July 1999

Isle of Man 1999 - BNE Champion Club!

"Following last year’s runners-up slot we followed up by hitting the jackpot and netting £4,000 for club funds!

It was a great team effort, all deserving a mention: Peter, Chris and Nicola Byrne, the Davids Lethbridge, Mike Garner, James Beech, Steve Cummings, Dave Shipley, Tony Flannery, Rachel Heal, Chris Smith, Dave Parry, Clive and Claire Walmsley, Harry & Doreen Mahar, and Jack and Marjorie.

Dave Shipley gained our first points in the opening Mountain TT which heralded and great start to the Sunday with the juniors, juveniles and ladies securing a hatful of points in the circuit races, Claire being chosen as the Bicycle Belle (is a belle necessary on a bike? -ed.) and that evening our 10 riders in the hill climb all gained points. We were on our way.

Some personal highlights given here are followed by the week’s results:

• Rachel Heal really did us proud throughout the week despite suffering from some poor organisation in Monday’s Willaston handicap when the original 10 laps were increased to 14 halfway through the race, making it 45 miles instead of 32.
• Dave Shipley, who rode (or rowed) (eh?-ed.) with such gutsy determination.
• Harry & Doreen, who gained maximum points for marshalling.
• Peter Byrne and David Lethbridge, who not only raced and supervised the younger element, but put on an excellent barbecue for us all.
• Mike Garner, awarded an elite licence as chief washer-upper.
• The enthusiasm of Clive and his good ride in the Curwen.
• Claire, who, against her wishes, rode the hill-climb and was actually Best Lady, and during the week had the most podium visits.
• The hour of fun at Silverdale following the Curwen Clague race (I’m warning you McAllister, less of these in-jokes please! -ed.).
• Tony Flannery, who could not find the start of the ‘10’ and eventually started 1½ hours late (a club record) in order to get another 2 points.
• The younger element, who not only rode so well but whose behaviour was a credit to them. A near thing at the prize presentation, though.
• The RAF team members who came to congratulate us on our win.

Results

Sunday

Mountain TT
Dave Shipley: 2-15-21

Douglas Circuit Races
Juniors:
1. Mike Garner
2. Chris Byrne
3. Dave Lethbridge
Ladies:
2. Rachel Heal
3. Claire Walmsley
(Rachel equal points, placed 2nd on countback)
Juveniles:
6. James Beech
9. Nicola Byrne (& 2 primes)

Hill Climb
16. Mike Garner 0-57.6 (fastest junior)
40. Chris Smith 1-05.9
47= Dave Lethbridge 1-09.0
47=Chris Byrne 1-09.0
51. James Beech 1-12.7
54. Claire Walmsley 1-16.7 (fastest lady)
56. Dave Shipley 1-19.0
57. Clive Walmsley 1-19.7 (fastest vet)
70. Peter Byrne 1-42.2
72. Nicola Byrne 1-45.8

Monday

Willaston Handicap RR
Vets/Ladies:
5. Rachel Heal (first lady)
(this being the infamous event that was increased to 14 laps, eliminating the vets and ladies unfairly).

Peel Kermesse
Juveniles:
6. James Beech
14. Nicola Byrne
3/4 cats
12. David Lethbridge

Tuesday

Vets ‘25’
David Lethbridge 1-04-33
Peter Byrne 1-04-41
Dave Parry 1-06-05
Clive Walmsley 1-12-23 (late start)
Tony Flannery 1-16-44

Ladies ‘25’
3. Rachel Heal 1-05-59 (1st handicap)
4. Claire Walmsley 1-09-03

Open ‘25’
33. Chris Smith 1-08-04
37. Dave Shipley 1-10-10

Douglas Kermesse
Juniors:
5. Chris Byrne
6. Dave Lethbridge
8. Mike Garner

Wednesday

Two-up Team TT
11. D. & D.Lethbridge 25-27
12. M.Garner & D.Parry 25-28
13. P. & C.Byrne 25-49
19. Clive W. & J.Beech 26-51
20. C.Smith & R.Heal 26-53
36. Claire W. & N.Byrne 30-58

Curwen Clague Memorial RR
15. Steve Cummings (first junior)
42. Clive Walmsley

Port Erin Kermesse
Juveniles:
7. James Beech
11. Nicola Byrne
Juniors:
2. Mike Garner
4. Chris Byrne
7. Dave Lethbridge

Thursday

Open ‘10’
37. Chris Smith 26-32
42. Dave Shipley 27-21

Junior ‘10’
2. Dave Lethbridge 24-10

Juvenile ‘10’
7. James Beech 26-05
22. Nicola Byrne 33-27

Vets ‘10’
Peter Byrne 25-18
Dave Parry 25-37
David Lethbridge 25-40
Clive Walmsley 26-45
Tony Flannery 2-00-25 (2 hours late)

Ladies ‘10’
4. Rachel Heal 26-01
6. Claire Walmsley 27-18

Friday

Viking Trophy RR
4. Steve Cummings

Mannin Veg RR
18. Mike Garner (at 12 secs)
32. Dave Shipley
45. Chris Byrne
49. Chris Smith
56. Dave Lethbridge

Ladies RR
5. Rachel Heal
13. Claire Walmsley

Vets RR
26. David Lethbridge
27. Peter Byrne
28. Dave Parry

That’s it until next year."

Jack McAllister

Club Time Trials

Two more club ‘10’s were held over the past month. On the 8th of June, Steve Cummings took the honours with a time of 21-31, whilst on the 22nd, John Moore won with a 22-22.

The Podium – 8th June

Handicap

The Podium – 22nd June

Handicap

Unfortunately, the club’s open ‘25’ had to be cancelled. At the closing date for entries, organiser John Burgess had only received a handful of entries, and so decided that the race would not be viable. The reason was undoubtedly the new, slower, course. John is hopeful of getting an alternative course for next year.

China Bike Ride

Firstly, an apology, as this item should have appeared last month, but, due to an oversight on my part, it didn’t. Pete Seeger, a recently-joined North Ender, completed Mencap’s China Bike Ride last month. He joined 94 other cyclists from across the UK in a 270 mile ride over 5 days, starting at the Great Wall of China and finishing in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. He had to pledge to raise a minimum of £2,500 in sponsorship to be allowed to compete. If any club member would like to contribute, albeit retrospectively, then see Pete, either at club nights or at the Mills. He really would appreciate your help.

Press Secretary update

Doug Phillips, our globe-trotting press secretary, is continuing his ‘perpetual summer’ having returned from six months in Australia to resume his duties informing the world of our exploits. He asks that anyone wanting a result to be published in the Liverpool Echo should ring him on 648-9313 before 6pm on Sunday night. For the following week’s Wirral Globe they should submit brief details in writing to 3 Northridge Road, Pensby, CH61 8RH.

Help for Flintshire

Dave Parry is asking for assistance from anyone able to help devise the route for this year’s Flintshire Challenge rides in October. Both on- and off-road courses are planned. If you can lend any knowledge of the roads, lanes, tracks, mudbaths or sheep-dips in the area around Mold or Moel Fameau, then contact Dave at The Bike Factory.

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