Bedfordshire Road Cycling Club

News Letter

Issue: 378MAY 2000

President: C. Byers; Chairman: D. Sullivan; Secretary: R. Crane; Treasurer: T. Sykes; Editor: D. Roberts e-mail DRobe10229@AOL.com

Contact Warwick Davies (Press Secretary) e-mail wad@warwickdavies.demon.co.uk

 The Ed's Bit

Well at last summer is here. There are more daylight hours to go training in, most weekends there is an event somewhere that can be represented by some or all of us and the Thursday Evening League has started. Oh yes, and it is bucketing down as I write! It was good to see so many familiar faces last Thursday for the start of this year's league, but we were short of the record entries that we saw last year. However the season is still young and I expect that as it progresses we will see an increase in numbers. The youth are going well too. My lad, Peter is hot on my heals. The agreement is that if he beats me in the Evening League then I have to buy him a Bianchi, so there is incentive for both of us to do well this year.

I expect that most of you know that Frank Garrison was involved in an accident while returning from marshalling on the F1. Fortunately he was not too badly hurt, but his car was written off. From what I have learned, this could have been so much worse, and we all wish Frank a speedy recovery.

I have been given an updated database with the club membership, and who is entitled to newsletters. If there are any glaring errors or if you know of anyone who is entitled to a newsletter but is not receiving one could you please let me know.

Could you please let Warwick Davies know your open and other club events results for publication in the local press. His details are :-

Press Secretary: Mr Warwick Davies E-mail: wad@warwickdavies.demon.co.uk

MYRTLE UNA STREET

On the 6 April 2000 Myrtle Street passed away in Bedford. In her time she was a formidable cyclist and during the latter part of her life, a champion of the mentally and physically handicapped people of the town.

Myrtle was born at Roxton in 1932. She began her cycling career with the St. Neots Cycling Club in November 1947. It was during 1950 that she began serious Time Trialling, breaking almost all of the Club's records for lady riders. Her best season was in 1961 when she reached 21st position in the Ladies B.B.A.R, Her times for a "10" at 26.41, "25" at 1.07.42, "50" at 2. 17.41 and "100", (on the Bath Road), at 4.50.12 were regarded as considerable achievements for a lady competitor of the day. During the early 1960's, Myrtle joined the Bedfordshire Road Cycling Club where she continued her varied cycling activities both on and off the bike. She was a regular attendee of Social Events and a willing helper towards making Club life successful. In joining the Club she again began breaking many of the Club's, Ladies Time Trial records. Together with Dot Crane and Josie Tomlinson, Myrtle was in the team that one year took the N.D.C.A. Ladies Championship. Until late last year, she continued to cycle frequently, attending the rides of both the l3edfordshire and East Northamptonshire Forty Plus Cycling Clubs. Likewise, Myrtle could always be relied upon to support the Club's Sunday runs. Her other cycling activities included touring trips frequently staying at Youth Hostels. She also travelled overseas to such places as the Continent, Bali and Japan. Her only excursion by bicycle on such occasions, was one to Ireland.

Perhaps the most significant and rewarding part of Myrtle's life began when she became, in the 1970's, deeply involved in charity work, helping the mentally ill and handicapped of Bedford to build better lives for themselves. She became particularly involved with children. In recent years, she worked full time for the Landsdown Home in Bedford. She also had a major interest in the Winged Fellowship; an organisation dedicated to providing holidays for the handicapped. Another aspect of Myrtle's charity work was with the Advocacy Alliance, an organisation devoted to providing help and guidance to those, unable for whatever reason, to either act for or manage their own affairs. She also helped in the local Headway and Gateway Clubs and Home Start Association. Her unceasing charity work over the years and in particular with the mentally ill in Bromham hospital was recognised when the Soroptomists voted Myrtle "Women of the Year" in 1995.

The passing of Myrtle Street is a great loss to the people of Bedford. Many of those who had come to rely on her will be devastated by her death. Her passing is also a sad loss for the local cycling community.

Myrtle's friendly smile and willing ways will be greatly missed by all, who from many walks of life came to know of her over the years.

Over two hundred people including friends, handicapped groups and cyclists attended myrtle's funeral on 13 April in Bedford. On behalf of the l3edfordshire Road Cycling Club, the committee extends the Club's deepest sympathy to her son Paul, brothers Don, Pete, Chris, and their families.

Results

 BEDFORDSHIRE ROAD C.C. - Slowest 120 25 Mile Time Trial - Sunday 23^rd April 2000

KEVAN ARMSTRONG 59-12

PAUL GODSAFE 1-1-59

KEVIN WORSLEY 1-2-36 [PB by 1-21]

3rd Fastest team of 3 - combined time of 3-4-47

MARK HORTON 1-10-03

CHRIS HARTLEY 1-11-56

CHARLES HAMILTON 1-12-43

10th Fastest team of 3 - combined time of 3-34-42

Icknield won the team prize - Roger Queen 57-23, Robert McGrady 58-35, Malcolm Marsh 1-0-47 - team time - 2-56-45.

Sam Barker [Team Chiltern] won with 52-56.

Alan Crane [Team Sanjan] - 8th with 57-02 [PB by 10 Seconds].

SPOCO (Sporting Courses) Event 7

Sunday 1st May 2000 - 25 MILES

Position Name Time

1 KEVAN ARMSTRONG 1:03:38

2 MARK HOLDEN 1:05:49

3 KEVIN WORSLEY 1:08:08

4 TOM SYKES 1:11:47

5 MARK HORTON 1:13:44

6 CHRIS HARTLEY 1:14:33

7 CHARLES HAMILTON 1:16:48

8 DAVE POCOCK 1:19:04

9 PETER HARTLEY 1:19:17

10 ALAN ROOME 1:19:27

11 PETER ROBERTS 1:19:38

12 ANDY MADDOX 1:21:12

13 TOBY POCOCK 1:23:22

14 JOHN PHIPPS 1:23:47

15 DES ROBERTS 1:24:57

16 BEN STOUT 1:26:27

17 TERRY SYKES 1:31:08

18 DAVE CRANE 1:37:15

NATALIE LEWIS DNF

PETER WILSON DNF

JAMES HARROW 1:03:11 PTT

IAN MARKHAM 1:06:47 PTT

DAVE WRIGHT 1:06:59 PTT

ALAN CRANE 1:08:00 PTT

GARY HOLDEN 1:08:26 PTT

DAVE BARNES 1:11:00 PTT

DAVE HANCOCK 1:19:27 PTT

LES NEWTON 1:19:48 PTT

Forthcoming Events

As I expect most of you already know, Icknield Road Club run an evening League on Tuesdays at Silsoe. For those who would like to compete in these events, I have a list of events and dates. Having ridden some of these time trials, I can tell you that the courses are fast, but not the fastest that I have ridden on; and it gives you an opportunity to ride on some other courses without having to travel miles.

Letter To the Ed

Dear All,

Would you please pass on through the monthly newsletter how thankful both Renee and I are for all the help and good wishes received after my recent car accident at Tempsford. The visits and telephone calls enquiring after my wellbeing were overwhelming and will always be remembered. I am now getting back to my normal self and hope to be riding again ver soon, "So watch out, Frank's about!"

Many thanks

Frank and Renee Garrison.

GINO BARTALI

One of the world's greatest cyclists died earlier this month His name, Gino Bartali who was born in Tuscany Italy in 1914. He had over 180 victories to his name, including the Giro d'Itatia, three times between 1934 and 1946. The Milan to San Remo four times and the Tour de France twice, once in 1938 the other in 1948. The years between these two great victories were of considerable regret to Bartali. He was quoted as saying that, "the Second World War robbed me of my golden years"

He regarded his greatest triumph as winning the 1940 Tour of Switzerland in which he saw off the renowned Ferdi Kubler and Hugo Koblet as well as Fausto Coppi. Oh, and one other thing, he was, a chain smoker!

GinoBartali. * l8 July l9l4. †5 May 2OOO

___________________________________________________________________________

And Finally

Some of the club's members were asked if they would like to take part in a photo shoot for an advertisement for Mercedes Trucks recently. Those who volunteered were duly assembled at the Millbrook Proving Ground on a fresh Saturday morning resplendent with bikes and tight Lycra. They had a lot of waiting around, well you know what these artistic types are like; then their moment of glory came. They had to cycle up a small incline past a truck, a distance of about 200 yards, while someone mimicked handing out a drink bottle. Fortunately for this senior club member, he had his back to the camera thus guaranteeing him total anonymity, as he had a tabard on with the caption 'Over rough terrain this truck is the least thirsty in it's class', or some such. Remembering that they only had to ride 200 yards, one of the motley crew clocked 5 miles that morning, just going round the same bit of hill, smiling widely saying 'Cheese!' Well that was above and beyond the call of duty, and all to get their photos in Big Truck Monthly! What a way to warm up for a 25 in the afternoon.

See you all on Thursdays for the Evening League

Des Roberts

Page Updated - 28 May, 2000