No.956 March 2016

www.anfieldbc.co.uk

Anfield CircularJournal of the Anfield Bicycle Club (formed March 1879)

Runs List

March 5 Cross Foxes Overton Bridge 12 Miners’ Arms Maeshafn 19 Red Lion Parkgate 26 Goshawk Mouldsworth April 2 Nags Head Lavister 9 Dysart Arms Bunbury 16 Old Ma's Gatesheath 23 Red Lion Parkgate [+ 22- 25 Portpatrick weekend] 30 Parish Rooms Coddington (Committee 1130) May 7 The Raven Llanarmon 14 Nets Cafe Denhall 21 Calveley Arms Handley 28 The Plough Christleton 30 Anfield 100, HQ Shawbury June 4 The Britannia Halkyn 11 Parish Rooms Coddington (Committee 1130) 18 The Buck Bangor-on-Dee Closing date for next issue 30 May 2016

Contact

Hon Secretary: Peter Catherall,Tel 0777 3587793 anfieldbc@gmail,com

Editor: David Birchall

2016 Subscriptions HAVE YOU PAID -see p12

21 and over £15; Junior £7.50; Family member £1; CTC 3rd party insurance £24 –

by Standing Order

Hon Treasurer: Phil Mason

Winning the Anfield 100 through the decades

Andy Wilkinson, 2009

Dave Lloyd 1982

1897 start

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e-Clips From Phil Whitehead:

At the ripe ‘old’ age of 66 I have a new job with the University of Nottingham in Malaysia (UNMC). My wife and I hope to be there from about 19 March. I have already made contacts with some keen cyclists from UNMC and I know that there is a track in Kuala Lumpur. I will wear my new ABC kit with pride. I hope that I can send an article now and again from the ABC branch in Malaysia!

Phil adds: The Middleton group are doing another charity ride on 4 March for a newly-formed counselling organisation in Sutton Coldfield. We are riding from our pub, The Green Man, in Middleton to The Green Man in Paddington. Phil will write a report after the ride, which we are delighted to say will count as an ABC club-run.

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WCTTCA Annual Dinner and Presentation 30 November 2015Cheshire View, Christleton was the venue. Nigel and I, among the first to arrive, found our table and settled down with a drink, John Lahiff (on his Brompton), Keith and Pippa Orum and Geoff Sharp soon joining us. After a very enjoyable meal came the presentations - Geraint was awarded a couple of certificates, and John Lahiff won a bottle of whisky. My special duty was to present an engraved glass plaque and copy of Amazing Anfielders to Mersey Roads stalwarts Bob and Ruth Williams as a thank you for their long time help with the ‘100’. Bob first attended the event on the back of a tandem with his father, Johnny, in 1949 when Harry Harding Walton C&AC was the winner. In those days the Mersey Roads manned a drinks station near Llynclys. Bob commented, ‘By the time the last man came through it was time to set off for home in Litherland Liverpool and it was only later, in the 50s, that we got to see the finish’. Ruth started attending around this time. Apart from National Service, when Bob missed a few years, he and Ruth have been regular supporters, Bob ‘even managing to ride a few’. What a record! And what fierce loyalty the 100 generates.

Peter Catherall

Anfield 100 - Help needed pleaseThis year’s ‘100’ will take place on Bank Holiday Monday 30 May. As usual we are looking for marshals and helpers. Nigel will shortly be contacting Members. The Anfield ‘100’ is one of the classic events of UK cycling and we need all the assistance that we can get if we are to continue running the event. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Peter Catherall

Winning the Anfield 100 - a brief history of time-trialling: front page pics:(Top) The Anfield 100 starting line 1897;

(Centre) Dave Lloyd, 1982, event record holder for the next 26 years; (Lower) ‘Wilko’ claiming event record in 2009: ‘most important are position, wheels and tyres’ he said.

Scottish Weekend (22 - 25 April) - the hotel in Melrose cannot look after us as planned. So … with twenty-five booked (V-CC and Anfielders), rather than cancel, we are returning to Portpatrick for a ‘Portpatrick Pedal’, with rides exploring the Isle of Whithorn and Wigtown.

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Clubruns Parish Rooms, Coddington - 28th November 2015 Friday evening and I was rehearsing for the forthcoming hit TV show Master Butty-maker. Editor and Mary were in Scotland on a mission to Skye(fall?) and I was the locum (or should that be loco?) butty maker. Joining Nigel, Ben and me were Geoff Sharp, Peter Jones, Bill Graham, Tony Pickles, John Lahiff (by bike), Dave Eaton and Phil Mason. Business got under way and we worked our way through the agenda finishing at 12.45. Then it was down to the real business, those butties. And then home. In view of the atrocious weather, Bill tucked John and his Brompton into his car and took him to Chester Station. Handy things Bromptons. PC The Royal Oak, Bangor-on-Dee - 5th December 2015 With Storm Desmond raging and Bangor on flood alert, no one would attend this run, surely? However … Dave Bettaney braved the elements, making his way up the Dee valley to the Royal Oak. Regrettably he had no other ABC company. The Britannia, Halkyn - 12th December 2015 Confucius say ‘In a Monsoon, the Fool on the Hill is not such a Fool’. Today, it was a monsoon and I live on top of a hill. My intention was to cycle and break in new pedals. But, I was more than glad to occupy a warm, dry seat in the Yeti along with David Birchall (DB1) and Wilber. We entered (Wilber as well) and went into the bar, ordered drinks and food and settled down at the table nearest to the roaring log fire. We were joined by Geraint, Nigel and Dave Bettaney (DB2) and a few minutes later by Team Pickles. Tony had brought samples of new kit. Also cropping up were Skye and the journeys there and back (sounded like a Hobbit exploit). Leaving, I have never seen so much water filling the rainswept Dee Estuary. The last three Saturdays have been spoilt by rain. Let’s hope this pattern does not continue. A good day out nevertheless. PC

The Plough, Christleton - 19th December 2015 A muggy, warm day, but the forecast wasn't good. So I did my white van man routine, and picked up Peter Catherall on the way. We noticed the Dee was very full and it wouldn't take much to burst the banks. Looking at the weather that might happen sooner than later. At the Plough were Dave Bettaney, Jim Gibson, David, Mary and club mascot Wilber, John Courtney, Peter Jones, Keith, Pippa, Geoff, John Whelan, and Team Pickles. General talk was about Christmas (of course), and jokes, like Uncle Buster who was a boxer and earned himself the nickname, ‘Rembrandt’, because he spent so much time on the canvas. Ok that's enough cracker jokes. May I say, all, thanks for a great turn out, have a great Christmas, and best wishes for 2016. NF

Red Lion, Parkgate - 30th December 2015 Frank was to blame. Cunning move to give storms names. Now you blame the storm not the authorities. In Buckley, Armageddon had not fully materialised but it was still bad enough for four wheels. So it was that Geraint collected me and we had an uneventful drive to Parkgate. Already in Parkgate were Dave Bettaney and Jim Gibson and the four of us trudged to the Lion through the wind and rain. Once inside we commandeered the pub and waited for others. First was Mike Hallgarth followed by Nigel and Alison with her brother Steve. Then the rush started, Keith and Pippa, Geoff Sharp, John Courtney, David and Mary Birchall and John Whelan. We talked about the weather (how original), Melrose, school friends, and the history of Parkgate as a port. Then it was time to leave. Geraint and I were the first to depart for another uneventful

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drive home though we did observe that the Dee was running very high when we crossed it at Queensferry. Another excellent day in spite of Frank. PC Old Ma’s Cafe, Gatesheath - 2nd January 2016 Guests are always welcome at ABC Club-runs. But not Abigail, Barney, Clodagh, Desmond, Eva, or Frank. Recently, all have rolled up uninvited, week after week. In fact one by one they've blighted every Saturday since the end of October. Today it was just rain. That the rain cleared briefly was no comfort, except for Jim Gibson on his Brompton, and Peter Jones on his Specialized ('not really a road bike - it's angles are wrong'). Everyone else left bikes at home. But what a good turnout at a busy Old Ma’s for the first run of 2016: eleven in all - in addition to Jim and Peter we welcomed the New Year with Peter and Geraint Catherall, Tony and Chris Pickles, Nigel Fellows, Dave Bettaney, and David and Mary Birchall, with Wilber, not allowed in the cafe, carrying out his mascot duties from the carpark. The Druids, Llanferres - 9th January 2016 Not many out today, Chris and me, Geraint by bike, Dave Bettaney, Keith and Pippa Orum. As normal, the food was rather good, or was it just my choice. Unusual for a club-run, Keith got us talking about the new Star Wars film. Not having seen any of the others, he was confused. Chris being an avid Star Wars fan tried to fill him in on the previous films, but I saw Keith's eyes glaze over and I butted in and asked when he was going to get Di2, a bit much I know - he has only just gone to carbon. Well I have to try and modernise him somehow. With the rain still coming down Geraint departed, off to work at 4:00pm, we ambled out, briefly thought of Llandegla in the wet, shall we, no, it would be really soggy up there even snowing, being at 1200 ft. Tony Pickles Nets Cafe, Denhall - 16th January 2016 'It's a sheet of ice' said Dave Bettaney walking towards me along the track, 'and Nets are closed until the end of the month': not a good start to the club-run. An alternative? The Red Lion, Parkgate, 'they always have a fire', advised Keith Orum and Geoff Sharp. Phone calls revealed Team Pickles and Geraint had already given up, dnf, while Jim Gibson was on his Moulton somewhere between Connah's Quay and Burton Point. We succeeded in redirecting him, but apologies to anyone else who we failed to contact and who missed out on the Red Lion. The Red Lion was good - quiet, friendly, decent food, and the fire was burning brightly. No one was in a hurry to leave, not least because outside for the return journey it was cold and raining, with snow on the Welsh hills across the bleak estuary. In fact it was so uninviting that Jim willingly accepted Dave Bettaney's offer of a lift back to Connah's Quay. The Griffin, Trevalyn - 23rd January 2016 Second week on the run, the club run venue was closed. I received the email from David Birchall saying instead the Nags Head, Lavister would be the venue of choice. The weather was a bit warmer than of late so Fellows got the bike out for the first time this year. The wind was cool though. Against me on the way out, at least it would be with me on the way home. So off I go to Lavister via Kinnerton and Doddleston. I was early, so rode to the garden centre down the road before going back to the Nags Head. Outside the pub, I met Peter Jones, who had ridden via Rossett, past the Griffin … and it was open! Calling in, he discovered it was under new management from yesterday, but no phone, no website, and no food for four weeks. I was glad to be at the Nags Head as I was hungry. Next arrivals, all enjoying the chance to be awheel, were Dave Birchall, Geoff Sharp, Dave Bettaney, John Whelan, Billy Graham, and Jim Gibson.

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Homeward, I made my way back via Burton Green. Big mistake, with lanes closed, flooded, and very muddy. At the end of the ride, bike, rider and kit had a good wash down. Next time I'll listen to Peter Jones, whose complaints about the state of the lanes I had ignored. Thanks to all for a nice meet. The Nags Head proved to be excellent - good value and a great venue. NF Calveley Arms, Handley - 30th January 2016 Storm Gertie had been and gone but although it was a bright, clear day, the wind was still strong. When Nigel and I arrived at the Calveley Arms, we found Dave Bettaney, Ben Griffiths and Peter Jones awaiting us. We ordered refreshments and took our places around the table near the fire. Shortly, we were joined by David Birchall and Geoff Sharp and by Jim Gibson. Last (well at the time) to arrive was Phil Mason. Conversations by the fireside over lunch covered CTT Handbooks, finding an alternative venue for the April weekend now that Shearings’ hotel in Melrose is no longer available, Show Boat the musical, listening to Peter Dawson while riding your turbo-trainer in the comfort of home, bikes in Cambridge, and holiday cottages in Stiperstones. Then just as we were leaving Bill Graham arrived. Better late than never. PC The Britannia, Halkyn - 6th February 2016 Yet another Saturday with rain, and more rain. At the Britannia, the warm bar was a welcome sight. We settled at the tables nearest the fire. First in were Geraint, Dave Bettaney, David and Mary Birchall not forgetting Wilber, who, after a boring morning, was eager to be everyone's friend in return for chips. With the final design for the new kit were Tony and Chris Pickles. Jim Gibson had news of the April weekend, and Chris Edwards joined us on the way home from Conwy where he'd been to check his yacht which is stored there over winter. A good turnout and plenty to keep the chat flowing, so much so, it was after two before moves were made for home. You can see for miles from the Britannia, even on a rainy day. High tide in the Dee estuary when we arrived, it was ebbing when we left, with sand and marshes re-appearing, and, across the Wirral, just visible were the Mersey and Liverpool's landmarks. The Royal Oak, Bangor-on-Dee - 13th February 2016 Attending were Nigel and Alison Fellows, Peter and Geraint Catherall, Dave Bettaney, Jim Gibson, Peter Jones, Tony and Chris Pickles, Geoff Sharp, and David and Mary with Club mascot Wilber. A bright day with a bitter east wind, notwithstanding it was good for cycling, twenty-two miles in the lanes from Christleton to Bangor with a tail wind most of the way for Geoff and me. Tony had with him a photo album he rediscovered while spring cleaning - the Anfield in 1985. Wonderful, with output earmarked for a future Circular after scanning. Parish Rooms, Coddington - 20th February 2016 Rain laden clouds scudded low across Cheshire on this bleak morning. Attending the committee were John Lahiff, Ben Griffiths, Peter Catherall, Nigel Fellows, Peter Catherall, Bill Graham, Dave Eaton, Geoff Sharp, Tony and Chris Pickles, and the Editor: a surprisingly good turnout considering. May be it was the tea and homemade sandwiches, official business over, or Tony with his tape-measure taking orders for the new kit. When it was time to leave someone said ‘It’s clearing up’. Sadly, it wasn’t: the rain was heavier and colder for our journeys home.

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Royal Oak, Bangor on Dee

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Imagine … an Anfield club-run in the winter of 1916 Cycling clubs took a big hit in the First World War, and the Anfield was no exception. For all the national ‘business as usual’ policy, support for club-life weakened as young members ‘joined the colours’ and many of those on the Home Front took on 'civic' duties. Catering became uncertain, with fewer places willing or able to look after us for dinner on Saturday runs. The Circular complained about closures and 'get rich quick' caterers charging high prices for bad meals. But until 1917 there was no rationing and some inns continued to provide a welcome unabated. The Farmer’s Arms, Moreton in the Wirral was one. For many years it had been a popular venue, but on the 5th February 1916, according to the Circular, it excelled. The date was significant, in his account of the run, the writer lamenting it was the first day of lighting restrictions. Clearly the spread laid on for members more than made up for what the writer considered the latest attack on freedom sanctioned by the hated DORA, Defence of the Realm Act. The report, reproduced here, captures the camaraderie of the evening. Suburban sprawl overwhelmed Moreton in the 1930s. The original Farmer’s Arms, shown in this photo, was demolished to make way for a 'road house' of the same name. DDB

The Farmer’s Arms, Moreton, 5th February, 1916.Did you ever see W. P. C. [W P Cook] with a new-fledged Anfield Circular in his hand? Tell me truly, and, if you did, call to mind the countenance he had then. Or, did you ever see a dog with a marrow-hone in his mouth, the beast, of all others, the most philosophical? If you have seen him, you might have remarked with what devotion and circumspectness he

wards and watches it: with what care he keeps it; how fervently he holds it; with what affection he breaks it; and with what diligence he sucks it. Just so with W. P. C. and his bone, or, I should say. Circular. 1 must try, by frequent meditation to make my humble story worthy of his sedulous care.The preamble over, I note the 5th February, 1916, is memorable, as the day of the new lighting order, or, it would be fitter to say, the darkening order. The night was black at Moreton — black, mournful, sad and melancholic. But inside the Farmer's Arms was light, and with it joy, gladness, mirth, pleasure and, delight. The Bilale [sic] smile, the Madge smile, the Annie smile, the serviettes, the steak and kidney, the leg of mutton, the fat chickens; the roast, the boiled and mashed potatoes, the sprouts, the cabbage, the carrots and turnips, the cauliflowers; the gravies, the white sauce, the onion sauce, the mint sauce; the apple pies, the custards, the raspberry tarts, the lemon cheese cakes, the Cheshire cheese, the crackers.Didn't we laugh when Prichard found George Mercer alluded to in Cycling for 1800 or 1900 as an old stager. He is much younger now. Bless him! And George J. Theakstone as a well-known rider. Well, well. Bless him too, rabbit-skin, leggings and all!P.S.— Dear Arthur Walter John [Arthur Simpson, Editor] I hope this account will please you. I have tried to keep a high moral tone, suitable for the forces at the front, the special constables and the munition workers. L.

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Riding through the flames…the 2015 Cape Town Cycle tour - Neil France March 8th 2015, the date was set, application the previous September, and I was in! The Cape Town cycle tour is only 110kms but takes you around and over the most beautiful cape in the world bar none on closed roads with crowds support the riders. The 35,000 hopefuls were being joined by elite riders who leave first at 6.15am. I squeezed into a seeded group and was hopeful I’d beat last years time of just over four hours. We arrived in CT in mid January - plenty of training time, but unfortunately some idiot started a fire which spread with ferocious speed to engulf virtually all of the Cape Peninsula. Our cottage (with a thatched roof) was in the line of the fire but amazingly just in time the wind changed and we were spared. Helicopters were buzzing over for nearly a week to dampen the flames (now I know how the Tour riders feel!) and sadly one crashed as it was lifting the huge bags of water from a local lake killing all on board.

Such was the scale of the disaster the race was renamed ‘showcaseyoursolidarityride’ in support of the fire services and volunteers who saved animals, people and property. The ride itself was reduced to only 50kms due to the danger of being hit by rocks loosened by the fires.

A big surprise was that we’d be racing against Etixx-Quickstep’s Mark Cavendish, Mark Renshaw and Brian Holm. The team owner, who has a winery in Groot Constantia, had requested (or told) Cav and co to break off training for the Giro del Trentino and ride the event. Just before the ride I visited a bike shop with a café attached. In came one of the mechanics with a bike bag. He opened it and I thought ‘I recognise those colours’. Sure it enough it was Cav’s 2014 Tour de France machine (hadn’t done many miles!). It was surprisingly heavy and rather small for me. Auctioned, it sold for R120,000 or £6300. With Eddy Merckx also riding the event was shaping up nicely. I had been training with Andy an ex-SAS Scout as tough as

nails. Race day was blue sky, sun shining and the Cape Doctor blowing (the wind). We were herded into ‘pens’ and then called forward at the start time. The ride began with a full on headwind and then climbed hospital hill (Groote Schuur of Barnard fame). Next it was up and down to the turn near Muizenberg. On the front most of the way despite ‘elbowing’ for some other soul to help I was grateful to latch onto a chain gang back to the finish next to the magnificent football stadium built for the World Cup in 2010. The results came through and I was beaten by Cav - by 30 minutes so no surprises there then. But I took 15 minutes out of Eddy Merckx - and that’s one for the grandchildren. Everything is booked for next year already and I believe the mountain routes are now open so it should be a great ride. If you’re going or thinking of going do let me know and maybe we can enter a full Anfield BC team!

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(left) ’A trio of crack Anfielders’ - Deakin, Carlisle and Bennett 1880s (undated engraving). The Anfield’s man Bennett won the event in 1891, 1892 and 1894; (right) the start of the Anfield 100 1897.

Feeding stations - the Anfield’s ‘Baron’ Fulton with supporters, and W. M. Owen (winner 1895) in 1901.

(left) Anfielder J Band rounding Hodnet Corner - then a country lane, now a major roundabout on the current course (1st Anfield 50, 16 May 1908); (right) fastest man Frank Southall taking a drink at Shawbury in the 1928 100. Southall (Norwood Paragon), three times winner, set event records in 1926 (4:55:10) and 1927 (4:47:21).

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What does it take to win a time trial? What does it take to win races? achieve 'personal bests’? break records? They are questions pondered by every cyclist who ever competed.A good starting point is personal fitness - physique, physical strength, skill and focus. But what about training, diet, and clothing? Then there are the machines themselves - their design, efficiency, and reliability - frame, wheels, tyres, transmission, equipment and technology. All are crucial, but of no account without courses to ride on; so what about the roads - surfaces, engineering, and the traffic on them? Then comes the day itself - what is the weather like - temperature, humidity, pressure, wind strength and direction? When some of these factors come together you could win, or achieve a personal best. Exceptionally, if you are really good and the conditions are right, you might pick up a record.The Anfield Bicycle Club has run 100 miles events for the whole of its existence. In the earliest days when penny-farthings ruled the roads, a silver star was awarded to members completing 100 miles on any machine in the natural day; indeed you were not considered a real Anfielder without your star. From 1887 the event was run as a road race and in 1889 opened up to riders from other clubs. Time keepers were appointed, courses defined and marshalled, start cards published, and times recorded; and in consequence from then on there is a comprehensive record of winners, routes and riders. Based on evidence from the Anfield Bicycle Club archive (www.anfieldbc.co.uk), in this article John Thompson explores how riders' speeds have increased over time and how records have fallen. The amazing advances in performances reflect not only 125 years' evolution in bicycle design, cycling technology, and road improvements, but also demonstrate changing practices in sports science, training and diet. The images illustrate the changes in bicycle design and clothing, riding position, and roads over one and a quarter centuries of competitive cycling. DDB

Winning the ‘Anfield 100’ - a very short history of time trialling John Thompson

ThefirstInvita.onHandicapAnfield100tookplacein1889and,apartfromwar.meandtwootheroccasions(1890and2007),ithastakenplaceeveryyearsince,mostlyonroadsinnorthShropshire,alwaysinlateMayorearlyJune.Theplotofwinners’speeds (leJ)givesan1

insightinto.metriallingprogressover125years.Between1889and1899riderswerepacedbyotherriders,abitlikeateam.metrialwithonlyonequalifyingrider.Thefirstwinner

(1889),PCWilsonoftheCaSordCC,completedthecoursein7:11:00,aNorthernRoadRecord,almostcertainlyona‘penny-farthing’ .Bythe1891eventmostriders,includingthe2

Strictly we should refer to the ‘fastest’ rider’s speed, since in the early years the ‘winner’ was the fastest on handicap, 1

but here we are concerned with actual times and speeds and will refer to the fastest as the ‘winner’.

No photograph of the winning ride has been identified, but Dunlop’s tyres had only just started to be used for 2

racing in 1889, and prior to their availability, the penny-farthing was the machine of choice for racing. Later road records were qualified as ‘safety’ records and ‘ordinary’ records, but Wilson’s record was not so qualified, implying that it was assumed to be on an ordinary. (Anfield BC Annual Reports www.anfieldbc.co.uk)

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winner,AnfielderJA‘Ar.e’BenneYwereridingsafetybicycleswithpneuma.ctyres–thatismodernbicycles.Yet,aswecansee,ifweleaveasidethe1899edi.on ,theincreaseinspeedinthelast3

decadeofthe19thCenturywasspectacular.Ittook.meforthelowracingposi.ontoevolvefromanuprightpostureinheritedfrompenny-farthings,androadswereimproving,thoughtheywoulds.llbedescribedas‘offroad’by21stCenturycyclists.1900sawthefirstunpaced100asweknow.metrialstoday.Between1900and1914andbetween1919and1939weseeincreasingspeeds,notatthe19thCenturyrate,butfasterthaninthelate20thandearly21stCenturies.However,WorldWarsarenotgoodfor.metrialling.Notonlyweretherenoeventsduringtheconflicts,but,post-war,italsotookafewyearstogetbacktopre-warspeeds.Asoutlinedintheintroduc.on,therearemanyreasonsforthefaster.mes,withimprovedroadsoneofthem,tarmacbecomingthenormfromtheearlythir.es.Improvementscon.nuedaJerthesecondworldwar.TheeventaYractedthetoptestersintheland-KenJoy ,RayBootyandIanCammish,to4

namejustthree,wereasdominantintheirdaysasFrankSouthallhadbeeninthe1920s.Gearsreplacedsinglefixed,lycrareplacedwool.Themodernerastartedin1991whentri-

barswerefirstallowed.Ofcoursethoseroadbikeswithclip-onbarswerenothinglikethespeedweaponryemployedtoday.Withoutthesechangeswouldspeedshavelevelledoff?Thereisasugges.onthatimprovementswereslowing,thoughthisissomewhatmaskedbytheoutlierofoutliers,DaveLloyd’s3:47:10in1982,takingmorethan10minutesoffPhilGriffiths’1981eventrecord.Wehadtowaitun.l2008beforeAndyBasonwentfasterwith3:44:13.Thefollowingyeareight.meswinnerAndyWilkinsondid3:42:00,thenin2011theotherAndytooktherecordbackwith3:41:07.Bason’srecords.llstandstoday,andisnearlyhalfthe.meofthefirstwinner.

The last paced event in 1899 was a sorry affair. Any kind of racing on the road was discouraged by the NCU and 3

police interference forced a change in the course, which may explain why there were only 18 entries. To make matters worse, ‘rain descended like a deluge’, the start was delayed and only eight riders started.

In 1952, with a time of 4:15:57, Ken Joy took 12 minutes off Ruben Firth’s 1947 record (4:27:00).4

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Anfield 100 Start Card, 1891: rules, prizes, route and riders. Riders were required to ‘avoid all appearance of

racing through towns’ and were ‘not permitted to ride with bare arms or legs’. Machines were ‘Pneumatics’, ’Cushions’, ‘Ordinaries’, ‘Pneumatic Ordinaries’, ‘Pneumatic Tricycles’, and ‘Tandem Tricycles’.

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(left and centre) Anfielder Bren Orrell, won in 1930 and again in 1933 setting a new event record (4:45:37)(right) Jack Salt in the Anfield 12, 1947 - top tester though he was, he never won the 100.

In 1952 Ken Joy (left) lowered event record to 4:15:57, thirteen minutes faster than Ruben Firth (1947).Stylish Ray Booty (right) won the event twice (1959 and 1962).

From alpaca and iron, to skin-suits and carbonIn 2010 Andy Bason (left) unsuccessfully attacked Wilko’s 2009 record, and had to wait another year to reclaim it

with a time of 3:41:07 in appalling conditions, cold and heavy rain. Next year (2012) Richard Handley (right) challenged Bason, but was well off the pace with a winning time of

3:46:08. Bason’s 2011 record still stands - almost twice as fast, and half the time, of the first winner PC Wilson.

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It shouldn’t happen to a dog G P Mills (left) allegedly shot five with his Colt revolver while training in France for the first Bordeaux - Paris race. How outrageous was that? Not at all apparently. Dog guns (or velo-guns in France) were widely advertised in cycling magazines in the1890s (below right). Some actually did fire bullets, but others used more humane deterrents - like pepper - for ammunition. S-VCC’s Dave MacKenzie brought the example (below left) to Church Stretton last April. When manufactured, it fired small copper bullets. Thankfully, it is unusable now.

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Note from the TreasurerThe subscription for the current year 2015/2016 was due on the 1st September 2015. At the beginning of December, twenty-four members had not paid. Having notified them in writing I find it frustrating that 40% of those contacted still have not responded, which means ten members still owe. The responsibility for paying subs on time must surely rest with the individual, and the easiest way to ensure this is to set up a standing order, details can be obtained by contacting me. I would also like to ask all members as a matter of courtesy to respond to any correspondence received from any club official, on any matter, as all positions of office are voluntary and a prompt response makes our jobs a lot easier and less time consuming. And to those who have paid? Thank you. Phil Mason

Amazing AnfieldersHave you bought your copy yet?

£15 (inc UK postage)

anfieldbc@gmail.com

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