Veteran - LVRC

Regional News
Region 1
The last event of the Region’s season was
the Lou Miller Memorial road race on 9th
September, on a warm sunny day, with a
free meal for riders, and marshalls was provided.
At the AGM which followed, all officials
were re-elected.
The Circuit of the Fells on 10th October
saw a record turn-out, despite rain in
the morning. Fortunately, the westerly
wind aided the riders from Caton via the
elevenses stop at Kirkby Lonsdale bridge,
and a fast ride up to the barren fells of
Barbondale where the beck washed the
lane and the Spielbergian slopes were enshrouded
in cloud. Lou Miller would have
relished the Jurassic wonderland. Then a
tumble into Dentdale, the unforgiving
climb beneath the Settle-Carlisle railway
viaduct to Newby Head, and back into the
westerly to the café at Ingleton for the
drenched cyclists.
On 1st November a packed audience
gathered at the Priory to listen to a talk from
Gethin Butler. In December the Tuesday
regulars had their Xmas Lunch at Bells Farm
and are looking forward to the new season,
like the rest of the LVRC. The annual
Jazz Night on 5th February saw another
record attendance of 100.
Those Region 1 events omitted from the
Handbook (the three Lou Miller races) are
listed on Page 3 in this issue of the Veteran
Leaguer.
The Lady of Man trip to Douglas will sail
on Wednesday 22 nd May at 10 a.m. from
Fleetwood, returning at 6.30 p.m. For details
please contact Frank Waring, myself,
or any regional official. Harry Benson
Region 2
30 people attended the AGM out of our
current membership of 248, which remains
stable, despite the fact that about 70 per
year don’t renew. We all know someone
who’s lapsed, so remind them at the next
cafe stop, or engage them in conversation
on a climb, as I do, and keep the pace
down.
Jack Watson and a group from Tyneside
spent the winter getting in awesome miles
over the Pennines and Lakes to the youth
hostels at Aysgarth and Troutbeck. A vets
group meets Tuesdays at the Stamfordham
pub for lunch. On Teeside they meet at the
cafe in Catterick village, and on Fridays at
Great Ayton cafe, both 11 a.m.
Leeds Groups
Tuesday 10 a.m., Saturdays and Sundays
9.30, all at Lawnswood Crematorium.
Gargrave/Bradford
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10.30 at
Gargrave Cafe.
First race this year will be on 28th April at
Bishopwood, Selby. Bad news is that Leeds
Premier won’t be running their long-established
event this year as they’ve been unable
to find an organiser.
Ferryhill Wheelers celebrated their 75th
anniversary in style: Ian Hallam was guest
of honour, there were write-ups and pics
in the Northern Echo and Cycling Weekly,
and Tyne/Tees TV filmed them for three
hours at Catterick Cafe.
Many LVRC members turned out on 30th
October for the funeral of Pete Gannon,
Leeds St Christophers, former National Hill
Climb Champion.
Tim Teal has volunteered (!) to take on
the job of Treasurer, following my appeal
in the last Newsletter (see – the power of
the press. It does work! Ed). Tim was a
founding member of the Yorkshire Region
of the LVRC back in 1986, and before that
a founder member of Yorkshire BLRC in
1947. If I tell you about his five-year career
in the SAS (100+ parachute drops) I’ll
have to kill you all. Dave Hamilton
Region 3
The region will be putting on three events
this year:
Saighton Road Races, 7th July, based
on Saighton as in the past.
Bickerton Road Races 14th July, based
on Bickerton,
If you don’t care to race, you’ll be very
welcome to come along and help – we
never have enough people on the day, do
we. Please do offer to help if you possibly
can.
The third event will be on 2 nd June at
Llandyrnog and will be the Chris Knight
Memorial Day. It will start in the morning
with an event for TLI for all groups up to
vets, but not including the 40s. The LVRC
race will be in the afternoon, starting at
13.30 for groups: A/B, C/D, and E/F/G.
Please enter – it’s my way of saying
thanks to a very good friend both to me
and all those who rode in the many races
Chris put on in a season. Most of those in
Llandyrnog were for TLI, but Chris did put
on LVRC events from time to time, and in
any case we all rode them whatever they
were.
If anyone in Region 3 wants a regular
entry in our Newsletter, then write me,
phone me, or call in as you come along
the lane by the Lodge and I’ll see what I
can do.
Richard Lang
Region 4
All members are reminded that, if they
haven’t yet renewed their membership for
2002, this is the last Veteran Leaguer they
will receive. Renewal forms can be found
in the centre of the recently circulated
2002 Handbook. Please note that the
membership fee is £8 and that all requests
for membership renewal must be accompanied
by a stamped addressed envelope.
Nev Ashman
Region 5
Envious of our fellow members who emigrate
to Spain for the winter? Finding it
more difficult each year to train through
the winter because the roads are dangerous,
especially at night? Lacking motivation
or can’t face the mental anguish of
turbo training? Well the solution is SPIN-
NING. Cycling on a fixed wheel static bike
to upbeat music at different intensity levels
in a good social group is both enjoyable
and very hard work. Why not try a
session at your local sports centre – you
may be pleasantly surprised with your improvement,
particularly hill climbing and
sprinting.
Region 5’s first event of the new season
will be Barton Wheelers Australian Pursuit
promotion at Barton upon Humber 6 th
April 2002 followed by the Dinnington
Road race on the 21 st April 2002. See you
there.
Congratulations to Alan Pettitt on winning
a gold medal at the World Master track
champs in the 2,000m 60-64 category and
also to Pete Ryalls on re-election to Chairman
of the LVRC. Our commiserations to
John Otter and Ron Pyne, both casualties
of non-seeing motorists. Best wishes for a
full recovery and early return to racing in
the new season from the entire Region 5
membership.
Phil Etches
Region 6
Nearly 30 people attended the coaching
talks on Nutrition and Cross-training at
Bromsgrove on 16th January. More such
evenings are tentatively planned for next
Winter. Any requests for topics and/or
speakers to Ray Minovi, 0121-449-1347,
or by email (see page 2).
The Region promotes 14 open road races
16 racing days) and a grass-track championship
during 2002. With promotions just
across the borders into Regions 4, 7 and
8, members can ride 29 events within an
hour’s drive or less from Birmingham.
Colin Dooley
Region 9
At the AGM in December all regional officials
retained their posts except that, after
six years of newsletter distribution John
Scott has passed the task on to Arnold
Russell. John remains newsletter correspondent
at 39 Montrouge Crescent, Epsom,
KT17 3BP. Tel: 01737-352025. LVRC
Page 10 Veteran Leaguer: Winter 2002