Read all about it!

All the latest about the doings and darings of the Old Ports' month by month through the year.

 

The latest news is always at the top.

 

 

 

"Power to all our friends......"

February 2008

Phil Wins! and Willie and 'Liability in first action of the season

17 February

The season has been officially launched!

Phil Watkins in action in the Surrey league 1/2/3/E race, at MOD Chertsy circuit, excelled with a WIN! in a sprint finish which saw 2 riders come a cropper.

Andy 'Liability Green and Stuart 'Willie' Hourigan tasted their debut road race action in the 3/4 cat race and finishing well up the bunch after doing most of the work.

Full report soon

Phil drives the break

photo courstesy of londoncyclesport.com

Surrey League early season dates

The Surrey League website is having problems and is not currently displaying the early season dates. So for your information you will find them here

Old Ports Reliability ride, The Gods smiled!!

The sun came out and the heavens smiled on the Old Ports Reliablity ride this year. Around 120 riders tackled our tough route "The other hell of the Ashdown" as some of the riders, who had ridden the Catford event, remarked.

Andy Green who took over the promoton of the event from Bashers led a slick team of Old Ports and put on an event to remember. Well signposted and marshalled the riders were treated to a truly challenging route through Kent and over the Ashdown Forest. On finisheing the hospitality team or 'Luckies babes' as they are fondly known put on a feast of Bacon sarnies, sandwiches, cakes with gallons of hot tea and coffee to refuel the hungry horde.

Well done one and all!!! a fantastic day out on a bike.

Pictures here

RACING 2008

The months have started to tick by, your training schedules are well advanced and thoughts are turning to racing. All you need to know about how to enter the events is here

....and don't forget the Old Ports Reliability Ride to hone your endurance, Details here . Open to all comers, entry the ride on the line, 10th February. Be there!

January 2008

'Willie' joins the website team

A warm welcome to Stuart Hourigan(Willie) winner of many of the club tropies has joined Fatherjac in the Website team. Together they will develop the site to be even better. Willie will be contributing a lot of content to the site over the coming months and in fact has already started with club historical matters with the publication of Eddie Cooks "The Early Days" here

New year starts with a Bang!

2008 has started with a few Old Ports in bit of distress. Sadly Ozzie our 'Bard of Coney Hall' came a cropper on ice, in Pigrims Way, along with several others on a club run. Oz came off the worse, however, breaking his femur again as he did 10 years ago. Our commiserations to Oz. Have another Guiness Oz, you know you want to!!

A week later 'Lucky' Little found his front wheel go into a tram line while descending Gravel Hill in Croydon. Apparently the bike and Lucky decided to go straight on, the result being that Lucky was dumped ignominiously in a crumpled heap nursing cuts and bruises. It didn't stop him taking over the reins from Dave Hickman as Secretary of the club though! Seig Heil! Herr Lucky.

Be careful out there folks!!

November 2007

Old Ports Dinner and awards 2007

Some Snaps

End of Year Report

By Club Secretary, Dave Hickman

As my old headmaster used to say (usually on the other kid's reports) 'most commendable'.....
2007 has been a good year for the Old Ports. This also marks the end of my 11th year as Club Sec as I hand over the baton next year to Simon 'Lucky' Little.

While still a relatively small club we still manage to 'punch above our weight' and always manage a good turnout for key events including support for our own promotions.

Our newer members who joined in the last year or so have made a big impact and are getting involved in all aspects of the club - social, sportives and racing.

Speaking personally, I enjoyed mixing the sportives with the racing and the highlights this year were doing La Marmotte where this year all four of us finished (Oz, Iain Hawthorn and Andy Green) and just last weekend the Exmoor Beast 100m in good company which was a brilliant event - luckily in perfect weather it has to be said! In between I enjoyed a bit of a comeback on the time trial front including my first 100 since 1996!

While Bashers had his season cut short due to a back operation he is promising to make a strong return in 2008. Meanwhile, Stuart Hourigan, in his first full season since joining last year had a great season winning most of the silverware for time trials, including the Best All Rounder and continued to improve all year , as did Andy Green and Iain Hawthorn. I have no doubt all will show further improvements in 2008.

It was also great to see Phil Watkins and Pete Cominetti return to the fold. Phil had a great start to the season with some excellent road race placings and a fast 25 TT as well but illness mid season held him back - I have no doubt both he and Pete who had a couple of late season road races will also show strongly in 2008. Gary Bryant has continued to be our main representative in cyclo cross and is a regular top 10 finisher in the London League, joined occasionally by Marc Lloyd and more recently Phil as well.

The club runs are always good value with maybe 12 on a good day - I don't think we will ever quite reach the '100 plus in 4 groups' a la Addiscombe but not sure that's us.

That said it is always good to welcome newcomers so hope this will continue in the years ahead.

The social side of the club has always been one of our hallmarks with our training /detraining weekends and Tour /sportive trips. Always good fun and my thanks to Lucky for all his organisation on this side of club life and also to 'Fr Jack' for keeping the club website up to such a good standard.

Anyway, my thanks to all of you for keeping the club going and look forward to seeing further success in 2008 and beyond.

All the best,

Dave Hickman

Presidents 2up - 11 November

Bashers and Oz steal it!!

This well loved event was reinstated into our programme this year. It is an eccentrically handicapped event where a 'fast' man is paired with a 'slow' man who then attempt a short time trial course, finishing at a pub where pies and ale are consumed. Tnen the handicapper caclulates the final result. The handicap system is a mysterious equation based on some runic scroll where the age of the eldest rider is used in conjunction with the scattered tea leaves signal from a freshly brewed cuppa. There was some dispute over the result this year due to the slow man being not very well, I mean slow. But, because he has had a hard life, all objections were withdrawn.

And so to the result. Well, as our headline has already betrayed, Bashers and OZ were this years winners. Their time was kinda fast for a handicapped duo and, as the photo shows, they were quietly 'jubilant'.

Bashers and OZ the Victors

PS Lucky has suggested an amendment to the handicapping rules as follows:

New handicap system for 2008 President's 2-up
Le Lanterne Rouge and his chums shall identify those people who are
even remotely useful on a bike and accordingly those nominated shall
remove one pedal of their choice, deflate their tyres to 10p.s.i.
and adjust their brakes until it is only possible to turn the rear
wheel while standing on the remaining pedal and pushing a gear that
is on a one-to-one ratio and then the time shall be taken when
the 'fast boy or girl'passes the finishing post replaces the missing
pedal, inflates their tyres back to 200 p.s.i. and changes into
evening dress complete with cumerband......now that's a fair
handicap system!

Lucks

 

Bashers eats all the pies!! in celebration

October 2007

Senior Best All Rounder Champion 2007
Stuart Hourigan

New boy Stuart takes the BAR trophy this year with a magnificent set of rides. Dave Hickman the hardy Perennial in the club, again figured strongly to take he runner up spot and Andy Green another new face on the the Time Trial scene took third spot. Bashers, sidelined due to a medical procedure, could not do the full set of rides and could not defend his title which he relinquished for the first time in many years.
Senior BAR Average speed over 25, 50 and 100miles

BAR Average speeds
Stuart Hourigan: 23.923mph
Dave Hickman: 23.691mph
Andy Green: 22.449mph

 

Vets Best All Rounder 2007
Dave Hickman
Dave had a very good season with some excellent rides to gain the Vets BAR. Bashers handicapped by his medical treatment and his youth managed a very creditable second place. Andy Green(could he really be a vet? ) is up there again taking third spot.

Vets BAR Vets plus over 10, 25 and 50miles using Vet standard tables

Dave Hickman +43min 20sec
Ian Bashford +40min 30sec
Andy Green +10min 15sec

Hill Climb Chamionship

Stuart and Phil in a dead heat!
The hill climb was completed in a little lane that goes up the side of Tilburstow Hill in Godstone and the downhill, down Tilburstow towards Godstone. Ina an exciting event Stuart and Phil came home in excactly the same time!!

Seven Old Ports took part in the hard bit, Bashers and Lucky doing the time keeping and pushing off.
In order of finishing
Stuart Hourigan 2.07
Phil Watkins 2.07
Pete Cominetti 2.16
Iain Hawthorne 2.22
Andy Green 2.28
Dave Hickman 2.50
Nigel Waterfall 3.01

mmmmmm???? now who gets the trophy?? Did the timekeeper have tenths or hundredths of a seconds on his watch?

Bashers descends like a stone!

All nine off us took part in the downhill and spookily Bashers won by several bike lengths with Lucky at second place, keeping our powder dry and not using up those calories must have helped.

Eastbourne Ride

The traditional Eastbourne ride was it's normal great success.

More pictures here

 

 

 

 

August 2007

Stuart reaps more silverware in the Evening Series Time Trials
Stuart Hourigan gained another Club champions Trophy when his excellent series of rides at the Crowhurst evening TT series put him at the top of fthe table after the last event Reports

Bashers Brighton ride - Wednesday 15th August 2007

Much fun was had by all - apparently

July 2007
Stuart Wins the OPCC Presidents Challenge Cup - Sunday 1 July

Stuart Hourigan fulfilled his promise at last with a storming ride in the Club 50 mile TT championships. His time of 2:06:03 beating th current holder Bashers by nearly two and half minutes! This is his first major club championship and on this form who would bet against him winning others this season. Read the report here

June 2007

May 2007

Dates for your Diary

Two exciting dates you should be aware of:

OPCC Criterium at Crystal Palace Tuesday 17 July All members are encouraged to be there at around 6pm to help with marshalling as required.

Beer and Skittles Evening at the Haycutters Arms 30 November. All members are invited to come for a convivial evening, based on a traditional game of Olde English Skittles where small round objects are hurled at 9 other wooden bottle shaped objects. Lubrication will be available at the bar.

Great ride by Phil Watkins at the MOD Chertsy Road race Elites 1/2 - 5th May

Phil rode a fine race to finish powerfully in fourth place seconds behind the behind the break.

Read Full report here

 

 

 

April 2007

Time Trial season gets cracking

Our 'Testers' are really getting into the swing of things with some excellent rides, especially by Stuart Hourigan(left), our new kid o the block, who is beginnining to seriously challenge Bashers(right) see the reports here

Phil Watkins gets a third place in first LVRC race

Phil rode his first LVRC race around Bletchingly and stormed to third place report here

March 2007

Welcome back Phil and Pete

We are very pleased to report that Phil Watkins and Pete Cominetti have rejoined the Old Ports after quite a few years away. Both were successful Road racers with the club in the 1980s Phil going on to excel in Time trialling and on the road with other clubs.

Phil has already done his first road race and his report is here

Stuart Hourigan First Old Port Racing in 2007

New boy Stuart reports on the first race of the season here.

Sun smiles on the Spring Eastbourne ride.

 

Our traditional weekend trip to Eastbourne, where we ride down on a Friday and back home on Sunday, was great fun this year and as a bonus the weather was terrific! We're all looking forward to the October trip already. Many thanks to Simon Little for his normal flawless organisation.

 

February 2007

Old Portlians Reliability ride 11 February

The True Hell of the Ashdown!!

Our traditional reliability ride took place as usual this year. Based at Halstead Village Hall. The 2 distances were 100Km and 68K. It was very wet this year and about 200 riders in various groups braved the conditions. The Old Ports can be justly proud of having organised such a successful event and a 2 page report was printed in 'Cycling Weekly' which dubbed our event the 'True Hell of the Ashdown' . All who took part found it an unforgettable experience I'm sure.

The success of the event is down to the superb organisation of our event team led by Ian Bashford. Particular thanks should be given to the catering crew who provided the very welcome 'Tea and buns and bacon sandwiches at the finish. Also our stalwart marshals who manned the checkpoints in such adverse conditions should be applauded.

So be prepared for next year and survey the route of probably the toughest reliability ride in the South East. Details below.

100Km Routel details here

64Km Details here

January 2007

El Presidente's New Year Message

Secretary's Report of 2006

Thanks Don - I am pleased to report that Don has indeed recovered from his 'knackerednessitis' and is back on form -and riding again. Thanks again to Don for organising the Annual Dinner in November at the Darenth Valley Golf Club. It was once again a great evening and was well attended. Don entertained us with his usual 'Norman Wisdom' stand-up routine and our guest speaker, Graeme Fife also gave an entertaining and erudite toast to the club.

Don began the evening on a very sad note as we remembered our former club members who passed away in 2006 - Dave Sinclair, Chris Jeffery, Rita Ward, Barbara Philips (a former club treasurer) and Eddie Cooke (who was a former Club Secretary and President). Both Eddie and Barbara were in office when I joined the club in 1979 and did a huge amount for the club. Rita was a member in the 50s/60s and a useful rider in her day. In more recent years, as all will be well aware, Dave Sinclair and Chris Jeffery were also great supporters of the club in many ways and will be very sadly missed.

2006 was once again a quiet year for road racing but we had a pretty good year otherwise. The list of winners of the various trophies are recorded below. Once again, Ian Bashford maintained a high standard despite back problems and we have some new blood to threaten the old order next year we hope in the shape
of Stuart Hourigan and Iain Hawthorn who have already made their presence felt. Gary Bryant has had another great cyclo cross season and is getting top 10
placings in the London League - well done!
We also welcomed to our ranks this year Andy Green, Mark Newman and Derek Sloan - good to have you all on board. As a result we usually manage a reasonable turn out for clubruns and the reliability rides as well as the social rides/ training/detraining rides! To my mind this is what the Old Ports is all about.

I said last year the highlight for me of 2005 was the Pyrenean Raid - in 2006 we had a group go at the Marmotte in the Alps - and although we had a good time we really got a lot wrong and a number of us have unfinished business with this event - the biggest lessons (which most of us should have known with our experience) was a) train a lot for this is a very tough event b) allow more time to get there and do not travel 800 miles each way in a couple of transit death traps (like a bunch of illegals we were!) c) do not do a 50 mile round trip to sign on the day before the event including going up Alpe D'Huez ! (we had no choice as we had left it so late and the vans' brakes would have failed on the
descent ). So train properly for whatever you plan to do seriously in 2007. In that regard we say 'respek' to Chris Whitelock , Chris Ogilvie and Jezza Hancock for they are planning to do Paris Brest Paris this year which demands huge miles /hours of training which I know they are already putting in - already one 200km qualifyier done (and Jezza came out and did 60 mile reliability the next day - on the front as usual!) So good luck lads! And all the best to all club members and their families for 2007!

Cheers
Dave

OPCC trophy winners and runners up 2006

10 mile Ian Bashford - 22.29 r/up Barry Meens- 23.37

25 mile Ian Bashford - 58.38

r/up Dave Hickman - 1.2.47

50 mile Ian Bashford 1.59.45

r/up Dave Hickman 2.9.47 (it was close again!)

100 mile Ian Bashford 4.24.42

r/up Chris Ogilvie 4.50.08 - bloody good effort - and hadnt done a 50 before!

Evening TT series- Ian Bashford 36 points

r/up Stuart Hourigan 30 points

Senior BAR Ian Bashford 24.434mph ( over 25,50.100 miles)

r/up - not contested

Veterans BAR Ian Bashford - plus of 45.26

r/up Dave Osborn

Novices trophy and Consolation 25

Both won by Stuart Hourigan with his 1.3.17 in the SCCU 25

Cyclo Cross- 2005/6 season - Gary Bryant

Road race 2006 -Marc Lloyd

2006 hill climb - Iain Hawthorn

Riders Rider - Dave Osborn

Endeavour award - Andy Green

Clubman and clubwoman - Nic and June Hooper