Hastings & St .Leonards Cycling Club Archive

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Our President’s Opening Run was held at the beginning of March, on a glorious day, which probably encouraged such a large number of members to attend. In fact, the largest club run for several years made its way to Ashburnham, collecting refugees from Eastbourne Rovers en route.

The gathering was enlivened by the sight of Arthur drinking his his after lunch tea from a pint sized earthenware mug, apparently without either sugar or milk. Members who went home in the afternoon were treated to the spectacle of a well-known St. Leonards cycle dealer being unable to repair a puncture in his tyre, and having to substitute a new tube for the punctured one.

The next function which appeared to be attended en masse by the male members of the club (so complained two disgusted females who had bee riding around on their tod all day), was the Fellowship of Kent and Sussex Luncheon.

Cecil’s friends were saddened to hear rumours that the waitress at the George, Cranbrook, has sued him for breach of promise since this lunch.

10 members started out on the 100 in 8 run recently 8 of whom finished, 2 getting mislaid en route when the three tandems decided to have a burn up with a moped on the outward journey. Red Coussens was once again the first finisher, despite being attacked from the rear by a motorist in Sidley, and suffering shock and abrasions.

Meanwhile, amid this frenzy of social activity, our racing men have to been idle. David was a shock winner of our first 25, with a personal best time of 1.5.16. from Bob and Lyn. A week or two later David, Bob and Lyn won the E.S.C.A. Team Time Trial. David then went on to win the Junior 15 with an event record time of 38.42. Clive Davies recorded a time of 40.21 in the same event at his first try at racing. On the same day Jack became the first winner of the new trophy presented for the Rye-Hythe-Rye event. Since then Bob appears to have regained his form with personal bests 25 times of 1.2.29 in the Canterbury 25, and a 50 of 2.12.1 in the KCA event. Lyn and Martin both did personal bests in this latter event, with 2.17.34 and 2.21.21 respectively. In the evening 20 events David has managed a third personal best tome of 25.26. However, Bob is the fastest over this distance at the moment, with a time of 24.18 to his credit. Lyn has been trying hard in these events and has also managed to beat his previous best time.

With the sad thought that the only remaining social events are the Whitsun All Night Run and the Crazy Golf Competition with the Southborough Wheelers, I conclude these notes.

Bacchus.