Adventures of the Rye & District Wheelers past and present
WHEELERS DAY OF MANY RECORDS
Rye & District Wheelers enjoyed a day of record breaking on Sunday 10 October when a record ten riders took part on the V.T.T.A. 15 Mile time trial at Bethersden.
Barry Goodsell smashed Mike Ashdown’s 1965 record of 40 mins. 04 secs. by almost a minute and a half, recording 38-41.
Ladies Ten record holder Kate Alexander charged round the tough circuit to record 46-31 and establish a senior ladies record for 15 miles. Kate made a heroic effort to get to the race and return to Cambridge by 12 noon, it would not have been possible without the help of her mother and being lucky enough to be one of the first riders to start in the 5 4 s t r o ng field with riders leaving at minute intervals
Burton
Oliver Burton’s 54-13 was not fast enough to take Chris Hayes’ 1954 Juvenile (under 16) “15” record of 47-18 but this was Ollie’s first ever race. He will no doubt be setting records by this time next year.
Garry Booth set a new over fifties 15 mile record with 48-01. Jim Hollands 49-22 is the record for over sixties and Granville Bantick puts up a record target of 53-07 for the over seventies to aim at.
Other riders in the event where there were more Rye Wheelers competing than from any other club, including Maidstone’s San Fairy Ann, were Roy Fritchley 40-58 still maintaining his own personal record of never having been passed by another rider in a time trial since joining the Wheelers.
Kevin Hall 54-10, Mark Nash 44-15 and Jon Beasley 44-48. All ten will be remembered in the annuals of the Rye & District Wheelers for the first ever time in the club’s 120 year history that so many riders had represented the club in an open event.
FRED LEADS THE WAY
Fred Herritage, the Club’s oldest member, joined Rye & District Wheelers in 1947 and is still very active in 2004 organising the Tuesday afternoon ‘gentle’ runs. During October he took an eight strong group on a ‘Mystery Run’, visiting Iden, Peasmarsh, Flackley Ash, Wittersham and Stone, where a cup of tea and a biscuit at the local hostelry were very welcome. Then it was home via the Military Road. The whole run, about 12 miles, took in less than half a mile of ‘main road’ and was enjoyed by all.
The Tuesday runs, which are suitable for all ages and standards and on which any type of cycle can be used, start at 1pm. from the Riverhaven car park. This is the ultimate way to enjoy the countryside, lose weight and become fit, all in the company of a cross section of very nice people. No need to notify the club, just turn up. You will be made very welcome.
The Annual Club Dinner & Prize Presentation
The Wheelers Annual Club Dinner and Prize Presentation on 18 November promises to be an event that will be long remembered.
Margaret Ashdown a club member in the sixties and wife of the late Dave Ashdown, one of the club’s most popular members in the fifties and sixties, will be Guest of Honour and present the prizes which include the Dave Ashdown Memorial Shield for the Club Championship “10”.
Members of other clubs, including representatives from Tenterden C.C. , Hastings and St. Leonards C.C., Thornton Road Club and Southborough Wheelers along with past members of the Rye Wheelers, will attend the Rye Club’s fourth dinner at the Riverhaven Hotel since they became active again in 2000.
The usual commemorative Annual recording events, prize winners, records and stories from the past and present will be produced by “Rye’s Own” and presented to everyone who attends.
From the November 2004 Issue of “Rye’s Own”
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