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Saint Christopher's Catholic Cycling Club Blog:
St. Christopher’s Long Distance Riders
Published: November 30, 2024
The Secret Weapon 4
Positioned at Central Control were a team of helpers including Mike Ralphs and Peter Hambley.
Engineer Peter had purchased a Hewlett Packhard 29 C programmable scientific calculator.
By inserting time of start for each rider, distance to Control where current time was added manually, an HMC sub routine gave speed of the rider and the additional lengths ridden could be added to give overall distance travelled.
After monitoring the riders over a number of races a pattern emerged. By studying rider speeds a decay in performance was noted and final distance predicted.
At 100 miles in the 1980 Championship John Cahill was riding at 25 miles per hour. John Woodburn was under 4 hours, 497 and 505miles were the respective finishing distances.
One rider however George Berwick Glasgow R.C. rode at constant speed throughout to complete 460 miles.
With this current information St Christopher’s had an advantage over opposing teams and it was 39 years before their record was beaten.
Saint Christopher's Catholic Cycling Club Blog:
St. Christopher’s Long Distance Riders
Published: November 30, 2024
Legends 3
John Cahill had studied at Leeds University where he met Roy Cromack, the first rider to complete over 500 miles in the 1969 RTTC 24 hour Championship. John was inspired resulting in his first success organised by the Catford CC. in 1971, previously mentioned.
He noted that Tyne R.C. won the team event for the third successive year. By 1975 he had managed to put together a team to compete in the Catford C.C. event. Supported by Michael Parker and Tommy Finney the North Staffs Section provided the winner in the RTTC National Championship with 469 miles and winning team with 1304 miles .
In1977 Mick Coupe a cousin of John joined the team together with the Coupe families in support. Founder Member and Treasurer of the Club in 1939, Mark Coupe, now a successful builder offered his support.
Each rider in an event would have a support vehicle manned with helpers responsible for arranging safe stops for feeding the rider, rest breaks, fitting lights and changing into night clothing.
The Cahill brothers drove for John, Coupe brothers for Mick, Parker brothers for Mike and Tony Crompton for Tommy.
The drivers of the cars could report to a Central Control positioned on an island, strategically at about 100 miles where the long legs of the course radiated out.
This organisation with the “Secret Weapon” allowed North Staffs to dominate the National 24 hour Championship for ten years up to 1981.
Refer to the Roll of Honour. Individual winners 4, Second place 6, Team winners 6.
Most notable 2 National records;
1979 C coupe 492, Cahill 489 and Parker 436, 1417 miles in the North Midlands event.
1980 Cahill 497, Coupe 476 and Finney 468, 1441 miles in the North Road event.
(This record was not beaten until 2015).
Saint Christopher's Catholic Cycling Club Blog:
St. Christopher’s Long Distance Riders
Published: November 23, 2024
Traversing the Country 2
There were records for competition by bicycle, tricycle, tandem and tandem tricycle.
In addition to the events organised under Road Time Trials Council rules, Place to Place and Distance rides were organised by the Roads Records Association and the Midlands Road Records Association.
Birmingham Section riders were ready to meet the challenge, Peter Swinden, John Withers, Pat Kenny, John Taylor and Sean McDonnell competed and their success is listed in the Roll of Honour.
A few of the most memorable rides are listed as follows:
1961 24 Hour Tandem 449.25 miles. Swinden and Withers (MRRA).
1964 1000 miles Tandem 2 days 18 hours and 9 minutes Swinden and Withers (RRA)
1965 Birmingham to Bristol and Back 160 miles in 7 hours 37 minutes and 33 seconds McDonnell (MRRA)
1965 24 Hour Tricycle 431.5 miles. Kenny (RRA)
1965 London to Edinburgh Tricycle 20 hours 48 minutes and 52 seconds. Kenny (RRA)
1966 Lands End to John o Groats Tandem 50 hours 14 minutes and 26 seconds Swinden and Withers (RRA) This record was not beaten until 2015 when the shortened route included the Forth Bridge.
1976 25 miles Straight Out Tricycle 1 hour 5 minutes and 58 seconds. Kenny (WRRA)
1977 Pembroke to London Tandem Tricycle 246 miles in 11hours 42 minutes and 5 seconds Kenny and Taylor (RRA)
Saint Christopher's Catholic Cycling Club Blog:
St. Christopher’s Long Distance Riders
Published: November 21, 2024
Early Years 1
On a Sunday in 1952 Joe Pond cycled 336 miles in 24 hours including a stop to attend Mass on the route.
Because Catholics had an obligation to attend Mass on Sunday and the Bishops refused a dispensation Joe had to modify the official R.T.T.C. route to include a diversion to a Church or Mass Centre.
Catholic racing cyclists were at a disadvantage so Joe presented the National Club with a Cup to suit the conditions.
Under the Joe Pond rules Len Richmond, Herts. Tony Davey, Liverpool, John Withers, Pat Kenny and Peter Swinden, Birmingham increased the mileage up to 438 by 1963.
Following the 1962 Vatican Council, Mass was available on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Birmingham presented a new Cup to the National Club and John Cahill, North Staffs competing under R.T.T.C. rules rode 464 miles to become 2nd in the 1971 National Championship.
The enthusiasm for long distance competition blossomed.
Saint Christopher's Catholic Cycling Club Blog:
Saint Christopher’s and Mountain Biking
Published: October 2, 2024
Martin Johnson. Charles Sampey, Reg Carter and Peter Hambley.
Jacob’s Ladder 27th January 1957
A new section has been added to the “History of the Club”: Mountain Biking and St Christopher’s
Saint Christopher's Catholic Cycling Club Blog:
Mayfest 2024
Published: July 26, 2024
Information on the tours around the Forest of Dean have now been published
Saint Christopher's Catholic Cycling Club Blog:
Mayfest -2024
Published: March 5, 2024
Sunday 12th – Wednesday 15th May
Tour of the Forest of Dean, River Wye, Symonds Yat and Monmouth.
Headquarters Angel Hotel , Coleford
Saint Christopher's Catholic Cycling Club Blog:
Tours
Published: December 31, 2023
New published in Foreign Tours
1946 Tour of Ireland
2001 Tour of Britanny
Saint Christopher's Catholic Cycling Club Blog:
Christmas Dinner
Published: December 29, 2023
6 members present including photographer Alan Preston
Bob Baker, Derek Everton, Alan Conlan, Peter Hambley, James Hambley and Judy Swinden at the Eccleshall Cafe
Saint Christopher's Catholic Cycling Club Blog:
1946 – Tour of Ireland
Published: August 28, 2023
August 1946
Frank McGatti organised a cycling tour of Ireland with ten riders including Eugene Donetti both members of the London Section .
Riders cycled to Liverpool and boarded a boat sailing to Belfast. Cycling then continued along the Coast of Northern Ireland and then down the West Coast to Galway. The train was taken across to Dublin and then cycling continued to Belfast
The route included the Mountains of Mourne, the summit of Slieve Donand 2796 ft. and a stay at the Silent Valley Youth Hostel on the 30th August.
Returning by boat to Liverpool.
Any information and pictures to support the publication of this item are welcome Peter Hambley.