July 2003

John Fox

John Fox sadly passed away in June, after a long battle with cancer. It was a full 12 months and more ago when Clive informed the club that John had not been given very long to live, but he was a great fighter and defied the illness (and the doctors!) for a long time before eventually succumbing.

Visitors remarked on his constant good humour throughout this period, and how he did not seem as if he was a cancer sufferer when they went round.

He leaves a wife Pauline, and our thoughts are with their family at this time.

Club Time Trials

Three more club time trials took place in the last month.

The ‘25’ on the 17th of June was won by Jeff Vernon, beating Pete Davies and Ian Hawkins. Tony Flannery took the handicap prize.

  • Open Result
    1. Jeff Vernon 55-03
    2. Pete Davies 55-43
    3. Ian Hawkins 56-04

    Handicap Result
    1. Tony Flannery 1-04-15 (48-45 nett)
    2. Dave Thomas 1-01-27 (51-27)
    3. Steve Gauller 58-09 (53-09)

    •

    After that was the ‘10’ on the 24th of June. Pete returned to winning ways, beating Ian and Andy Walsh. Susan Massey won the handicap prize.

  • Open Result
    1. Pete Davies 21-55
    2. Ian Hawkins 22-06
    3. Andy Walsh 22-18

    Handicap Result
    1. Susan Massey 25-02 (20-02 nett)
    2. Dave Thomas 23-56 (20-26)
    3. Dave Large 26-07 (20-37)

    •

    Completing the round-up was the ‘25’ on the 1st of July. The 1-2-3 was as per the previous week: Pete, Ian, Andy. And Dave Large finally managed to make the top step of the handicap podium!

  • Open Result
    1. Pete Davies 56-07
    2. Ian Hawkins 56-48
    3. Andy Walsh 57-19

    Handicap Result
    1. Dave Large 1-05-50 (50-50 nett)
    2. John Kent 1-00-48 (52-48)
    3. Dave Cummings 1-01-51 (53-51)

    •

    The results of the Open ‘25’ will be posted next month.

    I-Spy

    As you watch this year’s Tour de France on the telly, keep an eye out for the 20km-to-go and 10km-to-go inflatable arches. You might think that they were made in some Parisian factory, but in fact they were put together right here on the Wirral, at Ian Boult’s CDC Heavy Textiles company in Wallasey! I told him he should have put some flames around the base, but he didn’t want to know!

    Track Stars

    We went along to cheer on Michael Hutchinson’s ultimately unsuccessful Hour Record attempt, and decided to stay for the subsequent track meeting, as Rachel Heal was among those in the start list. We weren’t half surprised to find Susy Massey warming up for the first event of the night as well!

    Susy acquitted herself very well in what was a top-quality field, featuring World Masters Champions and GB squad members. Her highlight was undoubtedly the 3-up sprint heat. She was set against two more experienced women (including a world masters champion!), but they obviously hadn’t done their homework and didn’t know they were facing the National Junior Sprint champion. So, as they watched each other as the bell sounded, Susy just rode away from them, crossing the line several lengths clear!


    Susy romps home

    This got her into the major final with the other heat winners, which included Rachel. Unfortunately neither of them won.


    Susy and Rachel line up for the final (yes, that’s Andy holding her up!)

    Sponsored Rides on Alpe d’Huez

    Many of you will recall Ian Boult’s nasty scare last year with the mole on his leg and the subsequent surgery he underwent (I have pictures, but this is a family newsletter!). Well, he would like you to sponsor him for Cancer Research as he (together with Les Kennedy) will tackle Alpe d’Huez not once, not twice, but three times this month!

    They are jetting over to France for this coming weekend (if you’re reading this before the Tour gets there!), and as they’re staying in the ski station resort itself, any trip out has to end with a climb back up the famous 21 hairpins. They tell me there’s probably a trip up Les Deux Alpes on Saturday and a trip to the Galibier on the Monday. Sunday (which is race day) will see them ‘merely’ descend the mountain (maybe by the notorious gravel-strewn Col de Sarenne, if you recall my account of our trip in 2001!) and climb it again, past the hordes of Tour fans. It’s Ian’s first time up the Alpe, so he’s only got what we’ve told him to go on!

    If you’d like to sponsor him (probably retrospectively!), or just make a donation, then give him a call on 347-9364.

    (And don’t ask me why I’m not going - ok?!)

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