April 1999

BNE HILLY
All those who rode in last year's Good Friday Hilly '22' were praying that at least this year it wouldn't snow. It was a better morning, although torrential rain and thunderclaps in the hour before the start were enough to make us think, "here we go again". But the rain eased off, and the southerly wind was light, and it was quite pleasant, once you'd finished racing!

The eventual winner was D.Birch of Stourbridge CC, with a time of 47-18. Fastest vet was R.Iddles, also of the Stourbridge, who did 48-31 (which was also third best actual time), and the team award went to the Mid-Shropshire Wheelers. Fastest North Ender was Simon Funnell with 53-11. Fastest junior was our own Dave Lethbridge with 56-15. He also took the award for "fastest in trainers", as he'd forgotten to bring his cycling shoes! They weren't even his: he wore Mike Garner's as he didn't want to get his own ones dirty! Aah!

Pictures from theHilly are on the gallery page.

MARJE MCALLISTER
Marjorie and Jack McAllister are now back in Britain following Marje's accident in Majorca. For those of you who don't know, Marje fell whilst out riding after she touched wheels with Jack and fractured her skull. For obvious reasons they were unable to return home with the rest of the group, and Jack stayed out there as Marje underwent a couple of operations. We all wish her a speedy recovery.

STEVE CUMMINGS
After last month's wonderful win in the Eddie Soens Handicap, just-turned-eighteen Steve Cummings continued his run of excellent results in high-profile events. One week after the race at Aintree, he went into the Mersey Roads 2-day stage race as a marked man, but still managed to take the leader's yellow jersey after the first day's racing, by instigating a break on the second stage. He defended it well in the final stage, before eventually blowing up on the climb of the Nant-y-Garth pass near Ruthin.

And in the following week's Porthole Grand Prix time trial in the Lake District he took third place behind Gethin Butler, breaking junior record into the bargain (one is tempted to say "of course"!). Future editions of the North End might have to have a special "Steve Cummings Results Section." Maybe I should just start photocopying Cycling Weekly!

MAJORCA '99 (& 2000)
A group of 45 North End and Friends spent two weeks in the sunshine some weeks earlier than usual. It was considered to be one of the best holidays of recent years, helped by a change of hotel which was in a better position and much less crowded.

Two weeks on dry roads are great for morale after an English winter! This had been the coldest Majorcan winter for 97 years (global warming?!) and there had been snow on the beaches two weeks before we arrived. The uniform was short-sleeved jersey and shorts, with arm and leg warmers early in the day to fend off the chill winds of the first week. Mileages varied from nil (various camp followers) to 1,027 (Pete Seeger - potential new member). Speed varied from nil (see above) to 20 mph average. The BNE first team did however pass Jan Ullrich on the major climb to Lluc - he was going down with the Telekom junior team and we were going up! Mazzo took the opportunity to point out his Pantani hat.

As well as Marje's accident, other disasters included Iris Barker (Adorior Road Club) who also touched her husband's wheel, crashing into a ditch and discovering two broken ribs on her return home, and Bill Graham (Anfield BC) who was hit by a BMW while on foot shopping for his booze to take home. Bill came to in the arms of a beautiful blonde Swedish girl - the driver - who nursed him until the ambulance arrived, wrote him a love letter, and urged him to come back to visit her bar in Pollensa! Bill thought he had died and gone to heaven!

The "leaving do" cleared 21 bottles of champagne in as many minutes, but left some very fragile heads on the journey home.

In spite (or because) of the above we had sold 57 places for Majorca 2000 within ten days of our return - all but four of the Majorca '99 team immediately booked again. Strangely we have 58 beds, yet only 57 seats on the plane, which we will sort out later. We have started a waiting list with the usual North End & Friends priorities and are trying to negotiate more rooms and flights. A deposit of £95 buys in effect an option, since the demand is such that until December or January no names are given to the travel company and a switch can be made at no cost apart from the insurance premium. Two weeks in magnificent scenery on dry roads in the sun with guided runs, (and with walks, day trips and market visits for rest days or for the camp followers) helps to fight off the English winter gloom.

Phone Pete or Kate on 01352 810369 if you want to be included or would like more information.
Peter Hudson

A CAUTIONARY TALE
A senior member of the club, who shall remain nameless to protect his blushes (and to protect me from him!), thought he was having a heart attack whilst out on a club run the other week. Glancing at his heart monitor he was horrified to see a reading of way over 200, and he started gasping for breath and had to stop to calm down. Upon recovering, he realised that the reading had been caused by some kind of combination of riding too close to another rider with a heart monitor, causing interference between them, and being underneath some power lines as well. The gasping for breath? Well, that started because he saw he apparently had a 200-plus heart rate. Dangerous stuff, this modern technology...

AND FINALLY...

The Good Friday Hilly '22', and Peter Kay was glad to see the end of Lent as he would be able to go back to pedalling with both legs. (Great photo Les!)

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