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06/05/2010 - TRACK TRAINING AT MANCHESTER
There are some glimpses of LVRC track sessions on the photo gallery. Organiser Dave Watson will give us winter 2010/11 dates as soon as available.
04/05/2010 - OBITUARY OF BLRC STALWART LEN HOOK
We have received this obituary from Betty Hook
Len Hook died on 12th March 2010 aged 89 years at Dover, Kent. Cycling was his lifelong passion and he had become a cycling legend . He volunteered and was accepted as R.A.F. aircrew officer navigator but was rejected at the last moment due to an old eye injury , which probably saved his life. Instead ,as an apprenticed toolmaker , he worked long hours through the war in a reserved occupation,managing to make his own brakes and other cycle parts unobtainable at that time .Before he finally retired to live in France he was a talented toolmaker-inventor for the British Standards Institution.
From his teens onwards he was involved in cycling politics, racing and touring in England and abroad, International Team Manager, Directeur Sportive in France. In 1936, aged 15, he joined
the N.C.U. Ealing Manor C.C.,later moving to the West London R.C.,B.L.R.C. For some years
he was a member of Thenon Cyclo Club in South West France and in 1995 he joined Thanet Potterers who gave him so much pleasure and he was riding his bike two weeks before he died.
In his early days he rode countless time trials, hill climbs, rough stuff and track events .He was proud to have been a founder member of the British League of Racing Cyclists(without the B.L.R.C. there would be no Tour of Britain, Tour de France on English roads)
He was 2nd (after puncturing) in the first Stage Race ever run in England. Riders slept in marquees while constant buzzbombs passing overhead rattled the tent poles! In 1944 at Battersea Park he was presented with the winner's cup by Marshall Vatoutin, famous defender of Moscow. He rode in, and was placed in most of the early “outlawed”classics (London/Birmingham, Dover/London,etc.,)and, in 1946, the1st Professional Grand Prix, on the
Wrekin, as independent for Harrison Cycles. In 1950 he was the only British finisher in the very first Warsaw to Prague Peace Race. He crashed and finished with poisoned foot and received tumultuous applause from the huge crowds for his courage. He made a speech (translated!} and did a lap of honour carrying our national flag. It was his proudest race – finished 48th! In 1948 British representative at the F.S.G.T. International Conference in Paris and in following years International Team Manager for the first British team to ride in outlawed International over Pyrenees , Tour of Poland (with Dave Bedwell), Route de France (Trevor Fen wick), British Team Czechoslovakia, and in 1957, manager of our team in Moscow World Youth Games (Eastern equivalent of Olympics).
In 1945 he crashed on the third day of the Brighton to Glasgow (first Tour of Britain). He was
picked up from the gutter by cyclist-following-car-driver, Betty, whom he married in 1946. They had three sons and a daughter and were married for 64 years.
Son Simon, Professional cyclist with many successes abroad and in England was tragically
killed on his bike in Folkestone, aged 36. In1995 a light went out for Len and Simon is
remembered at France's national cycling chapel - Notre dame des Cyclists , Bastde
d'Armagnac, S.W. France.
Len was a good man , kind and gentle, but a rock when necessary and will be remembered by the many that he helped throughout his long cycling life.
Betty Hook
28/04/2010 - RIDER'S REPORTS WANTED FROM ALL RACES
You may have noticed that individual riders reports from the first Stallard event on Sunday have been included on the site. As webmaster, I would like this to become a regular feature to give a better view of our races. It does not matter where you finished, don't be shy please send me your personal impressions of your race and how it unfolds. Send them to me Jim Golden mail@jimgolden.fsnet.co.uk
17/04/2010 - Att all Race Organisers
Please note the new Event Organisation and Safety Manual is now available on this web site under the button of the same name. It contains all the infomation and forms that you will need. Good luck.
02/04/2010 - STALLARD REMINDER FROM MICK IVES
2010 Percy Stallard--Spiuk--National Road Race series reminder from series co-ordinator Mick Ives
The series kicks off at Audlem,Cheshire organised by Mike Wilson--
on Sunday 25th April,lets hope you have got your entries in ?
We have 8 events in the series this year, but the Alford Wheelers races in Lincolnshire and the Syd Wightman Memorial in Kent are on the same day, --Sunday 9th May, as that was the only day these organisers were able to promote their event--this should not prove a problem ,as they are a long way apart, and we urgently need events in both these areas. It will mean that the series will be contested over a maximum of seven events,with the best five counting.
The LVRC will this year be adding to the overall Prize list --which once again will be sponsored by Spiuk UK.
Please make sure you get your entries in early as events will close three weeks before the event,and remember in the event of a full field,the organisers have been advised by the Ex.Committee, to select riders from Teams/Clubs that promete LVRC events , in preference to those who do not.It's only fair,as there are a lot of Clubs/Teams , who don't promote.
I trust you all have a very competitive and safe National Series.--look forward to seeing you up the road.
Cheers Mick Ives.--Stallard Series Co Ordinator.
