Raid Pyrenees.

RAID PYRENEES

so a little French adventure Just two days after the Anfield 100, 2 idiots (sadly our right hand woman, and overall planner Hannah Sammut was unable to join us),  2 bikes (Boris and Holla) a fair bit of luggage even though I swear we packed light and off we went. 

The Plan:

Various Trains to Biarritz, on the south-west coast of France, then ride all the way across the biggie's of the Pyrenees to Perpignan. on the east coast. The route was the classic raid Pyrenees we had 3 maps,  a route clearly marked out and a variety of hotels booked or sort of booked or

sort of with the intent of winging it; much to Paul Davies dismay and firm words.

Our first challenge was getting the bikes and luggage on the Metro from one Paris train station to another. This, we both agreed turned out to be a much bigger challenge than riding the 100 in the pissing rain. But we managed, with minutes to spare and very red faces.  The next challenge was waiting for us in Biarritz, where we failed to check into our hotel  (see Paul it doesn't pay to book ahead) due to a hotelier who didn't want us to stay as it meant letting us in so, he decided to just not answer his phone ............

..alternative accommodation was found and vodka consumed!

Day 1:  dash for the coast …....but first to the post office to send our bike bags to Perpignan, the plan to avoid having to haul them across the mountains. Unlucky as we were, it was a national holiday.    After parting with a considerable amount of cash in order to convince the nice lady in the hotel, to send the parcel for us the next day, FINGERS CROSSED! we departed.  A flat and uneventful 82 miles on main roads later and our greeting was a well planned affair, in a town that had fully embraced the national holiday. So there was no place to eat and in fact no people to speak of. Never fear leffe and picnic tea in the hotel car park worked out just fine.

Day2, ...blinded by the unknown, we reached the mountains and started up Col de Marie Blanque a cheeky little number. On the top it was all available layers on and quickly down. Little did we know this was to be the pattern of all our summits, with the weather getting progressively worse. Next up was the Col d’Aubisque, nice climb, lots of wiggles in the road and massive bikes to greet us on the top: qué photos!



Massive bikes and the official top!



We finished our up-hills for the day with Col de Soulan where we rewarded ourselves with crepes in the café, covering around 65 miles. By this point several sightings of a Dutch and an Italian couple both riding with even more baggage than we, had given us marginal confidence that you can go up hill with your worldly (all essential I assure you) goods attached to your backside.

   

Day 3 would take us over the Col de Tourmalet, the massive one, and the Col d’Aspin. Reaching the foot of the Col, after steaming past a few ‘all the gear no idea riders’, we caught up with a group of Spanish riders. Claudia’s translation of their conversations went something along the lines of, them at first laughing at us then our bags, but soon not so funny as they were rather surprised to find us riding through them, and took a picture for their club album as evidence of their humiliation (lucky for you we were in century colours bringing fame to us all).

At that point it started to rain, not too heavy, but nonetheless by the time we'd reached the top we were soaked through and freezing. Quick pic by the summit along with the whole of cycling France and into the café for the best custard cake ever. 10 out of 10. 



the top!               Rain, snow and mist!




Hannah made friends with a nice Dutch man who amongst admiring her bike, decided to inform us of just how horrific the decent was going be, meanwhile in the background Claudi had a small break down, the air turned blue and I feared for the safety of anyone French.......hilarious.  So off we went....with, get this newspapers down our front yes yes yes we went trad.   …....did it work NO.  By this point we where shivering so much it was hard to just roll down hill together with the tidal wave caused by the extreme weather conditions...........shelter was sought and as many wet clothes where removed and replaces as possible to do the final down-hill. At the bottom immediate shelter was sought much to the dismay of the hotelier who then had 4 gallons of water on her restaurant floor when the pair of us walked in!

We had a couple of recovery coffees, and as the rain had stopped, decided to carry on. So with a gap in the weather we nailed the second Col and made it to our destination PHEW!

This turned out to be another deserted ski resort where much to Claudi's disappointment we couldn't even get “f**king pasta for tea!”

To cut a long story short: from then on, we tried to be on the road at 7.30 every morning to escape the rain (thanks to our weather frog, Paul).

Day 4 brought 3 Cols but, these paled into insignificance after the biggie's, even though our breakfast stop turned out to be a very disappointing share of 1 banana and a few hunks of stinky cheese.....no bread to speak of …


Breakfast by the homeland!



…....... but with more assurance of our abilities (not the breakfast kind, but the ride ability kind) at the end of the day we headed to the square and got stuck into the wine and chips, known locally I believe as Pommes Frittes. Day’s mileage: 81m.

Day 5   Half day today, our free styling with the accommodation had paid off.

By this point, we were surprised how few people we had come by, well today we were to meet an interesting man ...claiming to be a masseuse. Stalker in reality as not only did he invite himself to the bread and cheese breakfast on the steps outside a nice little Boulangerie in Massat, but he then drove along side us on the climb to make sure we knew he would be waiting on the top to give us some massage oils! His number and business card ....like we would phone him later that day... we did NOT! Thats Claudi's legs getting us in trouble again.

Instead we were off to the thermal baths of Ax en Thermes, sloshing about in bubbly water, then frying ourselves in the steam rooms. Finished the day on a high with a fish tank of Leffe each whilst the bar man told us this was officially the worst weather in 7 years. Strongly agree.



Large Leffe, and our hotel receptionist!



Day 6 ...and Claudia ran a little workshop to teach Hannah how to replace brake pads. I'm not proud of the fact that I have not undertaken this chore before!.................and again we were off! Up the Col de Puymorens, all a bit much like cycling up a Motorway! Not the most enjoyable climb for this reason, but awaiting us down the other side was a croquet monsieur for Claudi and a yard of cheese baguette for Hannah. And then the rain was back ….........took action and spent half an hour hiding under a porch with no room for the Boris and Holla.

Then we decided to make a dart for the last uphill. All was well till we turned the corner to descend and we entered a visual disability. This turned into torrential rain.....once again shelter sought and many coffees drunk; Claudi spent some time with the hand dryer in the ladies toilets. What would have been the most beautiful decent of all the cols was not to be seen sadly!



visual disability approaching!



Day 7....easy roll towards the coast, to Perpignan, the final stop; arriving by breakfast as we didn't think to break the early start habit. Our journey was complete apart from a small dash down the coast for a few beers on the beach and a swim in the sea. Unfortunately the bike bags didn't quite make it. So bed sheets where purchased, and apart from a small discussion with Euro star personnel, disguised our bikes sufficiently to get us home. Claudi still isn't keen on the French though.....that's not going to change. Hannah l'mac, does like the French.....................wine!

In summary

            Cols conquered:          All

            Total mileage: 479

            Number of flats:          0 (statistics took a turn on our return and a 9 punctures reward went to Hannah)

            Major mechanicals:     0

            Grams of sun cream used: 0.5 (mistaken for moisturiser)

            Accidental damages: 

·         one run over bike computer.

·         one treasured pair of flip flops saw their last day.

            Missing parcels:           1

            Tan lines:                     0, not even a hint, not even a freckle

This trip was powered by baguette and cheese, in collaboration with Leffe...and wine.

Fresh Start..Mike Gregg

Alrite Century!
Well alot has happened since my last post. I have moved into to my new accomodation in Aarschot and share an appartment with Macca's team mate Andy Fenn who is a fast boy! my new place is good and am enjoying the luxury of having a television for the first time since March! also there is an xbox which keeps me entertained on easy days!...Living in Aarschot has alot of benefits such as being close to Eric And Daniella's cafe which is ironically callled the ' Century '..the cafe is filled with cycling photos of the brits(even one of me :) )Matt Bram's irish champs jersey and also macca's Anpost jersey along with other national teams who have visited, Hiding in the corner is a Liverpool Century Jersey which in my eyes is the best of em all!...


Back to racing anyway!.....since i have moved out and made a new start i have also joined a new team. The team is called Van Goethem-Prorace cycling team. the team is a better standard and takes part in bigger races. Also the manager is more committed to the team and is at the majority of racing handing bottles and helping us. I have a new team bike which is pretty cool. a pro race frame :) yes the steerer looks high! but i have a certain geometry now of my bike and i wanted to keep it the same as my old bike!
My first race for the team was a kermesse at Linden near the city of Leuven. It was a hard circuit with a pretty tough climb every lap... It was a war of attrition and every lap riders were getting shelled. I managed to cling on to the the remains of the bunch and there was around 30 riders remaining .. i reckon i was on for about 15th place and had half a lap to go when i took a corner and then my back end slid out and i just managed to get it back upright and i looked down and i had punctured! I was pretty gutted but took the positives out of it that my legs were gettin stronger....other races i have been doing have been all located around the Tienen area and i seem to be coming 30th alot for some reason! i can feel that i am getting stronger and i am alot happier where i am situated!

I hope everything is going ok! wasn't such a long blog but i feel like i crammed alot into it! haha
keep riding!
Mike Gregg

Total domination - Matt Brammeier does the double

Thanks to Duff for the heads up on the Irish Cycling video.

New video of race and interview with matt

There is an excellent race summary here at Irish Cycling with some great pictures.



Matt wins by a country millimetre


Here are some quotes from Matt;

“I felt pretty good all day, really. I tried to do as little work, as little watts as I could all day, and save it all for that last lap up the climb,” said Brammeier.

He said that riding the time trial on Friday took a lot out of him and mean that he wasn’t fresh coming into the race. “Yesterday I was really tired all day because I had a really bad night’s sleep on Friday. I am still a little bit tired but I had enough in the tank. This is pretty special.”

I will add that there is evidence in the report that Andy Bennett must have been coaching Matt;

'Brammeier had been missing turns and this led to some tension in the group'

Matt and Derek line up

Derek Finnegan also raced in both events but a crash in the time trial in heavy rain lost Derek time and then affected him in the road race. It was only a top 30 finish in the road race for Derek, 'only' being something most amateur riders would aspire to.

What a HERO!

Matt is in a select group of riders to win both national honours this year.
Below is a summary of the results;

Irish time trial championships, Emyvale:

1, Matt Brammeier (HTC Highroad) 40 kilometres in 50 mins 15 secs
2, David McCann (Giant Kenda) 50 mins 21 secs
3, Michael Hutchinson (In Gear Quick Vit UK) 50 mins 29 secs
4, Sean Downey (Cotes d’Armour) 51 mins 13 secs
5, Martyn (Irvine (Giant Kenda Pro Cycling) 51 mins 18 secs
6, Damien Shaw (Mullingar) 51 mins 43 secs

Irish road race championships, Elite men:

1, Matt Brammeier (HTC Highroad) 4 hours 1 min 30 secs
2, Dan Martin (Garmin-Cervélo) same time
3, David McCann (Giant Kenda) at 18 secs
4, Nicolas Roche (Ag2r La Mondiale) at 21 secs
5, Sam Bennett (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) at 28 secs
6, Ronan McLaughlin (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) at 1 minute 51 secs
7, Philip Lavery (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) same time
8, Martyn Irvine (Giant Kenda) at 2 mins 39 secs
9, Peter Hawkins (Morsele) at 4 mins 47 secs
10, Mark Cassidy (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) at 4 mins 49 secs
11, Sean Lacey (The Edge) at 4 mins 54 secs
12, Colm Cassidy (UCD)
13, Fiachra O’Muire (Team Dectek Dunboye Clonee CC) both same time
14, Keith Gater (Waterford CC) at 5 mins 10 secs
15, Connor McConvey (XMTB) at 5 mins 45 secs

Oulton Park Round 3

The final night in the Oulton Park series was played out yesterday evening in the same furious fashion that we have all come accustomed to over the past 3 weeks.

Proceedings started with me doing a unprepared attack from the gun which ended in Ryan Mullen jumping to me and then very quickly dropping me in the space of a few hundred metres. It was my own fault as my legs just weren't ready and had no chance of getting on Ryan's wheel and that was it...away he went and was never seen again, eventually winning the race from a small group who had joined him later in the race.

The break that joined Ryan jumped very early as well and a tactical disaster ended up with no Century riders being present. A few of us tried in vain to bridge the gap but to no avail, the wind on the top side of the course was too strong for riders in 2's or 3's to get across the ever widening gap (they lapped the second race!).

After futile and wasted attempts from a few of us we knuckled down to dragging some of the stragglers from the early break away and with 4 laps to go the Century train worked hard as possible to cut the deficit. Tim and Ritchie did a great effort on the final lap but tactics misfired again and the hard work of the previous 4 laps was wasted. Sean managed to get 2nd in the bunch gallop, but the rest of our legs were tired from the wasted lead out train.

The other races featured Hannah McDonald (doing her first race), Claudia WITZIG, Peter Grace, Ian Kendal, Simon Higgins, Paul Davies, Duff Fawcett, Steve Webster, Paul Grindley, Vince Bennett. Our race had Tim, Ritche, Andy, Sean, Danny, Aki, Phil and Graeme.

Sorry for the lack of detail in the other races as they start and finish as we are racing.

Oh and Life member Andy Bennett formerly World Firefighter Road Race Champion won the middle age mans race! Chapeau Andy!

Oulton Park Round 2

Oulton park races always prove to increase in quality and racing as the series progress and last night was no exception. It is becoming a fanscinating battle between the teams with strong riders from Maxgear, St.Helens RC, Team Elite and Team Mullen (One man army) and Liverpool Century.

The first 3 laps were subdued but it didn't take long for a break to form. Tim Brammeier asked me to lead him to the front as we hit the start/finish line, as we were moving up the the front an attack went off and Tim was perfectly placed to jump in with Sean Hughes in tow. This break massed to about 10 riders and myself and 2 Maxgear lads sat on the front as all the main players had riders in the break. But the break wouldn't work together and it wasn't long till the bunch swallowed them back up.

One of my ill fated breaks with the winner Ryan Mullen on my wheel

I was doing the job for the Century of policing any breaks and trying to get in them. I got into the first break with Ryan Mullen and 4 others, but this was shortlived. A few other breaks got away but without of of the teams riders in it, so they were no danger and were pulled back in each time. As we neared the last few remaining laps the pace increased significantly as the teams repeadtedly attacked and a significant crash on the start/finish line saw a brief split in the field helping a break form with the strong riders present, unfortunately no Century riders were in it. Tim suffered in this crash as one of the fallen riders caught his rear wheel and wrecked it. This was the danger point as 8 riders were away but somehow it didn't stick and as we caught them Ryan jumped away and I rolled past the leaders and onto his wheel to be joined by Dan Whelan and John Rigby plus a Wrexham rider. But once again this break was caught and it was all back together with 2 laps to go. So it was all going to be decided on a bunch sprint.

The pace was pretty fast and it was all the familiar faces at the front and as the bunch swelled and thinned as the pace slightly changed, the tension built as everyboy is looking left and right for the attack. But it was a straight forward assault and it was a battle of the strongest legs....Ryan Mullens legs. He powered away to take the bunch gallop, followed by Mike Rawson, John Rigby with Sean in 6th and myself in 8th or 9th??

Ryan Mullen powers to the win

Phil Garton-Pope showed himself to be a strong rider again and did his fair share of work following and chasing. Andy Brookfield and John Aktinson both stuck in and worked hard to finish.



Andy Bennett off the front



Martin Moore  looking comfortable

In the other races Claudia Witzig finished her first outing at Oulton Park and was only 10m from getting a win before the bunch stormed past...a feeling many of us know well. Martin Moore and Peter Grace both were racing but I didn't catch there results. In the final race Vince Bennett finished top 10 with a strong kick. Century Life members Andy Bennett and Duff Fawcett also raced and I am yet to find out where they ended up!

Aki, Phil and Andy

All in all some great, fun racing

Litherland Circuit League - Race 9 THE VIDEO

Bob Swailes Road Race

Derek Finnegan continued his strong run of results with a 4th place in the Bob Swailes road race on the Old Hutton course.

This course is very testing and on the first 2 laps at least 20 riders had been dropped, including myself. I'd started not 100% fit and as I was to find out that on this course that is a non-starter. Sean Hughes also travelled up with us and was riding well until his rear mech got hit his spokes and slipped his chain forcing him to retire from the race. So all our eggs were in the Finnegan basket and the man of the RAS didn't disappoint.

The course itself consists of a very long climb from the base of the course, stepping up all the way to the finish line, with a slight descent in between to award you with another climb up tot the finish. From here the course rolls out to a very tight 180 bend back onto the return side of the course. This is where it gets tough, this road is lumpy and very fast. The long climb to the finish is measured and controlled at odds with this leg of the course, here is where the strong lift the pace, it is narrow and lines out very quickly after the corner almost with no respite till the course turns back to the climb. It is beautiful countryside this is only afforded to those dropped as when your in the action there is no time to look around.

Derek had survived the wearing process and with 3 laps to go a young Durham Uni rider had got away and was only caught on the next lap, so there was a group of 4 then 5 then the chasing group. On the last lap Derek was in the last group and bravely jumped on the hard part of the course up to the 5, this group strung together and started to chase the break of 4, who risked it all by starting to play around on the final climb, within a mile of the line. And play around they did allowing the 5 to catch them, from here it was a dash to the line in a thrilling uphill sprint. From where we stood you could just make out the Century top of Derek in the front group, but it wasn't to be a Wheelbase rider had pitched his sprint just right but Derek didn't give up and snatched 4th on the line.

Hat's off to all the riders finishing this race, luckily from all the rain started the minute they crossed the line.

Full results and a video of the finis to follow

Oulton Park Round 1

Greame, Steve, Cozzy, Tim, Andy, Me, Ritche, Dean, Sean, Andy, Phil and Vince somewhere

A good selection of riders made it to the first round of the TLI Oulton Park series, with tactics in hand we rolled off into the motorbike circuit.

Attacks started from the gun with Paul Bethell and Ryan Mullen striking out alone for the first lap, this was evident as they balanced clipped in at the start line. From here the race followed a pattern we all know well, break after break went away and was pulled back. I managed to get away 4 times but each attempt was failed as was Ritchie, Sean, Phil and Dean's efforts. Tim did a great job of policing from the front and as the race entered the final phase Bethell and Mullen attacked and this time it stuck. I had been following Paul's wheel but within a blink of an eye he was 4 bikes in front and I was blocked in and away they went. I attempted to jump to them but the gap was too large and I sat up and waited for the bunch. Annoyingly a second break of 4-5 riders got away and a prolonged effort from the St Helen's and Maxgear boys didn't bring it back. So it was now time for a bunch sprint and the plan was to have we 4 man lead out, so Tim, Sean, Ritche and myself stayed in the the top 10 for the last 4 laps and closed down any attempts to break away. As we entered the straight after the hairpin Sean had to use up his position to chase down an attack, then I had to go early and ended my turn on the climb leaving Ritche and Tim to have a crack, this ended in them getting about 6th in the bunch sprint.

A quick note to say that this was Graeme's first 'big race' and he finished well in the bunch, still time to sign for HTC then.

So next week more attacks and a better lead out train. All good practice.

Enter the Road Men by Callum Gough

In the early 70s the Liverpool Century Road Club was mainly a long distance Time Trialing club with a sprinkling of roadies riding local races, however these “testers” were not the pointy hat brigade you see today, they were a bunch of hard men in woolly jumpers and plus fours built on a long established Centurian foundation of long endurance miles in all weathers on fixed and variable gears fuelled by jam butties and pints of tea.. The divisive split in cycling’s governing bodies between the men of “the Union” and “the League" over road racing on the open road was finally fading helped in no small part by Geoff Bewley et al efforts to form the British Cycling Federation. Clubs like the Liverpool Mercury, Port Sunlight, and Kirkby cc were already established as “road clubs” since the sixties but clubs like the Century, Mersey Roads and Merseyside Wheelers retained time trialing at its core...  

 

John Hughes with Geof Bewley

 But change was happening and starting to be chiseled out of this tough Century school was a new breed of Century roadmen.  This new breed was fueled by magazines a plenty like International Cycle Sport and “the comic”  telling courageous stories of British roadmen tackling the continental greats. The Century men making this conversion had one big advantage, the runs they had been brought up on were ideal for breeding roadmen. Long winter miles spent climbing multiple mountain passes in North Wales and crazy Youth Hostelling weekends bred hard men capable of enduring road and stage races at the highest level. At the end of the winter these winter runs culminated in a series of “speed runs” or “car runs” as they were known in them days (This was usually Geoff Bewley or another club stalwart driving a car behind the bunch to pick up the dead and dying!!!) . These runs fine tuned these guys ready for the early classics such as the Circuit of Ashurst, Grand Prix of Essex, Essex Trophy and Archer Grand Prix. Stories of escapades in such events kept us fueled in the winter and for the winners proved to be entry tickets for a succession of North West roadmen into the tough world of Continental racing. Names such as Graham Jones, Paul Sherwen, John Herety, John Parker, Bill Nickson, and Dave Lloyd were early benchmarks for our young Centurians. Other clubs such as the East Liverpool Wheelers and Mersey Roads also started to breed roadmen.  Like today the “pure racing clubs” existed such as the Liverpool Mercury and Kirkby cc and they would poach riders and then the great performance coaches such as Eddie Soens and Doug Daily would put the final polish to some of these chiseled Centurians.... Riders of the calibre of Dave Lloyd (TI Raleigh professional) , Kevin Apter (British Road Champion) came through this tough Century school and went on to join other “finishing schools”  and were part of the early shoots of roadies.



Steve Douglas



At the same time Bill Nickson Milk race winner was emerging from the East Liverpool Wheelers and regularly trained with the Century, some of his team mates including Steve Douglas , Roger Gardiner and John Gilmore defected to the Century as our road credentials became more and more established and our runs became legendary.. Some of the characters to emerge from this school in the mid 70s are legends in Liverpool Century bike folklore... Geoff Taylor an ex junior sprint champion in his youth returned to the sport and brought his tough no nonsense style to these early days. As a club captain he was fearsome and rode up and down the bunch policing the ride, he could walk the talk as well as winner of the Lincoln Grand Prix and GB rider in the Tour of Slovakia, Tour of Bohemia and the hardest amateur race in the world the Peace race or Warsaw Berlin Prague as it was also known.  If Geoff decided that all winter we would ride single freewheel then that is what we did and no arguments. He was an awesome sprinter and was feared by the best sprinters in the country.  Steve Douglas was also a sprinter but could hold his own on the climbs as well and proof of this was his three stage wins in the Ras de Cymru over some of the toughest climbs in South Wales. Steve also won the Galena Two day in Bristol and the Heineken Grand prix amongst his many wins. Steve rode the Milk race in 1978 and such was his toughness he finished the two week event despite illness that had the following ambulance crew begging him to retire.  



John Spencer (R)

 Accompanying Steve in the Milk Race was John Spencer who that year was on a real purple patch having won the Merseyside Champs with a lone break over the Bwlch (scene of many a speed run) dropping the who’s who of North West Cycling on the way. John was also a sprinter and won many races including the Stafford Grand Prix and stages of the Tour of the Kingdom. Joining this threesome to form what became known as the “FAB FOUR” was a young man from a tough environment in Toxteth called Dave Grindley.

Dave was from the beginning something special; on those long arduous runs Dave clung on to the established riders and sat listening to stories in the Eureka Café over and over again about racing and feats of bravery.

As a junior he was soon into his stride and was winning races in the classic style…alone... Dave’s thirst for victory and knowledge meant he was a great addition to the team and was not just a winner but also a great teammate, chasing breaks down and driving himself into the ground for the team This devotion to the team paid dividends as he moved into the senior classes as the bridesmaid became the bride, Dave went on to do some great rides winning the 9 day Tour of Ireland against a class field with one team mate for company (me). He rode for GB in the Tour of Sweden, Sea link stage race and other events. Dave famously dropped Stephen Roche in the Tour of the Cotswold’s in a 110K lone break only being caught and finishing 6^th because of a back injury that was to plague his career. Dave won countless races both hilly and flat, single day and stage race and eventually followed me to Belgium were he became a successful Kermesse rider. Dave’s back injury limited his ability to move into the professional class as anything over 80 miles was a struggle, who knows if he had not  done his back  snapping a crank at the Easter 4 day what this man was capable of.  Dave still lives in Oudenaarde Belgium.

Those winter runs became breeding grounds for more roadies and riders like John Gilmore ,Chris Nowel, Micky “go fast” Stephens ,Roger “Mr Neutron” Gardiner, Steve Goff (The Black Knight) were all 1^st category riders able to match and on there day beat the riders in the FAB FOUR  although none of them had the sustained commitment to compete at the highest level week after week. Other riders like Pete Grace (fearsome descender), Brian Nener etc never reached the giddy heights but played there part on those long winter rides in the formation of the character of many of these young roadmen like Grindley.   



Terry Giblin (L) & Duff Fawcett (R)



I came through just after Dave Grindley and was blooded in the same Geoff Taylor school of hard men together with Dave’s brother Paul (still racing today), Paul Maxwell (RIP), Paul Davies, Terry Giblin, Mick Yorke and Paul MacBride all of whom won many races between them including Junior Tours of Ireland stages and eventually Terry Giblin riding the famous Ras Taltain stage race in Ireland, Terry along with Duff were pillars in the establishment and captaincy of the next building block of Centurians. As an out an out climber I brought another dimension to the FAB 4  and we were able to combine effectively especially in stage races to take on the opposition in any terrain. Grindley and I especially were able to carve out wins between us, I also raced in Belgium placed in Premier events and won many hill climbs including a medal in the National Champs on the Horseshoe Pass  and was nicknamed the “La puce rose or pink flea” by the French after winning the Col De Aspin stage of the Tour Des Haute Pyrenees .

Mark “Wezzo” Westwood joined the club from the Mersey Roads and quickly set the scene alight, winning many races at a young age and often alone he was the new star on the block, at 19 he won the biggest single day race of the year in Ireland the Centenary Classic and went on to score countless other wins including rides in the Ras Taltain. Mark had a successful spell in France and eventually joined Dave Grindley in Belgium. The two of them formed a fearsome partnership against the Belgian mafia in the cut throat arena of Kermesse racing. The riders they rode and often beat went on to be professionals and had Mark not decided to call it quits at this early point in his career again who knows.



WEZZO (R)

Many other riders followed on the heels of these Centurians and the winter runs were added to with riders from Manx clubs who we always helped . Riders like “ the pocket rocket” Steve Joughin prolific sprinter and winner of many amateur and professional races , Mike Doyle another Manxman who eventually turned pro, these guys became part of our gang and trained with the Century all year, Duff Fawcett joined from the Mersey roads and soon became a natural Captain of the club, for all his madness Duff and Terry Giblin led the club through the next phase and led the new gang in the best Taylorist traditions through into the late eighties.



Andy Bennett



Like Taylor before him Duff inspired many a champion with his tough school of riding and still does. At this same time more Roadies, appeared, Andy Bennet World Fireman’s Champion , Andy Mills a prolific sprinter and winner of many races through a long career including stage races and single day races. At the cross over between Taylor and Fawcett captaincy probably one of the best riders the Century ever produced John Yogi Hughes appeared from the Century academy. John took to the Taylor/Fawcett school like a duck to water, made of Iron this young man was Merseyside and eventually National Champion at Schoolboy Junior and senior level.

 

JOHN HUGHES

John after a successful amateur career including winning major stage races in France and Belgium turned professional and rode the DuPont Tour and other big races. John (like Matt Brammeier) later always kept his links with the Century even when he joined other “finishing schools” .It was no surprise when after he won the national champs that he surrounded himself with his old club mates that night in the Big House on Smithdown Road. A shout went up to join him and the jungle drums brought men from all over in whatever they were standing in to toast his victory. This was the spirit that made this club great, the spirit of camaraderie and integrity that goes with people driving for the same goals and part of a single train that rode together through the winter and shared colds and frostbite... Some of us achieved our goals, some of us went down in glorious failure, some of us shared in the glory of others by bringing breaks back, leading out or helping from the side. Men like Geoff Bewley, George Darlington, Ray Myers., Rob Plevin., Harry Wilcox, Sid Mills to name but a few of many providing a never ending support crew giving up weekends for snotty nosed youngsters ,fixing bikes and putting legs back together. That same spirit exists now and the story continues from those days to more modern times with Matt Brammeier, Mark McNally, Richie Bowen, Chris Penketh ,Jonny McEvoy  etc all with great rides and stories under the Century banner. Long may it continue.

STEVE JOUGHIN

Callum Gough

Life member Liverpool Century Road Club



La Puce Rose in action





BRIAN ROONEY 2011 04/06/2011 14.00 Course D10/1

BRIAN ROONEY 2011 04/06/2011 14.00 Course D10/1

STD TIME
No NAME   CLUB   AGE VET STD TIME STD TIME
1 SIMON RUSHTON  PHOENIX CC  38 SNR 20.49 NA
2 WARREN GELL  COVERYOURCAR   32 SNR 21.06 NA
3 ANDREW WALSH  BIRKENHEAD NECC  37 SNR 21.19 NA
4 PETER WARE  ST HELENS CRC  36 SNR 21.57 NA
5 ANDY BENNETT  ONIMPEX / BIORACER 44A 26.18 21.58 +4.20
6 PAUL GRINDLEY  LIVERPOOL CENTURY RC 48A 27.07 22.05 +5.02
7 FRASER SNAPE  NORTH LANCASHIRE RC 43A 26.06 22.06 +4.00
8 IAN COX   NORTH LANCASHIRE RC 41A 25.42 22.08 +3.34
9 MARC ISHERWOOD  WEST PENNINE RC  27 SNR 22.11 NA
10 ARTHUR WINSTANLEY PHOENIX CC  54B 28.25 22.32 +5.53
11 CRAIG LAWLOR  FIBRAX WREXHAM RC 42A 25.54 23.02 +2.52 
12 RICHARD BOWDEN  LIVERPOOL CENTURY RC 25 SNR 23.13 NA
13 GILES PERKINS  NORTH CHESHIRE CLARION 43A 26.06 23.24 +2.42
14 PETER CROFTS  SOUTHBOROUGH + DIST WH 72C 32.46 23.32 +9.14
15 PAUL WASHINGTON  LIVERPOOL CENTURY RC 49A 27.02 23.46 +3.16
16 ALISTAIR STANWAY WEAVER VALLEY CC 43A 26.06 23.46 +2.20
17 GEORGE ALDRIDGE  BIRKENHEAD NECC  59B 29.34 24.01 +5.33
18 SAM TURTON  LIVERPOOL MERCURY 14 JUV 24.05 NA
19 STEPHEN GLENWRIGHT VTTA MERSEYSIDE  48A 27.07 24.06 +3.01
20 TIM BRAMMEIER  LIVERPOOL CENTURY RC 27 SNR 24.07 NA
21 JOHN CHESHIRE  ST HELENS CRC  48A 27.07 24.10 +2.57
22 PHILIP GARTON-POPE LIVERPOOL CENTURY RC 38 SNR 24.15 NA
23 MIKE FUGACCIA  LIVERPOOL CENTURY RC 37 SNR 24.15 NA
24 ANDY RUBIO  MANCHESTER WHEELERS 48A 27.07 24.24 +2.43
25 JOE ROBERTS  LIVERPOOL CENTURY RC 33 SNR 24.31 NA
26 PAUL DAVIES  LIVERPOOL CENTURY RC 49A 27.20 24.42 +2.38
27 TONY WESTON  LIVERPOOL CENTURY RC 47A 26.54 24.46 +2.08
28 MIKE WILSON    WARRINGTON RC  53B 28.12 24.47 +3.25
29 WILLIAM FAIRCLOUGH ST HELENS CRC  52B 27.59 24.54 +3.05
30 BILL LLOYD  SOUTHPORT CC  72C 32.46 25.09 +7.37
31 JOE CURRAN  NORTH LANCASHIRE RC 48A 27.07 25.13 +1.54
32 DAVID BALSHAW  CLEVELEYS RC  53B 28.12 25.18 +2.54
33 SIMON HIGGINS  LIVERPOOL CENTURY RC 51B 27.46 25.26 +2.20
34 ANDY WHITEHEAD  SEAMONS CC  48A 27.07 25.30 +1.37
35 DEREK UNSWORTH  SOUTHPORT CC  69C 32.00 25.30 +6.30      
36  ROBERT HORNSBY  WESTERLEY CC  69C 32.00 25.38 +6.22
37 STEPHEN LONGDON  STRETFORD WHLS CC 56B 28.52 26.14 +2.38
38 WILLIAM MORRIS  ABC CENTERVILLE  20 SNR 26.22 NA
39 JOHN DRAKE  ABC CENTERVILLE  51B 27.46 26.28 +1.18
40 PETER CRUTCHLEY  PORT SUNLIGHT WHLS 69C 32.00 26.31 +5.29
41 JULIE HARRISON  ASHURST BIKE CLUB 48A LDY  28.52 26.46 +2.06
42 DAVE LARGE  BIRKENHEAD NECC  59B 29.34 26.59 +2.35
43 MICHAEL ARMSTRONG LIVERPOOL CENTURY RC 54B 28.25 27.10 +1.15
44 TREVOR BRACEGIRDLE STRETFORD WHLS CC 72C 32.46 27.10 +5.36
45 MICK STANDRING  WEST PENNINE CC  64C 30.45 27.14 +3.31
46 HANNAH SAMMUT  LIVERPOOL CENTURY RC 31 LDY 27.15 NA
47 GRAEME FUGACCIA  LIVERPOOL CENTURY RC 37 SNR 27.20 NA
48 IAN BILLINGTON  ANFIELD BC  39 SNR 27.30 NA
49 JOHN BURSTON  ABC CENTERVILLE  66C 31.15 27.41 +3.34
50 ANDREW BRAMHALL  MANCHESTER WHEELERS 36 SNR 27.44 NA
51 HEATHER BAMFORTH VC ST RAPHAEL  32 LDY 28.11 NA
52 PETER KNOTT  RIBBLE VALLY CRC 74C 33.18 28.23 +4.55
53 HERBIE ROBERTS  RHOS ON SEA CC  73C 33.02 28.24 +4.38
54 ALAN SHUTTLEWORTH ALTRINCHAM RC  64C 30.45 28.37 +2.08
55 REBECCA KOSS  LIVERPOOL CENTURY RC 33 LDY 29.08 NA
56 BEN GRIFFITHS  ANFIELD BC  77C 34.06 29.11 +4.55
57 CYRIL WYNNE  STRETFORD WHLS CC 81C 35.12 29.23 +5.49
58 PETE BOOTH  RHOS ON SEA CC  68C 31.45 29.37 +2.08
59 TONY LORD  RHOS ON SEA CC  69C 32.00 30.33 +1.27
60 DOUGLAS SHAW  STRETFORD WHLS CC 73C 33.02 34.02 -1.00
61 GRAHAM LAWRENCE  VTTA MANCHESTER & NW 79C 34.38 DNF DNF
62 JOHN McDONALD  BUXTON CC  70C 32.15 DNS DNS
63 DUFF FAWCETT  GB FIRE SERVICE FSSAA 48A 27.07 DNS DNS
64 STEVEN HORROCKS  LANCASHIRE RC  37 SNR DNS DNS
65 PHIL BARNES  LANCASTER CC  56B 28.52 DNS DNS
66 MARK GOODCHILD  NORTH LANCASHIRE RC 46A 26.42 DNS DNS
67 TIM FERGUSON  SPORTCITY VELO  64C 30.45 DNS DNS
68 DAVE ISHERWOOD  TEAM SWIFT  58B 29.20 DNS DNS
69 SEAN HUGHES  TEAM WALLIS  17 JUN DNS DNS

John Boote Memorial RR

SOGGY

This was one wet race with non stop showers for the first half of the 65 mile road race that loops up and over Acton Lane 13 times, just to make sure you that the climb is etched in your legs and mind for a lifetime.

The Weaver Valley organisation was excellent and for what where busy roads the race was run off without incident. Unusually for this event the race was to end in a bunch sprint, but some very promising breaks almost stayed away but ultimately were reeled back in. Derek made it into several breaks, not bad going for a man just back from the RAS. He does make it look effortless....something I'm sure it isn't.

Stephen Maxwell (2nd claim member) also had an active ride and got into a break himself. Cormac was active as well but kept missing the moves. I never had the pace to get to the front and break, it was hard enough hanging in as the strong men kept driving us up and over the climb, with the 'post climb' stretch at times unbearable as the pace was upped to drop the weaker riders. Sean Hughes came a cropper on the 2nd lap as himself and Paul Bethell broke away, Bethell came down at the top of the climb and Sean rode over him and fell. Luckily Sean was back up and on in seconds but with gear problems stopping him get into his 14/15. Plenty of spinning for Sean!

So as we passed for the last lap everybody was back together apart from 2 riders who broke away just near the end, for them this endeavour was almost successful, but the bunch just caught them on the line and a 1st place became a 2nd.

Strong final digs from Steve and Derek secured them a top 10, with Steve finishing an excellent 3rd and Derek 5th or 6th (I forget but will confirm). Sean, Cormac and myself finished somewhere between 20-30 we think....it's hard to tell.

So all in all a good days racing.

Next year beckons already

Davies is back to winings ways, watch out Malc

TLI, Lower Withington

Photograph by Ed Rollason Photography

www.edrollasonphotography.co.uk 

6 laps, main split occurred after 2 laps, about 12 in the break, then big purge by the usual suspects (Steve Davies - Bio-Racer etc.) when the 12 became 7 leaving just over half the race left to go. Done my bit working in the break for 90% of the time, so pleased I could see some signs of strength returning, but did miss the occasional turn (though I wasn’t alone on that score) …final mile (long straight) everybody started jockey-ing, I was at the front and kept spinning, looked back and a bit of a gap had developed, so just gradually wound it up, next thing I see the 100 to go flag, couldn’t hear any ‘swoosh’ behind me, so didn’t look back and sprinted for the line  ...and no-one came past!  A bit lucky I guess, but was happy to have got in the break and very confident I’d not have finished 7^th

Miss Dolan was sporting new hoops and I had new silver shoes, which clearly upped my performance  ….but more importantly, it was my last Cat B race, so a nice end to the day. Crossing the line was a very muted and unspectacular affair, so you won’t see that picture on the TLI site! Lol

Race report – Anfield ‘100’- a newbie’s tale by Simon Higgins

The Anfield 100 was held in appalling conditions (rain varying from light to torrential throughout, although little wind) on Bank Holiday Monday, 30^th May. Duff, Hannah Sammut, John Cosgrove and I set off at 4.10 a.m. from Duff’s house for Race HQ, Shawbury Village Hall in darkest Shropshire, arriving just in time for the tentative spots of rain that had fallen up until then to work themselves up into a steady downpour. Here, we met Hannah Macdonald and Claudia, who had stayed in a nearby hotel overnight, which might have been a better preparation. Duff was to act as team driver, masseuse and general dogsbody, chasing around the course with bottles and cryptic shouted advice, and as he drove off to perform these duties, I picked up Hannah Mac’s bike, which had been leaning on the car. I don’t know how much it weighed, but it was heavy. Very heavy.

We rode to the start and exchanged the usual gallows humour about our collective lunacy in deciding to spend a Bank Holiday Monday morning riding 100 miles of A-roads in the pouring rain. Duff took a few commemorative photos, most of which were inevitably rain-smeared.

Of the Century riders, Hannah S was off first, followed by Hannah Mac and Claudia. Characteristically, Hannah Mac remarked that she hoped I wouldn’t depress her by overtaking her too early. ‘No chance!’, I replied (prophetically as it turned out); ‘You’ll never see me again!’.

Then it was my turn. Conscious of the fact that I usually take a long time to get going, I made more of an effort than usual at first, and was heartened to pass four riders in succession before the first roundabout without feeling that I was trying too hard. That was about as good as it got. The rain and cold (8 ˚C? At the end of May?) began to take their toll from about 15 miles; if Cozzy hadn’t lent me a thermal T-shirt before the start, I doubt I’d have finished at all (so thanks Cozzy – it’s been washed, don’t worry).

The course takes the riders North East up the A53, then the A41 up to Prees Heath, and then back again before a little foray further East on the A53 to near Market Drayton. Then it’s back to Shawford, before starting four laps of a loop through Cotwall to Crudgington, and back up the A442 to the now-familiar A53 returning to Shawford.

By the time I started the four laps of loop, I was ready to give up. I was so cold that I could neither change gear (except very clumsily with my palm), nor even, as it turned out, extract a bottle from the carrier without dropping it on the road (I stopped to pick it up). As for locating a snack from my back pocket and opening it… no chance! It sounds ridiculous as I type this, here in the warmth of my office, but it is true. In all, I stopped three times to eat or answer a call of Nature. Still, I was a source of amusement to some – one overtaking rider smiled to see me tear at a Mule Bar wrapper with my teeth while cursing loudly in the pouring rain. Talking to myself was at least some motivation; during the third loop, as I asked myself (out loud) what the flying fandango I was doing here, another overtaking rider with skinsuit and disc wheel was also able to share a good laugh.

That Mule Bar was a life saver– once I finally managed to eat that, I felt a bit better, and with the marshals saying ‘Come on; only one more lap!’, I livened up a little on the final circuit. It wasn’t enough for me to break 5 hours, but I only missed it by a whisker.

I was privileged to be lapped by eventual winner Andy Basson, just as someone stood in the middle of the A442 shouting ‘You’re 3 minutes up on the course record!’ He eventually did 3:41:07, which is amazing considering the conditions. Several other riders, including former multiple winner Andy Wilkinson, gave up in the cold and wet. I see from a scan of the time trialling forum website that one rider (Rhydian Evans) was knocked off by a car that failed to stop, and nevertheless finished, in some pain, in 4:49:39. Subsequently he discovered that he had a broken shoulder. This is clearly a race for hard cases.

The results for the Century riders were recorded as follows: Hannah Macdonald (on her butcher boy’s special; God knows what she’ll do on a carbon bike) 4:57:34, Simon Higgins 5:02:35, Colin Hayes 5:03:23, Hannah Sammut (nursing a virus and a severe case of super-opus medicus) 5:10:32, Mike Armstrong 5:13:24, Claudia Witzig 5:17:28. However, again on the time trialling forum, there is a post saying that Colin Hayes was mixed up with another rider, and actually did 4:19:25 for 13^th place! John Cosgrove did 4:41:25.

Thanks should be recorded to all who helped, particularly Duff, and all the marshals – not a job to relish, standing on a roundabout in the rain for 6 hours. There was even one guy who stood under a bush in the pouring rain on the loneliest part of the course, clapping every passing rider. Thanks also to the ladies serving tea and a wonderful selection of cream cakes afterwards.

I am slowly proceeding from ‘Never again!’ to ‘Next year, I’ll….’.