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DE LAUNE CYCLING CLUB

FOUNDED 1889

Sponsored by EVANS CYCLES (UK) Ltd. & SPECIALIZED CYCLES

 November 2002
No. 844 -73rd Year

www.delaunecc.org

New member Jane Wadsworth finding out what it's like riding the club hill climb!

THE PRESIDENTS REPORTS

The World Cycling Championships took place in Belgium from the 8th to the 13th of October and a group of your club elder statesman took part. Well we did not race but gave support to our British team in the senior pro road race (two of them).

What an atmosphere. With a few Belgium beers inside of you can shout like the rest of them. The race took part over the Zolder car racing track plus a few side roads. Our merry band consisted of Roy Chittleborough, Roy Savery, Tich Shambrook, Brian Saxton and our mates from the 34th Nomads, Brian Skelton, Gordon Gibbens and Dick Bradley from the Fairies.

On Saturday night we stopped at the Ibis Hotel in the centre of Brussels. After a few glasses of lunatic's broth we made our way to a decent restaurant. Roy Savery insisted that he bought the wine. Yes Roy Savery wanted to buy the wine after we ordered the seventh bottle he started to twitch! Bless him.

After the meal we had to find the hotel again. Did you know they have six Ibis hotels in Brussels and this did not help? We finally found the hotel and after Roy Chittleborough and Gordon Gibbens fell out of the lift we found our rooms.

The next day we made our way to Zolder, this was after two laps of the Brussels ring road (Tich Shambrook was navigating)

You must have read the report of the race in the Cycling magazine. As you know, it was won by Chipollini the Italian. The last five laps the Italian team made it so fast at the front that no one could make a break. Looking at the race all you could see at the front was the Italian blue vests. Do you know I think they have stolen our new vest design!

The two main objects of the weekend were to see the race and bring back the wine for our Belgium night on the 25th of Oct. Guess what! The supermarkets are closed on Sundays, so it is back again next week.

On the 6th of October we had our club hill climb on Titsey Hill. We only had six riders including Jane Wadsworth our new member. Well done Jane.

Well done Ben, your first club championship.

Our other big gun, Matt Goodes was riding for the club in the Kent hill climb championships. Congratulations to Matt, another win. See the full result and write up in the Cycling Weekly. I hope we will all be out rooting for our lads in the Catford hill climb on the 20th of October.

Did you know we could have a world champion in the club this time next year? I have been told that an 82 year old man rode an eight lap pursuit in the world vets championships at Manchester on his own (no opposition) and got himself a vest. Next year I will be taking Bill Miles our 90 year flyer to the Manchester track to ride the eight lap pursuit. Bill insists that he must have a sit-down feed half way!

We have another new member, Simon Pagdin. Welcome to the club Simon, please introduce yourself to me so we can have a chat.

Please remember our annual remembrance service at Newnham on Sunday the 17th of November. If you would like lunch in George afterwards contact Dot. I know it is a long way for some of you to ride from London and return, so why not park your car, if you have got one, at say Maidstone, get your bike out and ride on new roads and see new scenery.

On the 23rd of November my old mate Johnny Darroch gets married to Jead, a lady he met in Thailand. It was last year we met his bride to be at a little party given by Don and Beryl at their home. All the best John and do not forget the Pics for the DLN.

Another date for your diary: the Club Free Wheel Competition. This will be held as usual down Tilburstow Hill at Godstone on the 8th of December. First man or lady (how about it Jane) will go down at 11am.

Last year Richard Hill beat our expert of the glide Terry Deeley. I have been informed by Terry it will not happen again. He will buy a pint at the pub to any one who can beat him. That's how confident he is.

Terry and Cliff Steele will be taking the club run down to Godstone from Crystal Palace, 9am sharp (look out for the Godstone sign sprint) and will look forward to your company.

Kav.

STOP PRESS, STOP PRESS.

On Sunday the 20th of Oct. our own Matt Goods wins the Catford and Bec hill climbs again.

Again the Catford was held on a dark damp morning. Matt flew up Yorks Hill in 2. 03.03 and beat Justin Hoy from the Liphook Cycles RT by 10 seconds. John O'Brien our other flyer came 6th with a time of 2.21.08. Guess what? We did not have a third man for the team!

In the afternoon Matt did it again in the Bec. He flew up Titsey Hill in 2.05.86 and again beat Justin Hoy in to second place by seven seconds. This time we did get the team prize (two to count) with John O doing 2.22.78. It was nice to see John get a medal as it is a long way to come from the West Country to ride.

We had our normal 'Renta Crowd' from the old peoples home out again. Stax, Tich, Alan Rowe, Mike Peel, Sags Savery. Nice to see Katie out with a big smile!

Kav.

P.S Did you hear about the De Laune open 25 organiser who has booked his holidays next year on the same day as the event? His wife threatened him with divorce if he did not change it. He told the RTTC South East his predicament, so they changed the date for him!

PPS Good to know you're feeling better Linda after your car accident.

The Club Hill Climb took place on Titsey Hill, Sunday 6 October 

1st Ben Neville 2.12.10 
2nd John O'Brien 2.15.0 (all the way from the west country) 
3rd Ross Fryer 2.30.44 (first hill climb)
4th Cliff Steele 2.58.00 
5th Jane Wadsworth 4.36.19 (first hill climb)
6th Howard Coulson 9.13.19 (5 min late Start )

Matt Goodes wins Wigmore CC hill climb (inc. Kent championship) beating the likes of Michael Hutchinson and Justin Hoy.

Well done Matt.

HOLLINGBOURNE HILL KENT 1400yards

1 M. Goodes De Laune 3-15.3 
2 S. House Timetrial.co.uk RT 3-18.5 
3 M. Simmons Gravesend CC 3-22.8

o.m.a.news

Continuing the Brian Dacey Saga, yet another letter from one of his conquests, will we see Brian's Diaries in the DLN before the tabloid press get hold of them??????

Dear Mr. Ballamy

Looking at my grandson's computer I came across the De Laune CC web site and the letter from the lady who was a girl friend of Brian Dacey. It must be a coincidence but I also was a girl friend of Brians in the 50's and lost touch.

Although I was 9 years older than Brian this made no problems with our relationship (tell us more Ed.) but we would talk for hours on all subjects. A friend indeed, Brian introduced to me to many of your members and perhaps they will also remember me.

I am not on the web but if Brian would like to contact me at the above address perhaps we could go out and have a drink or two. (You never know your luck Brian Ed.).

Yours

Signed looks like L. Dee

Miss Lousy Astic

STOP PRESS: After including this letter I wrote back to the lady only to have the letter returned as no such address.

Will the writer of this letter please reveal themselves. Ed

WORLD MASTERS GAMES 2002 
MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA

Hi Mike 
I'm not sure if you know who I am but anyway I contacted James Peckham to see whether a Cycle cross link on the DeLaune News site could be added soon, below is the race report and attached are a couple of pics. I know you probably won't have much race action to add over the winter so here is the beginning of weekly updates. I'm planning on racing throughout the winter including the London and South East champs, Eastway 10 November - National Trophy Round 5, Rainham, Kent, 15 December and the national Champs, Birmingham, 11 January. 
Steve Price

CYCLO CROSS From a personal view the race was only my second of the season and I'm beginning to find my legs and really pleased with the result, just gutted that I messed the sprint for fourth up.

Seniors A string of riders came through on the completion of lap 1 led by Stuart Blunt (Corridori) with Matt Holmes (Arctic RT), Mark Russell (VC Meudon), Ian Field (San Fairy Ann) Steven Price (De Laune), Steve Hamblin (Folkactive) and Mick Bell (London Fire Brigade) wheel to wheel. Blunt was able to gain a slight lead until his chain became jammed in his rear wheel and as Blunt disentangled himself and trapped his thumb in the process, Holmes went away from the rest. A hurried judgement would have declared Holmes the winner at this point as his lead looked like it would take him to victory, but Blunt was now back in the action and he set a string of very fast laps to catch and pass Holmes to win by over 30 seconds.

The battle for 3rd was a classic, Mark Russell had crashed and was fighting to get back onto the wheels of Field, Price, Bell and Hamblin. As Russell began to catch the trio, first Hamblin fell off the pace and then Bell, leaving Price and Field to race tooth and nail to the line. Russell went past Bell and Hamblin to catch Price and Field, leaving both behind as he rode to 3rd. At the line it was Blunt, Holmes, Russell with a sprint settling 4th in favour of Field over Price. Next up was Bell who took the Vets race. Behind these riders there were more battles being keenly fought and the spectators were treated to plenty of last lap action. Ian Field was top Junior and Abigail Armstrong (London Phoenix) was top woman after fighting to get her confidence back after crashing heavily at Eastway the previous day.

Results 
1 23 Stuart Blunt Corridori 12 
2 14 Matt Holmes Arctic RT 12 
3 4 Mark Russell VC Meudon 12 
4 131 Ian Field San Fairy Ann CC 12 
5 19 Steven Price De Laune CC 12 
6 31 Mick Bell London Fire Brigade 12 
7 26 Richard Masters Wigmore CC 12 
8 2 Steve Hambling Activ Folkestone 11 
9 159 Carl McDonagh Brixton Cycle 11 
10 5 Mark Burden London Phoenix 11 

Round four of the 2002/2003 Mosquito/Kinesis London Cyclo-Cross LeagueSeniors - 20th October

Rain was always close at hand, but it never really set in and the course remained in good condition with little mud plugging needed. Once the groove was set the riders were able to sustain fast laps, although if any got cocky they could find themselves losing it on the grass off-camber banks and turns. A number of London League front runners were busy racing at the National Trophy round 2 at Cheltenham, which meant that others had an opportunity to shine. The senior race saw a stirring fight between Matt Holmes (Arctic RT), Jon Sharpe (Saucony), Steven Price (De Laune) Warrick Spence (Bikepark), Matt Starey (Pearson Cycles), GS Invicta duo Ben Lockwood & Jon Lyons, and Phil Rayner (Halfords Bikehut). Just a fraction back from the leading group was a line of riders that included Gary Hipwell (Rugby Velo), Anthony Muir (Wigmore CC), Rob Purcell and Ivan Jordan (Omega RT). With a fast pace being set on the November National Trophy course, Holmes and Sharpe began to move away from the battle being conducted by Spence, Price, Starey and Lockwood. As the race progressed Sharpe was unable to keep close contact with Holmes whilst gaps had developed between Price, Spence, Starey and Lockwood who was now falling back. It was tense stuff as 3rd, 4th and 5th spot tried to chase each other down. On one lap gains would be made, but on the next it would be lost. Holmes crossed the line to win after 9 laps and just under a minute later Sharpe did the same. Price never gave up hope of catching Sharpe and was rewarded with 3rd with Spence a little while later, Spence making his cross debut was happy with his race and had learnt that its' best to spin rather that turn big gears. Starey was next up and Lockwood 6th. 

Seniors - full results Position Rider Name Club Laps 
1 26 Matt Holmes Arctic RT 9 
2 3 Jon Sharpe Saucony 9 
3 40 Steven Price De Laune CC 9 
4 12 Warrick Spence Bikepark 9 
5 5 Matt Starey Pearson Cycles 9 
6 14 Ben Lockwood GS Invicta 9

????????????????????

DLN in COLOUR

Talking of pictures was a remark made by our President last month, and suggesting that I should buy a colour printer. Well I thought I should let him know that I have two colour printers, and to produce the DLN on this would be very time consuming and the cost would be astronomical.

What we need, if he wants colour copies of the Mag, is a colour copier - now I understand that a good one of these cost in the region of £4000.00, so Kav if you would like to put a proposition to the committee, if and when we sell the Club Room, all the DLN could then be in colour.

YOUR EDITOR

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HILL CLIMBS

As usual the Catford Hill Climb and the Bec Hill Climb were on the same day, this year the 20 October 2002. The Catford starts at 11:00 and by half past Matt Goodes was declared the clear winner. Three hours later at Titsey Hill the same thing happened - and as the Bec only counted two to a team, Matt & John O' won that too...

MATT must be the most consistent prize winner in Hill Climbs to have worn the De Laune colours.

BEC CYCLING CLUB OPEN HILL CLIMB
Trophy presented by Mr & Mrs R G Beckett

Brian Saxton

FRED PEACHEY MEMORIAL TROPHY 
(Subscribed for in 1969 by members in memory of the late F G Peachey, Esq)

This is a perpetual trophy and will be held for one year by the rider
recording the fastest time in the second Open "25".

Note: No club is shown against the winner in 1969 (L Jackson). This will be corrected when I can get hold of the details; similarly against Ian Silvester's name - he was the holder of the trophy in 1983. In fact, he was then a member of the Southborough and District Wheelers. The engraving in the 1980s was done by hand and as soon as we can find a hand-engraver, this will be brought up to date.

It will also be noted that for 1995 M Pooley's club is engraved incorrectly - nothing to do with me! - it should read, of course, Thames Tradesmen RC. However, if the club has any spare cash in the future, this engraving will be corrected.

As you know, we now only promote one '25' so, of course, this trophy is awarded to the winner of that event. If you are wondering why this year's promotion was only over 16 miles, then it is obvious you did not read Mal Adams' article in last month's DLN!

Brian Saxton

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Message from your Committee:

For a limited period there will be a reduction in the first year subs for all new members. It will cost just £15 (a saving of £16) and take you through to the end of 2003. Also, if you order a racing jersey at the time of joining it will only cost £16, another big saving - £15.

VETS BAR 2002

*As I mentioned last month Alan broke the '10' age record for his age, Peter has also broken his age record for a '10' congratulations to both of you. This year's competition was not as close as in previous years thus relieving me of checking and rechecking down to six decimal places. I am at present updating the Vets record table and will have it ready for next months DLN. 
MALCOLM ADAMS

PRODUCED by MARK & JASON BALLAMY
DISTRIBUTED BY BRIAN SAXTON

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