Willesden Cycling Club

Please look at the CTT website for details of a cycling day at Blenheim Palace near Oxford. CTT are promoting a 3-lap closed circuit 20 km. time trial which novices and others can ride. The entry form can now be downloaded from their website. There will be a chance for clubs to advertise themselves with stands at a “bike village” in Blenheim Park and there will also be a road race. Entries are already coming in. Michael Hutchinson has entered so there will be some competition if local riders want to enter too. The CTT National Committee will be there in force and some may ride too.

Gladys Purdy

Road Racing
The road racers have been back in action this week. On Tuesday evening at Hillingdon Cycle Circuit John Williams gained his first placing(10th) in the 4th cat. race. Wednesday saw Richard Jerome in action in the Surrey League event at Elmore taking 4th place in the 3/4 cat event.
Richard gained entry to the 1st cat. event at the Minet Park Festival on Saturday ,and after riding strongly,finished in 9th place. This Tuesday it is the club’s turn to promote the racing at Hillingdon and we are hoping for some good results.

Time Trialing
The time trialists were in action in a club event down on the Amersham Road and Simon Wicks, riding his first solo time trial, finished fastest in 1.06.05 followed by Jayne Paine who took first handicap with a 1.07.12, Chris James 1.14.12, Brian Moon 1.16.01 and Mick Jerome 1.19.40.
Brian had been riding the previous day in the Farnham Road Club 25 and returned in 1.09.01. Gill Reynolds also rode in this event and was the 4th fastest lady in 1.05.05.
Ed Packard, who last weekend rode the Paris/Roubaix Sportive in France(read all about it on his blog if you have the time!) has a cold and but still rode the 26 miles to the start of the Plomesgate 30. He was disappointed to finish in 1.18.30.

All for now,
Cheers,
Gladys

Hi Miles,

Richard Cooper, Jumbo and myself all took part in the Minet Park festival. This was a 1st cat race, I got 9th just behind Colin Roshier.

The race was split up by Colin with 4 laps to go and I followed him but coudn’t get to his wheel, I looked behind me and there were no chasers so I just had toget my head down and hope for the best. About 4-5 riders leap-frogged me toget to Colin and I was caught by the first few sprinters from the bunch but held on for 9th. Couldn’t beleive it!

Richard and Jumbo both packed up during the race with Richard Cooper onlygiving up with about 5 to go.

Richard Jerome

Ed Packard tested his bike and nerves to near breaking point on the Paris-Roubaix Cyclo 2008 held earlier this month. Ed + Cobbles + Belgian beer = !!!!!!

Caution – Ed’s article contains a number of gratuitous song puns which some readers may find amusing. (Song Pun? Didn’t Tracy Horsman cycle through there on his Vietnam tour?)

Read on at

http://omcoc.blogspot.com/2008/06/paris-roubaix-cyclo-2008-my-sunday-in.html

More Racing Good news!

Richard Jerome snatched 4th place in last nights Surrey league 3/4 cat race at Eelmore. The winner went off the front with a lap to go and the bunch did not react. Richard said he might try that trick next time.

Miles Back

Both John Williams and Darlene Rini were successful in the 4th cat race at Hillingdon on Tuesday night.

John got his first placing, finishing in 10th place. Whilst Darlene finished in 4th in her very first race at Hillingdon! John is still claiming the lead-out.

Great results for both of them and hopefully they can repeat their success at the club event next week (17/6).

Richard Cooper and myself did not take part last night, Richard is feeling the effects on a mid-season two week holiday and I was saving myself for a race tonight.

Well done to both of you!!!

Richard Jerome

The Willesden CC are holding a track training session at Calshot Velodrome on Saturday 19th July 2008 from 13.00hrs until 16.00hrs.

This is open to all riders (not just Willesden members) of all abilities. All the coaches are British Cycling qualified for track.

The cost of the session will be £10.00 for adults and £5.00 for youths (15 and under). Riders must have a well maintained bike and helmets and gloves must be worn.

Recommended gearing for a training session at Calshot is 81″ maximum. Hire bikes are available from Calshot at a cost of £6.30 for adults and £2.80 for youths.

Places may be limited, so please contact Keith Wilmot to book your place on

WillesdenCyclingClub@Yahoo.co.uk, with “KW Track” in the subject box.

Keith Wilmot

On Tuesday 17th June the Willesden CC are promoting the races at Minet Park, Springfield Lane, Hayes UB4 0LT.

Race program is as follows –

18:45 Youth races for U16/U14/U12/U10/U8

19:15 4th Cats – 45kms

19:15 Elite, 1st, 2nd, 3rd -70kms

Please be there to support your club and cheer on your clubmates. Wear your Willesden Kit with pride and passion, Forza squadra verde!

Yours in sport, Jumbo James

The Vets have been in action this week.

On Wednesday in the London and Home Counties 10 at Fifield Gill Reynolds was the fastest lady in 27.22 and with Ron Purdy recording 32.59 they were the 2nd team on Standard. On Saturday they were joined by Brian Moon and rode the Spirit Racing Team 10 at Leighton Buzzard returning in 25.51(Gill) 27.17(Brian) and 31.18.(Ron). Gill took the 2nd fastest lady award and was also the 3rd fastest vet on Standard in a field of 90 riders.

Gill continued racing on Sunday and went down to Petersfield to ride the Hantspol.C.C. 25 mile and with a time of 1.07.26 was the 3rd fastest lady.

Ed Packard seems to be riding in local events. During the week he rode the Polesgate Club 15 miles in which he recorded 37.07 and the ICA Crowfield 10 retuning in 25.05. I think as a student he finds getting to events in this area either costly or involving too many miles on the bike.

Cheers Gladys.

P.S. I don’t know if you understand how the Age Standard works but you are given an allowance which increases as you get older. Gill’s in a 10 mile event is 31.30 and Ron’s 34.06. So if Gill records 26.00 her plus on Age standard will be 5.30.

Twickenham Cycling Club are pleased to promote the inaugural Twickenham CC Womens Team Series Race to be held under British Cycling technical regulations

Womens National Team Series – Round 3

Sunday 22nd June 2008, 11:00am, 53 Miles (85Km)

Windlesham, Surrey

Race Headquarters: Valley End C. of E. School

Highams Lane, Valley End, Chobham, Surrey . GU24 8TB

Even though it’s a team event, we can put individual riders in the Twickenham Team or in the Impsport Composite team.

Entries normally close on Sunday 1st, however contact Graham Macnamee at gmacnameewcs@aol.com ASAP

It’s not often we get a local girls only race – so it’s an opportunity not to be missed!

A race for all levels of ability.

Ray Kelly

Saturday! Cold, grey, damp and windy. Not a day you would choose to go and watch a cycle race at Hillingdon. However Richard Jerome’s performance in the Cat 3/4 Support race to the prestigious Hillingdon GP made the trip worthwhile.

I joined a knot of Willesden supporters to witness Richard ride a mature and calculated race, where he was constantly near the front of the group looking lean, keen and mean. The new squadra kit looks really fresh and sharp in the peloton, which must give any Willesden rider a psychological boost. To me Richard looked to really dominate the race and he was looking a very real threat.

At the bell Richard was in a good position as the peloton swished past and disappeared from our view. We waited expectantly for them to round the final bend. As they did we spotted Richard, still in a winning position. It was a long slog up to the finish line, directly into the teeth of a nagging headwind.

Still Richard was looking good; could this be a podium position? Suddenly Richard disappears from the outside edge of the track. Had he blown? Where was he? A few seconds later he reappeared on the inside of the track with good space all around him. He had a clear line to the chequered flag. “Push Richard, push, push, push” we all urged. In the last 100 metres his opponents just had that ounce or two more of energy and our man finished just a second or so behind the winners. It was close and a highly creditable 6th place.

Well done Richard. It going to be even more exciting when you have a few more Willesden team mates to join you. What a great summer of Willesden racing it is going to be.

Forza Squadra Verde!!

Miles Back

Ian Oliver has sent in this story of inappropriate bike usage from Sweden (contains mildly adult themes). See http://tinyurl.com/5d5sf6