Winter - Norwood Paragon

The Magazine of the Norwood Paragon Cycling Club
Winter 2005
Bonjour Services
Action during the club’s Centenary Meeting at Herne Hill
After the Lord Mayor’s Show…
Well that’s it then… after all the preparation and celebration,
the club’s centenary year is over. What a year
it has been! For myself, it has been a great honour to
be President for this milestone in the club’s history
and I would like to thank everyone who helped make
it such a success
The 2004 AGM had the largest attendance for
quite a few years, and we now see new faces taking on
jobs. John Pocock retired from the position of Hon
Treasurer. John’s hard work over the years has put the
club in a sound financial position to even endure the
centenary year expenses without risking going into
debt. Many thanks for all your hard work John.
The Christmas Lunch was another fine promotion
by our famous social secretary John Cleeve. The Inn
on the Pond at Nutfield Marsh was, once again, a
good venue with a warm welcome and perhaps not so
warm food but the hot gravy helped. A meal enlivened
by good cross toasting and presentation of the freewheeling
trophy to Keith Butler for his superb ride in
the preceding contest.
Andy Murray was presented with the darts trophy
for his win in the club’s darts competition. Surely club
rules say that having a dart board in the kitchen at
home is cheating!
The racing season is just about to start and once
again we need marshals and helpers both for the open
events that club promotes and the association events
that are our club time trials. Also help is needed for
the evening events throughout the year. Promoting
secretaries and the club time trial secretary will be
amazed if somebody actually calls them and volunteers
to help out. The club handbook will give you names
and phone numbers.
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BLAH! CLUB NEWS
DON’T FORGET
YOU CANNOT RACE UNTIL
YOU HAVE PAID YOUR SUBS
REMEMBER TO GET YOUR BRITISH CYCLING
MEMBERSHIP AND LICENCE AND
SURREY LEAGUE AFFILIATION
PAID IN TIME TO RACE
CONGRATULATIONS
NEW MEMBERS
Phil Morris
After some fast rides as a junior Phil took up rowing
with some success, he hopes to regain some of his old
speed on the bike.
Simon Warren
John Jennings
Congratulations are due
to Dave Mascall and
partner Rachel on the
birth of Samuel.
I wonder if Samuel will be
riding the Red Bull 24 in a
kiddie seat behind Mum or
Dad
John was a member of the club in the 60s and 70s
riding both time trials and road races and after a racing
come-back in last year’s Presidents 12 he remembered
why he retired from racing. John is a qualified
osteopath with an interest in sports related injuries.
JON JENNINGS
Roadman, time triallist, Audax rider and tourist Jon
Jennings collapsed and died at the age of 39 while on
a skiing holiday in Italy. Jon, who started touring with
the Croydon section of the CTC in his early teens,
went on to ride for the Willesden CC and Norwood
Paragon before joining the Bishop’s Stortford CC, and
Team Quest-The Bike Shop, in whose colours he rode
regularly with his partner, Judith Swallow, in tandem
time trials and Audax events including Paris-Brest-
Paris.
Born in Cumbria, he was brought up in the Purley
and Coulsdon areas of South London, but Jon had
lived in recent years at Pinner, Middlesex.
He had survived cancer in his late teens, his foster
father, Mike Bedford, said: “Jon’s illness spurred him
on and made him very focused to live his life to the
full, which is what he did. “Whatever he did — and he
had plenty of strings to his bow — he did it to the
best of his ability.”
See page 5 for an appreciation by Keith Butler
LESLIE ALFRED ADAMS
The club had a very pleasant surprise recently when
the general secretary, received a letter from the
executors of the estate of the late Leslie Alfred Adams
informing him of a bequest to the club of £500.
Sadly no one on the committee could recall Leslie as a
member although the feeling was that he had been a
polo player. Does anyone remember him? And can
write a few words for Blah!
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Alison Butler
Allison and Steve have moved to:
CLUB NIGHTS
Club nights have restarted, they are being held on
the second and fourth Monday evenings of each
month. The ongoing commitment to hold club nights
will depend on people attending, so if you think they
still are a valid part of club life come along.
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Blah! Winter 2005

BLAH!
Herne Hill greatest threat yet
Since opening as an unbanked cinder track in 1891
Herne Hill has been the premier cycle track in
London. By 1896 bankings had been constructed and
a concrete surface laid. In 1908 the track was the
venue for cycling events of the Olympic Games. Track
racing continued throughout the Great War of 1914-
18, into the 20s and 30s the track became even more
popular with gates of up to 10,000 for Good Friday
meetings.
After the Second World War the track needed
major refurbishment work before hosting the cycling
events of the 1948 Olympic Games. Through the post
war years Herne Hill was a thriving sporting venue
cumulating with the ‘Coppie’ meetings of 1958 and
1959. In 1992 Sport England invested £1.5 million in
revamping the track.
All this history and one of the most important
cycling assets in London is now at risk. The
freeholders of the land the track stands on, The
Dulwich Estate, has refused to extend the lease, and
has effectively closed the track.
So what is being done about this situation and
what can club members do to help?
Join the Friends of the Velodrome
Herne Hill's future as London's only cycle track
remains at risk until a long lease from the site's owners
– The Dulwich Estate – is secured, together with grant
funding for regeneration.
BLAH!
is edited by Ian Murray
who if not out on his bike can be reached at: All copy
welcome, if you can email me or send
your copy on a disk (PC or Mac) even better
Blah! is the official newsletter of the Norwood Paragon, however, it does not necessarily
represent the views of the club or committee
The regeneration plans and their ability to secure a
financially independent future for the velodrome
deserve as much support as possible.
The Friends of Herne Hill Velodrome exist to
campaign for Herne Hill's secure future and to keep in
touch with its many supporters in London and across
the world.
The following has been taken from the Friends of
Herne Hill web site
Lock-Out by The Dulwich Estate continues
Following their rejection of Southwark Council’s offer
for a 5 year lease deal to facilitate The London
Velodrome Trust's regeneration plans, the owners of
the Velodrome site, The Dulwich Estate, will keep the
Velodrome gates locked until the conclusion of their
deal with a un-named commercial leisure company.
With support from Southwark, The Trust remains
ready to re-open once this deal is done, and has
brokered arrangements to secure Good Friday racing
in the event that this is delayed beyond Easter.
A Secure Future for Herne Hill
The London Velodrome Trust has been established in
partnership with Southwark Council and British
Cycling to secure a future for London's only
Velodrome – recently threatened with closure. A
financially secure basis for a new long lease with the
site's owners The Dulwich Estate is being negotiated.
Long popular with school children and amateur
cyclists alike, the cycle track is in real need of a 21st
century facelift. The Trust plans to raise £7m to
redevelop the site, improve and extend its facilities,
Thought for Today by old sod
Cat
A soft indestructible automaton provided by
nature to be kicked when things go wrong in the
domestic circle
www.norwoodparagon.co.uk
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BLAH
and make its future as a multi-sport facility financially
secure. Herne Hill is a unique part of Britain’s sporting
heritage and it is famous around the world. Its history
stretches back to the late 19th century and the track
saw action in 1948 London Olympics. It is cycling’s
equivalent to Wembley or Wimbledon.
Last year its premier event, the Good Friday track
meeting, celebrated its centenary with world champion
and Olympic cyclists drawing record capacity crowds.
Our 2004 Olympic medal winning cyclist Bradley
Wiggins grew up riding on Herne Hill. We want other
young athletes to have the same opportunities.
Our regeneration plan has been given outline planning
consent. The aim is to improve the existing
Velodrome in a way that will not only safeguard its
future as a centre of cycling excellence, but will also
broaden its appeal and value to local residents, schools
and Londoners generally.
The plans include an all-weather perimeter cover
for the track itself, gym facilities, ecological
landscaping and a superb indoor climbing centre, a
facility currently not available in S-E London. The
Trust’s vision for renewal will benefit the whole
community.
The latest news
First, thanks to all of you who have e-mailed your
support to the London Velodrome Trust website and
the Dulwich Estate. We've had brilliant support from
all of you, plus supportive letters from local MPs,
including Tessa Jowell, Simon Hughes and others,
Valerie Shawcross at the Greater London Authority,
British Cycling, Sport England plus London 2012.
This has resulted in some positive movement from
The Dulwich Estate, less than the LVT has requested
and might reasonably expect, but which is positive in
the short term. The negotiation of arrangements
between the LVT and the Estate to both guarantee
Good Friday 2005 the rest of the season are ongoing
and looking positive.
Thank Tessa Jowell and say that like her you're
passionate about sport. It would be helpful if you
could all e-mail Tessa Jowell the local MP at her
constituency office, at jowellt@parliament.uk, copied
to mail@londonvelodrome.org letting her know how
much you appreciate her support for Herne Hill,
particularly those that live in her constituency.
Current position
The London Velodrome Trust's home page http://
www.londonvelodrome.org/summarises the current
position. The Trust is working to re-open the track as
soon as legal agreements can be put in place, and to
subsequently engage positively with the new lessee to
secure a viable future for cycling.
Re-opening Herne Hill track
This can only happen once arrangements to allow the
LVT to re-open the Velodrome are in place between
the Dulwich Estate, their proposed new lessees,
Southwark Council, and the London Velodrome Trust
- the Dulwich Estate say the end of February for this -
but offer no guarantees.
The likely commercial deal. This is certain to be
conditional on the preferred commercial leisure
operator achieving a planning consent for a viable
commercial leisure development of the Velodrome site
(perhaps including adjacent Dulwich Estate land too).
As Metropolitan Open Land the development
options will be constrained by Southwark and the
Greater London Authority’s planning development
policies which if the Estate's new Leisure operator
intends to secure local support for their preferred
development they are likely to include retention of the
velodrome. No pre planning application discussions
with the planning authority for a new development
have yet taken place. If the planning consent they want
isn't achieved their deal with the Dulwich Estate is
likely to be over.
Pass this on to a friend and tell them that if they want to be
put on the Friends of Herne Hill e-mail list to e-mail
mail@londonvelodrome.org including the words "Friends email"
providing their full name, address & full postcode, and details of
Club membership or organisation represented.
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BLAH!
Jon Jennings an appreciation
by Keith Butler
Cycling enthusiast par excellence
Fearless Skier
Audax rider extraordinaire: Tour de France, Paris
Brest Paris (Solo & Tandem), Daylight 600, Le
Marmot, Etape de Tour etc etc.
Jon joined us from the Festival Road Club in 1989
and soon made a mark by quickly becoming a First
Category Roadman, apart from full racing programme
he found time to run three training camps in the South
of France and one in Portugal for mainly Club riders
plus trips to watch the Tour de France and to ride the
Brevet des Alpes and Le Marmot.
A brief list of his achievements shows something
of his depth of talent.
1990 AEU Cup for 550 Sprint, George Colget Cup
for five miles Point to Point.
1991 Tricycle 100 in 5.02.30 (a record that still
stands), Solo 12 hour record of 273 miles. Team
Record with Harry Featherstone and Jack Platts of
774.821 miles - record still stands.
Rotherham 12 hour Cup, Les Black Hill Climb Cup,
Frank Burton Cup for 550 yard handicap,
Ravensbourne Cup for five miles Scratch, George
Colget Cup for five miles Point to Point.
1993 Established all the Mixed Tandem Records with
Allison Butler. Those listed below still stand. Mixed
Tandem 30 Record with Allison Butler 1.7.19, Mixed
Tandem 50 Record with Allison Butler 1.53.37, Club
and Mixed Tandem 12 hour Record with Allison
Butler 255.359.
Frank Burton Cup for 550 yard Handicap, Surrey
League Stein
1994 Club Open Events Champion, Rotherham 12
hour Cup, Surrey League Stein
1995 Club Track Champion, Mixed Tandem 100
Record with Alison Butler 4.2.20, Ravensbourne Cup
for five miles Scratch.
Results Service for Pru Tour.
Jon was a bike rider from first to last. From weekend
Youth Hostel trips, Club Runs to participation in
top class competition.
A RIDE REMEMBERED
‘THE’ ride, of those that I saw, was the Poole
Wheelers 12 hour of 1991. The Club had a four man
team. Gethin Butler, Harry Featherstone. Jack Platts
and Jon Jennings were the riders and this was the day
that Glen Longland was to beat 300 miles. Gethin was
not riding at his best and desisted after 140 miles.
Megan and Keith were then free to watch the event
unfold. So they joined John Pocock’s team at a feed.
Jon Jennings went through and his time was taken. It
was a bit quick. ‘Must have missed a leg!’ said
someone. ‘Not to my knowledge’ says John P who had
followed Jon J since the start. Oh!!
Out of Poole and across to Bere Regis, up to
Blandford Forum and back to Wimborne we were
waiting for the cracks to appear. But they didn’t. Onto
the Finish Circuit Jon kept up his relentless pace. We
all stood by the roadside to cheer at the spot where he
surpassed Robin Buchan’s old Club Record of 269
miles. The Timekeeper recorded a total of 273 miles
for a new Club Record. A superb ride.
This ride epitomises Jon. Not a top speed
merchant but capable of riding very very hard for a
long time.
In 1997 with virtually no training he entered the
National ‘24’ as a back up rider to Gethin, Steve and
Ross and finished the day with some 376 miles.
It was not general knowledge that in his teenage
years he had Hodgekinsons Disease and had had his
Continued on page 6
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Blah! Winter 2005

BLAH! RACING REPORTS
Although the racing season is not here for most of us,
some hardy Paragons have already been riding in anger
to blow away those Winter cobwebs. The mountain
bikers have been busy racing in the Gorrick Spring
Series as well as the Thetford Forest Winter Series.
Hannah Reynolds rode the Thetford Forest
Enduro on 23rd January. This race featured two 12
mile laps of fast twisty singletrack around the forest.
There was a large field of entries despite the cold and
Hannah made a good start keeping up with the front
riders, capitalising on her winter road training. She
managed to stay in the top 10 finishing a respectable
8th in the end after 2 hours 51 minutes of racing. Katy
Middlehurst (Giant Racing) won the women's race.
Closer to home Jon Webb, Phil Earl and new
member Nick Ffoulkes raced at Crowthorne Woods in
the Gorrick Spring Series. Jon rode in the Expert class
putting in another strong performance against stiff
opposition to take 5th place with John Venness
(Evans) – former National Masters MTB champion –
taking the win. Nick rode in the Veteran race which
had 54 riders battling it out in the cold conditions.
Despite a poor start and riding a singlespeed MTB, he
worked his way from the back to take 11th place,
while David Nelson (W Drayton MBC) took the win.
Phil rode in the Masters race and is planning to ride
the entire Spring Series this year. Despite a few minor
collisions, mainly with other riders and getting caught
out by the slippery roots on the ‘corkscrew’ section
Phil finished mid-field in 20th place with De Laune's
James Lett in first place.
Marcus Brueton
TIME TRIAL SECRETARY
NEEDED
The 2004 AGM had by far the best attendance for
quite a few years and the meeting proceeded swiftly
with the majority of the appointments being filled with
only a little persuasion being required. However one
important job was left vacant. The club still needs a
time trial secretary: without one it will put the running
of club time trials in jeopardy.
So what does the job entail? Trying to persuade
people to ride time trials and make up the odd team in
events. Organising the evening time trial, which means
little more than sending off the police notification
forms, reminding the time keeper and keeping a record
of results for the various awards. Attending the
CDCA AGM a thrilling evening out! Arranging
marshals for the club events, this is normally one or
two people for each of the CDCA and SCCU events.
It seems a lot of work but you will get plenty of
help. You also need to be able to get to the club’s
monthly committee meetings. If you fancy putting
something back into the sport give the Chairman,
Peter Ansell a call on 020 8668 5652.
Jon Jennings an appreciation
continued from page 5
spleen removed. He always said he was living on
borrowed time so lived life to the full and during his
time as a racing member of the Paragon he did that.
After he split with Allison Butler he moved to
north London where he joined the Willesden, the
Bishops Stortford and then Team Quest clubs
unfortunately Jon never approached his previous
form.
He remained a Paragon member and attended
OPA functions. He was a real Paragonian. A leader.
An individual who went his own way and by his
enthusiasm took his comrades with him. Cycle Sport
MARSHALS REQUIRED
Two marshals are needed for the Southern Counties
Cycling Union 25 mile time trial to be held on G25/53
on 17 April. Contact Dave Adams on 020 8643 9859
for further details.
www.norwoodparagon.co.uk 6
Blah! Winter 2005

BLAH! OFF-ROAD
Mountain biking with Tchaikovsky
By Phil Earl
Gorrick Spring Series round 1 or doing the nutcracker
It might only be January, but for some
the racing season has already begun.
Determined this year to complete the
Gorrick Spring Series (five races), I
headed off for the season opener at
Crowthorne woods in
Berkshire. Accompanying
me was prospective new
member (when he gets
his membership form!)
Nick Ffoulkes. For those
of you who don't know
him Nick is a former
member of Surrey Roads
CC as well as an
accomplished triathlete
and runner. He is also an
experienced mountain
biker, being one of the
regular Wednesday night
riders. Nick had been
persuaded to race by my partner in
crime Dave Mascall, who had to drop
out at the last minute with a heavy
cold much to Nick's disgust!
After the traditional warm up lap/
course recce, we both took up position
on the starting grid. We'd both decided
that it was too early in the year to wear
shorts, so kept our legs covered up,
unlike many of the competitors
(personally I would have been
embarrassed to show off my hairy
legs. Now I know why girls have their
legs waxed!) Nick, racing with the
veterans would start two minutes after
me. Having ridden regularly with Nick,
I realised that my main goal would be
to avoid being caught by him early on!
I started without any problems, unlike
the rider in front of me who pulled
both feet out of his pedals, causing me
to swerve violently to avoid wedging
my wheel up his backside. Obviously
there isn't much room when 39 riders
Frightening the wildlife and disturbing the peace
are moving and after quick bounce off
the rider on my left I was off. Last
time I did that in a Surrey League race
I took out three riders, but fortunately
he stayed upright. Following the initial
lung bursting start (sprint) the race
split and I found myself in the
company of three others. Great I
thought, finally a race where I'm not
stuck in between groups. However, a
mile later the leading two successfully
knocked each other off trying to take
the same line down a drop off.
Somehow I managed to bunny hop
over them and continue, leaving them
sprawled in the mud. Then on the next
climb the last guy snapped his chain,
so there I was, riding alone again!
Crowthorne is noted for its twisty
singletrack and short steep climbs,
steep enough to bring some riders to a
complete halt before falling off
(always good entertainment!). I
managed to crash in the same spot for
two of the three laps, a
notorious section known
as the corkscrew. If
you're sadistic this is a
great place to spectate,
because it's prime crash
country! Very slippery,
with hidden roots, deep
drop offs, and lots of
loose dirt; great fun to
ride though if you can
stay upright!
Nick managed to catch
me halfway through my
second lap and was riding
very strongly, having
chosen to ride a singlespeed bike. Like
me he managed to crash in the same
spot but only once, almost neutering
himself on his stem! (hence the title –
maybe some foam padding or a box
for next time?).
Nick finished his three laps in a
time of 1 hour 15 minutes, showing
his potential with an excellent 11th
place from 54 riders. I finished a little
further back in 1 hour 23 minutes
earning me 20th place from 39
starters.
The next race is in three weeks
time at Heath Warren. Hopefully more
of us will be available to ride what is
usually an excellent course, with the
odd north shore section.
I'll even share my coffee!
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BLAH!
Aiming for the top
A trip up memory lane, average gradient 1 in 7 steepest 1 in 4
by Jack Platts
My most pleasant memory must be
winning the North Midds and Herts
CA. Event in 1961 in Hertfordshire.
Next is coming second in the Bec CC
hill climb in 1960 and in the process
beating the previous week’s Catford
hill climb’s winner and winning the
team prize with Keith Butler and John
Fisher, yes that’s the same Keith who
won the Downhill Trophy – a true allrounder
is our Keith.
The Bec hill climb is held up White
Lane off Titsey Hill near Tatsfield,
Surrey. But in one of the national papers
it was described as Pitsea Hill
Sussex, it’s a wonder I ever found the
start.
I didn’t get in the frame for the
ride illustrated, sixth place in the 1963
Catford hill climb with a time of 2
minutes 18 seconds. The event was
won by Dave Patten of Tunbridge
Wells in 2 minutes 5¹/5 seconds.
To any aspiring hill climber I
would offer a couple of helpful tips.
At the end of the racing season your
legs should be strong, so strengthen
the arms and shoulders with press-ups
and weights. When climbing don’t look
up just keep your eyes on the road at
about 20 yards ahead.
All my rides were done on a fixed
wheel, but the choice is yours.
Jack in full flight or as the Croydon Advertiser of the day had it ‘struggling’
Have you got a tale about that unforgettable racing, training or social ride.
Unforgettable, either because it was the best win of your career or because you
suffered more than you thought possible. Write it down send it with a photograph
if possible and have it printed in Blah! and achieve fame and fortune.
All kinds of articles with a cycling connection are welcome and indeed necessary to fill the
pages of Blah! Send them to the editor.
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Blah! is printed and distributed by Peter Ansell