. The club relies on the time and support of its members and it’s what has helped the club gain an envious reputation for its social and race events. Members need to know that as they join the club, there is an ask to get involved and not just hand over a membership fee and expect a service to be provided on a plate. We need, and rely, on the time and support of members.
Volunteers are at the heart of any good sports club, and the Clarion – with its many and varied sections – can boast a vast array of skills and knowledge among its volunteers. In this special feature we speak to 13 members about why they donate their time
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HENDRICK NAHLER Commissaire
The best way to watch a bike race is from within. You either need to be a top racer – I’m not – or a commissaire. I started commissairing in closed circuit races in 2012 after dabbling in road and circuit races for a few years, and am now also the commissaire coordinator for Scotland East and Central. I have learnt how to keep a cool head when everything around me blows up, which can easily happen in a road race. I am often asked by the driver of
the car if this is my main job! It’s obvious to see why charities for medical causes need volunteer help, but sports need volunteers too. Without them, the entry barrier due to cost would be forbiddingly high for any newcomer or child to a sport. Volunteers create opportunities for children and the whole community. Volunteering gives to the community but it also gives you a lot back. It requires interest, curiousity and passion for a sport or charity cause. We should be prepared to talk to parents and spectators about what we do, why we do it and what we get out of it.
GABBY GIBBONS Young volunteer
I am currently the young volunteer at NC Juniors and I have been since 2015, through British Cycling’s ‘Cycling Award for Young Volunteers’, of which I have completed my bronze, silver, gold and platinum awards. I started because I had been racing competitively but was unable to manage the training alongside my school work and exams, but I still wanted to be involved with the club. Being a volunteer has allowed me to meet so many people and
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CELEBRATE VOLUNTEERS
I have learnt the importance of being able to explain information and tasks to many different groups of ages, and I now have a variety of ways in which I can do this. I feel volunteering is important because, without such good volunteers we wouldn’t have the brilliant clubs that support our riders so well. To encourage others to get involved we must continue to praise the volunteers we already have for their hard work, and show new people how much the clubs rely on volunteers.
SAM O’KANE Baker
I joined the Clarion to support an amazing club. I offered to help out with bacon rolls and it all took off from there. I am regularly found heading up the catering crew at events such as the early season RAD tour, the hilly TT and the Battle of the Black Loch Road Race. I can set up a hall in record time and can load up a car with more cake than listed in the manufacturer’s brochure. I enjoy working in a team, and learning from each event so the next one is better. I have only marshalled once, but loved it, but some of the best times have been after the event. I remember Sooz Elliot (another helper) and I taking some leftover cake (hard to believe I know) to Bathgate Fire Station and we managed to get a peek inside the station. Fire officers must be cyclists at
heart, judging by the reception the offer of cake had! We’ve helped out a few tired and cold cyclists too. We are expert at interpreting a cyclist’s frozen mumblings, and serving up reviving soup. Volunteers together are greater than the sum of their parts. We need to tell peple they are needed, invite our friends to join so they start off knowing someone. There are many who chip in in a small way – like baking a cake – but who could get lots out of taking part in something they already feel connected with.
PETER ROSCOE Compulsive volunteer
I hold far too many roles in Bury Clarion. I am General Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Press Reporter. I have held roles since 1952 when I became Race Secretary, but have been the
Secretary on and off for 18 years and the Treasurer for just over a year. I volunteer and take on jobs sometimes because no one else will volunteer, but I also feel compelled to. I have what I have dubbed Compulsive Volunteering Disorder, and, at 82, have been secretary-treasurer of five organisations and remain so for three. When I was a teen I used to marvel at the dedication of volunteers. I wondered what made them so dedicated. Were they inspired by God? (I was, at the time, struggling with my own approach to religion). I don’t think it’s that now, but they must have got some satisfaction. I make a lot of mistakes as a volunteer, but I try not to repeat any of them twice. I have had some funny experiences too. I used to volunteer as a pusheroff, and was once there in the pouring rain, wearing a waterproof with a drawstring and toggles. One of the toggles got caught in the back brake of a rider. As he set off he pulled the
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drawstring out – I was really surprised to see how long it was. He took up the slack and realised he had some resistance, by which time I was running alongside him wondering what to do. Luckily the toggle then snapped and off he went. Volunteering is important because without it, our not-for-profit organisations would cease to exist. I wish I could offer a nugget of wisdom as to how to encourage more volunteers. If only I knew.
SIMON FAGAN Coach
I have been a volunteer coach for about seven years, and have learned a lot. I got involved because I wanted to give something back to cycling and to inspire the next generation. It’s a job that you can never be complacent about. Coaching is a journey and all the more enjoyable for it. I’ve since
given up my career as an environmental consultant to coach full time! I won a Scottish Cycling quarterly coaching award, although it’s rumoured that it was organising the first MTB club BBQ and making the best onion relish that swung it for me. I think more people would get involved if we provided small scale events for people to try and then they would see how much fun and how social volunteering is – the social fabric of the club is key. Our volunteers make our club vibrant with a bright future.
JIM HARRIS Timekeeper
My volunteering job at the moment is simply to keep the West of Scotland Clarion alive. I have been a Clarion man since 1950, so when membership numbers diminished and we were short of money back in the Seventies, we
took action by amalgamating Govan, Coatbridge, Glasgow and Kelvingrove sections and formed the West of Scotland. I became the organiser of the Tour de Trossachs (our only race then) and learned all the skills I would need on the job. Being a journeyman, I was taught that you learnt your trade by watching your tradesmen going about their business. The same goes for the cycling game: watch the timekeepers, organisers and listen to older clubmates and you will pick up the skills. Club members need to keep in mind that clubs don’t run themselves and they require the members to keep them going. Everyone needs to do their bit. And if you want people to join your club, you’ve got to be seen out and about.
IAN CLARKE National Secretary
I have had two stints as National Secretary, from 91-99 and then since 2006. I was on the committee from 1981, when Marian Lamb was retiring as National secretary (which she’d been for 25 years). Among us, we agreed to split up some of her work, bringing in extra hands to organise the Easter Meets. I ended up doing the secretary and membership roles, as well as writing the first Boots & Spurs. It basically came down to not wanting to let the club down, and keep it alive for another century – which we
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CELEBRATE VOLUNTEERS
are now doing. I have learned many skills in the job: chairing meetings, standing orders, diplomacy (don’t laugh guys…), business management type skills. It’s obvious why volunteering is important – clubs don’t run themselves. When everyone chips in you get a more diverse organisation, better events, better administration and you take some of the burden away from the small number of officials. Volunteering roles look good on your CV, they show you are responsible and caring, and we need people who can step forward for three, four years at a time and really get their teeth into a post. Some jobs can’t be mastered in a year and too much change causes chaos, although no change is not desirable either. We do have fun, too. Once, during a debate about membership, the membership secretary said it was important that life members tell us each year that they still want to be members. ‘Why?’ it was asked. ‘So that we know if someone is alive or not,’ came the reply. ‘You’ll know when I’m dead because I’ll come back to haunt you!’ quipped someone.
LEISL HACKER Coach
I got involved with volunteering because there was a shortage of coaches and I just wanted to help out – I wanted the youngsters to have some help getting started in racing, if it was something
they were interested in. We had only three or four youth club members racing, and I felt it was important to offer information to other parents and riders, and to demystify the world of racing for novice racers. Being a coach has given me really good communication skills, and taught me how to give constructive feedback. I’m still learning and am constantly looking for opportunities to learn from more experienced coaches. Being a coach has also make me a better cyclist – my bike handling skills have definitely improved. Volunteers truly are the backbone of cycling clubs and cycling events. They are the people that make everything happen. Being a volunteer, I have met some great people and made some fantastic (hopefully) lifelong friends, and hopefully my children have too. In terms of encouraging people to volunteer, they need to know that no contribution is too
small, every little bit helps. There’s no need to feel that volunteering has to be a huge commitment, just give what you can and it will be massively appreciated by the other volunteers.
CARRIE LAIRD Race organiser
I have volunteered for the last five years or so, organising the WLC Lang Whang 30TT and also pushing off and marshalling. I decided to volunteer because it felt good to be involved in club events and help out others – the camaraderie on event day is a buzz. Because I’ve done the Lang Whang TT for so long I see the same guys a lot, and at other events. There are a few who I can share funny memories with when we bump into each other; my favourite is about Mr William Turner, who missed the Lang Whang cos he couldn’t find the start point, a feat we have had a few chuckles over. I feel lucky that I love volunteering. Not everyone has the same feelings, and I do wish more club members would volunteer, because events can’t go ahead without us. People need to know the details of a role, and perhaps be offered some incentive to do it, but mostly, I would assure people that they will have fun aswell as helping the club’s reputation.
GO ON, GIVE A BIT BACK We hope you’ve been inspired to give some of your spare time to club activities and help make the Calrion continue to be a vibrant and rewarding cycling club. You can volunteer in any capacity: from marshal to race organiser. So give something back to your club, contact your secretary today!
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CHRIS DOWNEY Ride captain
I’m the club Ride Captain, a role I took on in September 2016. I wanted the opportunity to give something back to the club and it has really helped me develop my leadership skills, on and off the bike. I have got a lot better at route planning too, and we were excited recently when we were invited to feature in Cycling Weekly. On the day of the club run, we were to be met by a photographer at the meeting point and then the journalist a few miles ride up the road. On arrival, there was no photographer to be seen. We waited and waited, still no paparazzi. Then began the muttering of “is this an April fool?” – it was the first of April after all! I was beginning to think we’d been had. It all turned out ok in the end as the
photographer was waiting just up the road. The feature was a great success and a credit to the club. If members don’t step up, be it committee, marshalling, timekeeping, or cake baking, clubs will cease to exist. One way to encourage people would be for those who’ve volunteered in the past to document their day, experiences and what they’ve gained from it. Hopefully these positive and enjoyable experiences will give those thinking about volunteering the push they need.
FRANCIS GRAFTON Committee member
I have been a volunteer for 48 of my 50 years in the club. The roles have been varied and I probably did more in the past than I do now, but I feel strongly that I have to encourage others
to take things on. It’s the way it has to be. I am Nottingham’s Treasurer, Time Trials Secretary for 25 club events (and I attend nearly all of them), club delegate to CTT and the BDCA, club Trophies and Records Secretary since the 1970s, National Clarion’s Records Secretary and the Cycling Time Trials approved course measurer in the Central District sine 1974. We were always strongly encouraged to volunteer. Henry Lloyd, a founder member of Nottingham section, was an inspirational man and he helped me, and many others, in the early years of my apprenticeship. That said, I have never understood why people ‘hide’ at meetings in the hope that somebody else will do the job. It is, after all, an opportunity to shape things yourself in your own way. As a volunteer, you never stop learning, but some things never change. Certainly computers and the internet have changed forever the way that we communicate and I had to learn those skills for work somewhat later than most. However, I feel that while it has its merits, some of the finer points of communication have been lost. When organising events and looking for volunteers to help out on the day, Henry once said to me “people like to be asked”. He was right, it’s the personal touch that is lacking from mass circulation emails that makes them so easy to delete. I still use the telephone or go and visit people personally. These days, everybody likes
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to have their say (look at the Time Trial Forum) but there is no real debate. Most of the critics or self-opinionated have never lifted a finger to help, but they are all experts! In any organisation that is reliant on voluntary input you have a choice: do nothing or do something. If you do nothing you might wait a long time for something to happen and it may never happen. Alternatively, you can do something and make things happen, shape things for the future, create memorable occasions that people will enjoy and remember for years to come. If I am going to be remembered then it will be for the things I did and not for the things I never did. Encouraging others means
CELEBRATE VOLUNTEERS
helping them understand what ‘belonging to’ means. When I first joined the Clarion, I did not expect to take an official role or organise anything but I was only 18 and lacked both confidence and experience. People like Henry Lloyd educated members in a quiet, gentle way, without coercion. When it was the local 12-hour event, the whole club went out to do the feeding station at 130 miles. Henry led the way, complete with buckets and sponges, we followed and enjoyed the day out, we did our bit and helped the event. What people have to understand is that volunteering helps an organisation keep control of its affairs for the very best of reasons. The alternative is to pay someone to provide the service but is that the best solution? Things may not be done the way you would want them or with the same attention to detail. The great strength of clubs and other voluntary societies is the diversity of the membership. Everybody has something they can contribute and for someone with a good eye or coordinating a diversity of skills there is no limit to what can be achieved with a bit of goodwill. Clubs should always be about taking and giving in equal measure; a little more of the latter would go a long way. I have never understood apathy so maybe that is a fundamental for a volunteer. A close friend once told me “You’d have been a good man in the resistance!” Well, maybe.
You have a choice: do nothing or do something. If you do nothing you might wait a long time for something to happen and it may never happen. Alternatively, you can do something and make things happen, shape things for the future, create memorable occasions that people will enjoy and remember for years to come.
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SECTION HEAD IS ORIGINAL SECTION NEWS MAST HEAD DRAWN BY EDWARD JONES IN 1936
WHAT’S NEW IN THE CLARION NEAR YOU
BURY O
ur membership remains stable, with membership loss to date being almost compensated for by new members – at the time of writing we have 128 members compared with 135 for 2016. This figure includes our honorary members, the Yates twins. The club profile is one of club-riding members, some of whom race, racing members, and members who just like to be part of our club for sentimental reasons. One important aspect of our club is that we currently have 25 women members, most of whom are active on weekly women-led rides. These women became part of our club from a beginners
group who agreed to become members of our longstanding club. The leading light is Lucy Cronin who instigated the initiative. Lucy is a very efficient organiser, as she proved by proposing and running a women’s night ride in March. Forty women within a radius of 50 miles from Bury took part and braved a stormy night to raise £500 for our local hospice. When they became part of our club it was agreed that our male members could join in their women-led rides. On a recent splendid Saturday morning for weather, three men – Paul Vanderkamp, Ken Woodward and Martin Hanson – joined Adele Vanderkamp, Alison Quinlan, Cheryl West, Cath
Skinner and Rosalyn Dines. Rosalyn led the ride around the glorious countryside around Rivington with its demanding climbs. She loves her long distance cycling and has taken up Audaxes. Her participation in the recent Huddersfield to Humber Bridge Audax along with fellow member Sarah McConnel and other friends was really impressive. The 145 miles was covered in a little over 10 hours, meaning an average speed of 14.5 mph. The racing side of our club is more active this year with racing members competing in standard and sporting course time trials as well as criteriums. Our juvenile GoRide club remains active with coach David Lawson
Members of Bury on a ride along the glorious countryside around Rivington
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SECTION NEWS
and his committee working to expand activities. Peter Roscoe
COATBRIDGE A
nother great start to the year for Coatbridge Clarion. With another excellent winter training programme under our belts we were more than ready for some great club activities. We managed to recruit some fantastic new members again this year to boost our male and female numbers. They have made a positive impact by getting involved as much as possible. We have already had two really good club social nights at the clubhouse with 40 in attendance on the first night in January and 30 in attendance at our traditional Paris Roubaix Club in April. Another exciting development this year was our first ever Club Reliability Ride in March. This saw 20 riders out in three groups to complete the challenge supported by a service vehicle and club photographer. Back at the clubhouse four members had a hearty cooked breakfast waiting for all of the riders to cap off a great day. Our efforts to diversify continue with some track, cyclocross and mountain bike activities, including another amazing performance by Dougie Muirhead who rode for almost 10 hours non-stop in club colours in the MTB race, Ten Under the Ben. Our midweek TT series has shown some huge
LEFT: A ride on Hadrian’s cycleway (171 miles) was once again organised by club secretary Matt Hargreaves and included Barnoldswick and Burnley and Pendle CTC. It started with superb views over the Solway Firth to the Scottish Borders, stopping off at the various Roman settlements. Seven punctures didn’t deter the hardy eight.
RIGHT: Bolton Clarion’s Scottish 500 last year inspired Colin Urmston to do his own ride, with his wife Sharron as roady and chef in their camper. Starting in Inverness he headed over the Bealach na Ba (pass of the cattle) into Applecross to Sheildaig, finishing at Inverewe: 149 miles. The second day saw him ride 145 miles to Durness. On the third day they visited Cape Wrath via the ferry (a day off). The next day was along the north coast with gusty winds and heavy showers to John o
Majorca trip: members enjoyed the first club trip to Port de Pollenca with sun all week and plenty of mileage and climbing.
Groats: 90 miles. The final day was following the East coast from Thurso to Inverness: 110 miles.
Barnoldswick in pictures
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COATBRIDGE TO MALMESBURY
improvements in times compared to last year by almost all of the riders. Once again we say a big thanks to Arthur “Acky” McCann for marshalling the turn every week regardless of the weather. More riders are now entering open TT events including 4 of our riders riding in West Lothian Clarion’s 25 TT event with everyone putting in PBs. We have to make special mention to our evergreen Bill Clelland who, at the age of 76, completed a number of tough sportives, including the hilly 81-mile Caledonia Etape in less than five hours. A big highlight this year was when 10 of our members went on a club trip in May to France to take on some of the famous Tour De France Alpine climbs including Alpe
d’Huez. A tough schedule of rides saw them cross into Italy and Switzerland on their travels. After several months of planning with two other local cycle clubs we were proud to deliver our very own charity open road Sportive on 4 June this year. This saw almost 100 riders on two routes of 100 km and 100 miles. With service vehicles and three food stops the event was a great success made even better by it being a nice sunny day. We are delighted to say that we raised thousands of pounds for the wonderful St Andrews Hospice. We are already getting ready to plan a bigger and better event for 2018. We are looking forward to some great club activities in the coming weeks, including
our annual Tour De France Social and the President’s Club Run. John Gormlie
MALMESBURY S
ince our last report, we’ve enjoyed a recordbreaking period of growth and success. With just a couple of exceptions, all of our members renewed for 2017. When added to a steady stream of new riders, this means our membership has for the first time exceeded 50. It seems a long time ago now, but we couldn’t let our well attended Christmas Eve ride pass without comment. Member Steve Mayhew and his wife, Helen, hosted the event. They provided an impressive spread of festive treats, which were all
Bill, Davy A, Felix and Brian: Caledonia Etape 2017
Dougie: Ten Under The Ben April 2017
St Andrews Hospice Sportive June 2017 Alpe d’Huez: May 2017
COATBRIDGE IN PICTURES
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SECTION NEWS
gratefully received. Twenty eight members attended our fifth birthday ride and party in February. This was seven more than the previous year’s record high. Birthday cake was served to members free of charge at The Angel Café, Sherston. Our 2nd Annual General Meeting was held at Malmesbury Town Hall in April. So many members came that we easily filled the room we had hired and had to move to a larger one. The new committee was strengthened with the addition of Paul Hadley as the Club Secretary and Peter Cattermole as the Ride Coordinator. Our Chairman Howard Sprange made a welcome return following his heart surgery. He reintroduced a third group to fill a gap which had occurred during his absence. Known as the Third Way, it caters for those members looking to ride shorter distances and at slower speeds than the Social and Sporting Groups. Its success contributed to a magnificent 31 riders, across all three groups, riding on one Saturday in April, setting yet another club record. With a new midweek ride on Tuesday evenings to complement the existing Wednesday evening run, a Thursday lunch get together, Saturday club rides and a Sunday Series, we’re offering something five days a week. Tim Wadsworth
SADDLEWORTH W
ell, success follows success for the Saddleworth section. We continue to welcome new members, with our section now standing at over 80 members, and we have hosted two of our events for 2017. Many of the new members have joined as a result of our weekly ‘Saturday Social’ ride, a coffee and cake based trundle rather than the flat out Sunday B ride. The L’enfer Du Saddleworth was quieter than previous years but still provided a challenging ride around the cobbled Bergs of West Yorkshire. Most of our recent effort has been towards hosting the Saddleworth Mountain TT. This year, victory went to James Gullen of JLT-Condor. I am sure when he reflects on his season he will see our TT as a stepping stone on his way to victory in the Ras – Tour of Ireland.
Thanks to all the helpers who, on the day, made the time trial possible. The party atmosphere at the end showed what our club is all about. Free beer always helps. Special thanks to both our event sponsors Rapha and Kwaremont Beer. Over the coming months we are hosting a charity sportive ‘The Turnpike Challenge’, a joint effort with the local Rotary Club with all proceeds going to Prostate Cancer. It is only 30 miles so is perhaps not aimed at club cyclists – unless of course you combine it with a ride out? Also we hosted two Audax rides in July, where, as always, we provided a great route, great company and pretty decent cake.
STOCKPORT S
tockport members have started the 2017 season well. James Stockton has been very consistent in the British national MTB series, taking
Saddlewoth’s Seth and Orla Mitchell at the Tour de Yorkshire
James Gullen (JLT-Condor) winner of Saddleworth Mountain TT
AUTUMN 2017 | BOOTS&SPURS | 31
SADDLEWORTH TO TUXFORD
a 4th place at round three at Aske Moor (see picture). Six members of Stockport took part in the seven-hour MTB race at SingleTrack 7. Mark McPhillips rode an amazing race, doing it solo and coming in fifth place. He beat both teams from SCCC who did it as a 2-up. (see picture, right) Rod Mason has come within one second of the Stockport Clarion 25 TT record with a 53.55. It’s only a matter of time until this is broken. Stockport has started the club 10 mile TT series, running it jointly with Manchester Wheelers. It’s been very well attended so far and I’d like to thank all marshalls that make these events possible. In April, nine members went over to Flanders to ride the Sportive. Well, seven rode the event and two went for the great Belgium beer (no names !!!). It was an epic day with a stupidly early get up on the Saturday for the transfer to the start. The 126-mile ride started wet and cold, but as soon as the rain stopped the hills started. With thousands riding, there was always a group to ride with. The next day we watched on a warm sunny day on the Kwaremont. Next year we are planning a week in Majorca in April. We have regular Wednesday night MTB rides and a Sunday road ride. Duncan McLaren
TUXFORD SECTION: A
t the time of writing Tuxford are in the middle of summertime, which means sunshine clubruns and warm evening time trials for us. Our evening time trials continue to be popular, with everyone chasing PBs. One suggestion was to run a nonaero road bike only evening TT, so that those without TT bikes could see how close they get to the top riders. The playing field was levelled for sure, which was more than could be said for the course, with the challenging Polly Taylors Road, a long draggy climb of 2.5 miles back to the finish remaining to test those riders who couldn’t rely on tri bars and aero helmets.
Many riders lost between five and 30 seconds due to traffic lights but this was nothing compared to a deficit of more than two minutes over the course lost due to riding normal road bikes. But more important than all this ‘testing’ was that we couldn’t run any of these events without our loyal helpers. While many of our officers also ride their bikes, we are fortunate to have regular helpers who are in the club just to help us, without taking anything out of the club other than the occasional thanks and perhaps a pint. They all turned up to help us run the Clarion 3-up champs, and they are worthy of a mention; Fred Foreman is our regular marshal, Richard
The mighty Stockport on a well turned out club run
James Stockton Mark McPhillips
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SECTION NEWS
10 TT. While numbers were down on previous years, competition was as fierce as ever, and it’s been great to see challengers coming from the youth section too. In the series break, the club 25 TT was held, and a field of 11 battled it out on another blustery night, with Ian Dobbie and Ailsa Curtis taking the champions’ spots. The traditional Scottish weather unfortunately put paid to our summer outings to Arran and the Cowal Peninsula, but these will hopefully be rescheduled.
This year was the fourth time we have held the Battle of Black Loch Road Race on the challenging Slamannan circuit. As the Scottish summer offered challenging conditions on the day, the win of Glasgow Couriers Gregg
Hartburn is our number one pusher-off, and past Houghton Clarion members, Jools and Mandy Levick are our timekeepers. Mick Shaw is another regular marshal on his regular junction on the course, Nigel Wilson puts the signs out each week. On the day Lynn Pike, Susan Hartburn and Lisa Gough supplied refreshments for the riders. Also, thanks should go to marshals Michael Patterson, Nick Morton, Dave Shaw (aka Route Master) and Joe Duane (club chairman). And let’s not forget club members Ella and Noah Pike who have their place 50 yards from the finish armed with a cowbell to cheer us to the line. We wanted to make sure that all of our helpers were mentioned this time. The racing members get their names mentioned often, but not so often our unsung heroes.
WEST LOTHIAN W
ith Spring/Summer upon us, we saw the return of our road calendar. The opening event was the popular RAD Tour, seen as the club opener for the road season ahead, while racing was kicked off with our increasingly popular Lang Whang 30 mile TT. On an extremely blustery day, the race was won and the course record smashed by Harry Tanfield of BIKE Channel Canyon. We also saw the welcome return of our traditional club
O’Malley was even more impressive, as he soloed off the front of the group on the first lap, never to be caught!
As a club, we saw some changes to the committee, as Kevin O’Hara stepped down as Club Secretary, to be replaced by long standing member Jamie O’Kane. Our vacant Club Treasurer role was also filled, as Graeme Lyle stepped in to fill David Hill’s shoes. Thanks to Kevin and David for their time on the committee. The youth section continues to do well: this year’s coaching and race series included a successful MTB block followed by road and CX coaching. Clubconfined MTB, grass track and hill climb races have been held, with CX to come. Summer MTB trips this year
Tuxford volunteers at the TTT (clockwise from top left) Joe Duane, Susan Hartburn, Lynn Pike, Lisa Gough, Richard Hartburn, Nige Wilson, Fred Forman, Jools and Mandy Levick and son Jack.
AUTUMN 2017 | BOOTS&SPURS | 33
included a visit to the practice day of the Downhill World Cup at Fort William. The section has been well represented at open races in all disciplines. Alison Bryce and Christopher Hordon were selected to compete in the Youth Tour of Scotland as part of the East and Central Scotland team. Iain Elliott, Neil Matheson
YORKSHIRE COAST W
e have four new members to welcome: Angela di Benedetto, Brendan O’Sullivan, David Ruston and Martin Fenton, and we have enjoyed some good club runs into the Vale of Pickering and the Moors, plus the York Rally Sportive in May. Best wishes to them and to Annelies Dogterom who is recovering from an illness. Martin, on his club racing debut, was best composite team in our 2-up open time trial near Beverley in April, alongside Malton Wheeler’s
Simon Stabler. This race was well organised by Andy Fisher, with help from club members Ann McIntyre, Greystone, Terry, Hannah and friends. Joel Wainman and Fiona Sharp were the solo winners. Fastest 2-up team were Squadra’s Daniel Posnett and John Brearley. Thanks are due to David Bisset for the very enjoyable Easter Meet in Chester. Andrea Vaughan had a good ride from Wales and Chris Goode took in Wortley Hall on the way from Scarborough. Walter and Andy Fisher were also there with Frank Vaughan, who is looking forward to more triathlons this year. Making great progress as the fastest rider in the club, Richard Cullen has set a new senior record at ten miles, with 21.31. His solid work is paying off. Our second claim star is Hannah Bayes who is mixing the road racing, including a Junior stage race in the northwest, and time trialling,
reducing her 10 TT PB to under 23 minutes. On a sadder note one of our original members, Margaret Hunt, died in early February after stoically enduring a long illness. She loved the countryside and walking, being a great motivator to her grandchildren. She was at the Hereford Easter Meet and, though no longer cycling, took a keen interest in the club. May she rest in peace. We are organising a local interclub race later in the month; and are looking forward to the Clarion Championships and more excellent club rides. We wish Stuart Walsh and Terry Lynch a following wind for their ride through France in July. They are heading for Barcelona and continue their support for the International Brigades Memorial Trust. Also good news to report from Greystone as he is building up the miles. Keep those wheels turning. Chris Goode
WEST LOTHIAN TO YORKSHIRE COAST
West Lothian’s 10th Anniversary club run
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2017 EASTER MEET IN PICTURES
SIGNING OFF This will be the last issue of Boots&Spurs that Kirsty and I will edit and design. We took over the role in 2010 and have produced 15 issues including this one. It’s been terrific fun and it has been an honour to play our part in the Clarion’s print tradition. Thank you for reading. Matt Ball
WANTED If you are interested in taking on the job of producing Boots&Spurs, please contact Ian Clarke on 01777 872097 or email bike@clarioncc.org
KIRSTY, ALEX AND MATTHEW BALL PICKING UP THE TOM GROOM TROPHY FOR WEST LOTHIAN’S SECTION OF THE YEAR
FRANCIS GRAFTON: CLUBMAN OF THE YEAR
2016 AWARD WINNERS WITH GUEST OF HONOUR BARRY HOBAN
AUTUMN 2017 | BOOTS&SPURS | 35
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SECTION CONTACTS
1 BARNOLDSWICK Colin Urmston, 07947 185137 barlickclarionbike@hotmail.com
2 BLACKPOOL www.blackpoolclarion.webs.com/ Mike Ryan, 01253 471839 mj_ryan@outlook.com
3 BOLTON www.boltonclarion.co.uk Mike Singleton, 07703 629123 mike2016sing@gmail.com
4 BRIGHTON & HOVE brightonandhoveclarion.wordpress.com Ian Bullock, 01273 682133 i.bullock@ntlword.com
5 BURY www.buryclarion.co.uk Peter Roscoe 0161 761 6856 peterroscoe80@btinternet.com
6 CALDER www.calder-clarion.co.uk Andrew Spittlehouse, 01977 796551 andrew.spittlehouse@gmai.com
7 CLITHEROE Nick Tanner 07525740220 nnick4564@gmail.com
8 COATBRIDGE John Gormlie, 01236 424346 john.gormlie@blueyonder.co.uk
9 CREWE www.creweclarionwheelers.org Andrew Grace, 01270 841836 andrew.grace@ dicksonssolicitors.co.uk
10 FENLAND www.fenlandclarion.co.uk Nicki Clarke, 07934 915519 robinson.james5@sky.com
11 GOSPORT Paul Knight 07780 956 391 pknight193@btinternet.com
12 HEANOR heanorclarion.org.uk Bob Howe, 07838 597970 rob.howey.howe@gmail.com,
13 HEREFORD Alvin Smith, 01568 770327 alvin.smith@btinternet.com
14 IRONBRIDGE Neil Grove 07743 866726 info@ironbridge-clarion.cc
15 ITALIAN www.italianclarion.com/ Julian Mortel info@italianclarion.com
16 LONDON www.londonclarion.org.uk Martin Perfect, 01892 523927 mjperfect@gmail.com
17 MALMESBURY Howard Sprange, 01666 823476 howard.sprange@btinternet.com
18 NORTH CHESHIRE www.northcheshireclarion.co.uk Stuart Wilson secretary@north cheshireclarion.co.uk
19 NOTTINGHAM www.nottinghamclarion.co.uk Richard Hill 07973 377192 gsnottsclarion@gmail.com
20 SADDLEWORTH saddleworthclarion.webs.com Daniel Kremer, 07543 671386 saddleworthclarion@hotmail.co.uk
21 STOCKPORT www.stockport-clarion.org.uk Duncan McLaren, 0161 487 4828 dunchewitt@hotmail.com
22 SUNDERLAND www.sunderlandclarion.org.uk Neil Moore, 07775 838237 info@sunderlandclarion.org.uk
23 TEESSIDE Colin Armstrong, 01947 880488 armstrongchristian@hotmail.com
24 TUXFORD Ian Clarke, 01777 872097 bike@clarioncc.org
25 WEST LOTHIAN www.westlothianclarion.co.uk Jamie O’Kane, 07774 226446 secretary@westlothianclarion.co.uk
26 WEST SCOTLAND Jim Harris, 01236 730157 jimharris35@yahoo.co.uk
27 YORKSHIRE COAST Chris Goode, 01723 341050 twentytwowheels@hotmail.com PRIVATE bike@clarioncc.org
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MEMBERSHIP SENIOR: £8 Age over 18. Must be in a local section JUNIOR; £4 Age 18 or under. Must be in a local section FAMILY JUNIOR: Free Must live at same address as two senior or life members PRIVATE: £16 A private member is not in a section LIFE: Initial fee £40 Must be a current member aged over 60 with at least 20 years’ of continuous membership.
Notes: Membership shall cease on 31st December each year, save that subscriptions paid by new members on or after 1st September shall remain valid for membership until 31st December of the following year. Membership shall have deemed to have lapsed if not renewed by the end of February each year.
‘Clubs should always be about taking and giving in equal measure; a little more of the latter would go a long way’
FRANCIS GRAFTON (CLUBMAN OF THE YEAR 2016)