DLN July 2003

OFFICIALS
PRESIDENT JOHN KAVANAGH 40 Beverley Road Barming Maidstone Kent ME16 9JP 01622 726959	SECRETARY PETE HARRIS 91 Ashbourne Road Ealing London W5 3DH 020 8997 7852	TREASURER JAMES LETT 102 Park Road Kingston Surrey KT2 5JZ	CLUB NIGHT Third Thursday of each month HERNE HILL STADIUM Burbage Road London SE24 9HE

Members will ask how the club is progressing. They will say ' The race results look good.' Or 'from what I read on the web and from the DLN lots of things are happening' Well they are, but not as planned. Let me explain.

The club we knew many years ago would revolve around the meeting at the clubroom every week. This would involve deciding events to ride, club run destinations, cycling holidays to say the Isle of Wight or perhaps the Isle of Man. In the winter it would be 'what club dinner should we go to?'

Cycling has changed in our club; be it good or bad, I do not know. Our biggest disappointment was selling the clubroom for the lack of use. From making inquiries, a lot of clubs with a few exceptions, have a problem of getting members under one roof at least once a week,

So you ask how do we get together to enter events? Well we don't, they enter in small groups or individually, hence not a lot of team awards.

Many years ago we would meet, at perhaps the Brixton Town Hall at say five in the morning (it was dark) we would then ride down to maybe Esher with racing wheels on the front and ride the club 25. This would average some 18 riders.

After the event we would have the rest of the day at Guildford on the boats (as Spike Milligan would say 'he's fallen in the water') but Sunday the 8th of June we had one rider only who entered for the Club Championship 25. The event had to be cancelled. We have a dedicated club runs captain, but no one turns up, as they want to do their own thing. Yes things have changed.

The club as I see it is broken down into different segments. James is looking after the road boys and doing a good job at it. Alan is looking after the dedicated time trial riders (two) Jeremy the track boys, and Ross Off-Road. All doing a grand job but as individual units. It would have been nice to see a few riders from all segments riding the Club Championship 25.

To prove a point, look at Brian Dacey. He maintains that you have got to mix it to enjoy your racing. He rides time trials, road races, and track and, as we know, he is getting results.

We have our OMA section (old members association) that in the past must have been a secret society to young members. This has changed thanks to Dot Fuller and Pat Burns who have opened all our social events to all members and which we will be doing again with our successful Belgium nights.

I feel it is important that the younger members know that they have the support of the OMA and in most cases supplying marshals for their events but remember we are not going to be around forever!!

I remember the famous words of Mark Ballamy in the DLN ' I am pushing 70 you know' He was 64 at the time. (That was seven years ago Ed.) We as your committee have got to sort out two imminent problems. Lack of members at a clubroom, and club runs. After saying all that, the club is not doing too badly, believe me. In my last report I told you about a new member who wanted to join the De Laune because he heard the it was a good club to join (I wonder who told him that?) Harry Corbett is the name. Harry brings a new segment to the club. Triathlons. An event that you have got to swim, run and cycle. (We used to call it a bun fight) Harry has brought his own team with him and is so keen to get involved with our club. Thanks Harry.

The club will again be sending a team of observers to the Tour de France. The club have chosen Brian Saxton, Tich Shambrook, and I to do the honours, which will involve checking food and wine of the different areas of the route we will visit.

We should be at the finish at Saint Dizier and Joinville for the time trial. The finish at Morzine and the mountain top finish at Alp D'Huez. (Look out Cliff Pendleton we are on your doorstep and we will be checking your food and wine caller)

Thursday the 12th of June the committee meeting. Peter Harris had a great idea. He felt that as we have a lot of new members in the club it would be nice to put faces to names, so we should be introduce them to the engine room of the club - the committee. We invited them to Herne Hill to join us for a short committee meeting with a few glasses of wine, of course.

All the new members I contacted could not attend due to other commitments but we had a good half dozen and all from different disciplines. We made sure that each committee member had a nametag so that the guys knew whom they were talking to i.e. Alaric Chairman, Jeremy Track Sec, Ross off-Road, etc, but we did not know what to put on the nametag for Stax. He likes to change his title like he does his socks. We have had, Property Stewart, Club Historian, now he wants to be called Clothing Stewart. (He has taken over the job) You can tell, as he is walking around with half the stock on!

Five new members who have just joined our club over the last two weeks are Christian Rudolf and Danny Davenport, Chris Harris, Dice McCairn, and Howard Coulson. Welcome to the club.

If the above tickles your fancy contact Harry on 020 894 6782 and enter as a team (I hope the colours in the new De Laune vests do not run in the swim!).

Racing July:
Sat 5th July
S.East
The July Jaunts - Race 2 - Outwood
2.3.4.W.J 120km 12:00 £11.00 [£16.00]
Closing Date: 14/6/03 Cheques to: SCRL
Keith Butler, 115 Foxley Lane, Purley, Surrey CR8 3HQ

Sun 6th July
I believe this is part of the Evans Series
S.East
Giles Ree Memorial RR - Handcross, West Sussex
1.2.3.4.W 118km 10:00 £10.00 [£14.00]
Closing Date: 23/6/03 Cheques to: V.C Etoile
Michael Miller, 27 Vale Avenue, Findon Valley, Worthing, West Sussex BN14 0BY
01903 873049 mail@mickmiller.co.uk

Sat 12th July
S.East
Chertsey Chases - Dera, Chertsey
4 50km 10:30 £10.00 [£15.00]
3 80km 10:30 £10.00 [£15.00]
E.1.2 100km 10:30 £10.00 [£15.00]
Closing date:21/6/03 Cheques to: SCRL
Keith Butler, 115 Foxley Lane, Purley, Surrey CR8 3HQ

Sun 13th July
S.East
Southern Counties C.U Championships - Edenbridge, Kent
E.1.2.3.4 120km 11:00 £10.00 [£11.00]
Closing Date: 22/6/03 Cheques to: S.C.C.U
Peter Hammond, 121 Grove Lane, Coulsdon, Surrey CR5 2QF
020 8660 8509

S.East
Surrey League Road Race - Leigh Village Hall
E.1.2.3.4.J.W 100km 13:30 £10.00 [£15.00]
Closing date: 23/6/03 Cheques to: SCRL
Keith Butler, 115 Foxley Lane, Purley, Surrey CR8 3HQ

N.West
Westmorland Tankard RR - Old Hutton, Kendal
3.4.J 72km 10:00 £9.00
Closing Date: 29/6/03 Cheques to: Kent Valley RC [Send SAE ]
Sharon Bianchi, 20 Park Street, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 5QP

26th July
S.East
SERRL - Benenden/Sandhurst
3.4.W.J 80km 9:30 £10.00 [£14.00]
Closing date: 14/7/03 Cheques to: SERRL
Pre Entry to Members Only. Non Member entry on line £15.00 Hotline 0208 467 1574

Not a lot in the way of league events so entry under own steam. A bit late this month due to holidays so you may have to eol for some.

CLUB TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS
3 August 2003,14:00 to 17:00
Herne Hill Stadium
To be held jointly with Brixton Cycles and Bec CC

Resulting from a slight confusion, the photograph of the 1900s gentlemen was not shown in last month's DLN, although the accompanying article indicated that it was. If you would like a copy of the photograph, the order sheet is in last month's DLN.
Brian Saxton

Bad news I'm afraid, De Laune has been turned down for this grant, so no new bikes this year. We had applied for £3k to buy up to 10 small sized track bikes for children aged 8-11.

Awards for All weren't specific about exactly why it was turned down - not sure if it's because the A4A programme was oversubscribed, or that it adds to services already provided by the council (so the council should pay) or whether I didn't make a good enough case for who it will benefit. I will investigate this and see if I can just put the bid back in again for next year.

The other part of this bid was for £2k to pay for the Friday eve/Sat am kids sessions for this summer. Fortunately Pat Turner at Sports Development had agreed to step in with this if we were unsuccessful.

May 22nd
Brighton Mitre's ten-mile hilly time trial on Bank Holiday Monday includes Matt Goodes from Welling. The De Laune rider has won the Catford CC and Bec CC classic hill-climbs and he should relish the final part of the course which finishes at the top of the steep Steyning Bostal.

May 29th
MIKE Coyle gave a masterly display to win Brighton Mitre's ten-mile hilly time trial (25min. 24sec.) The Brighton teacher timed his effort to perfection and kept something in reserve for the last mile of the course between Steyning and the steep road leading to the summit of The Bostal.

Leading hill climber Matt Goodes (De Launce) made an impressive climb of The Bostal although he was only fourth in 26min.4Osec. He will be a threat, though, if he enters the Mitre's hill-climb up The Bostal in November.

May Record-breaking cyclist still wins competitions at the age of 70. (Many of us remember Harry at Herne Hill in the 50's)

MOST people in their autumn years are content to take a step back from life's frantic pace. But not Harry Featherstone, who continues to cycle 40 miles every day, just as he has done for the past 21 years. Every day the sprightly 70-year-old, of Hawthylands Road, Hailsham, rises just before 7am, has porridge and toast for breakfast before setting off on his 40-mile pedal across East Sussex.

His fitness amazes people half his age and he claims his daily routine which he has stuck to since 1982 - is the key to his healthy body and mind. The grandfather-of-five said: "It's not in my nature to do things by halves. Had I been keen on golf, I would have done that at full pelt as well. "I just love cycling and I think I'll be cycling till the day I pop my clogs. I think I've got a few more years until I'm thinking about that yet.

"Cycling has been a big part of my life for a very longtime. If you don't put in the hours, you won't get anywhere. "That's why I've been so dedicated." Mr. Featherstone started cycling aged 18 in 1950. What began as a hobby quickly developed as he became one of the country's fastest riders. In 1951 he was the second quickest pursuit cyclist in Britain. He broke the 4,000m national pursuit record two later. At his peak Mr Featherstone was considered for the British Olympic cycling team in Helsinki but thinks his youth worked against him.

He later gave up cycling for 23 years to concentrate on his timber and ironmonger business and to bring up his son, David, and daughter, Linda, with wife Lillian. However, he returned to the sport in 1982, aged 50. With son David, he joined the Norwood Paragon Cycling Club in Coulsdon, Surrey, where he won a clutch of awards.

When he moved to East Sussex, he joined Eastbourne Rovers Cycling Club and won 33 races last year alone. Even a heart scare failed to deter him. Five years ago he had minor heart surgery. But within weeks he defied his doctor's orders and was back in the saddle. Wife Lillian, 69, said: "He doesn't act his age and doesn't consider himself old in any way. He's happiest in the company of young people. "I've got no real interest in cycling but as Harry is so dedicated, I have to take some Interest or our marriage would not have survived."

Simon Prior, of Eastbourne Rovers Cycling Club, said: "He's unbelievable. I know many people a lot younger than him who would be happy with the times he gets. "He's like the Schumacher of the cycling world"

M.T.B. UPDATE
July 6 Kona 100, Builth Wells
The second round of the Kona 100 series, on the original course in Builth Wells.

Aug 9-10 Shimano Sleepless In The Saddle 24hr, Trentham Gardens
More 24hr race shenanigans, at this popular course. Usually more laid back than the Saab-Salomon but still a good event. Teams of 4, 2 or (for the complete nutters), solo.

Sept 20-21 Dusk til Dawn, Thetford Forest
A 12hr night time race around Thetford Forest, starts at 8pm, finishes at 8am. Last years event was fantastic with a superb 10 mile course, this years race promises to be bigger and better. Teams of 4, 2 or solo.

National Points Series Cross Country Events
August 31 XC4, Sherwood Pines, Clipstone, Nottinghamshire
September 14 XC5, Checkendon, Reading, Berkshire

THE LAST DAY FOR COPY TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT ISSUE IS WEDNESDAY 23 July 2003

THIS SHOULD BE SENT TO:
MARK BALLAMY
41 MAYES CLOSE
WARLINGHAM
SURREY CR6 9LB

Phone & Fax 01883 627809 . e-mail mark.ballamy@virgin.net

Founded 1889