Clarion Easter Meet, Beverly.
The day of departure to Beverly for the ‘National Clarion Easter Meet’ and as arranged Dave Bisset arrived to pick me, bike and luggage up.
1.30.pm and we were off heading for the M 62 and East Yorkshire with a slight wondering about holiday motorway traffic. The worry of heavy traffic came to nought as we had a trouble free trip all the way to Beverly, arriving in a couple of hours, the only traffic hold up was on entering the town itself.
We did have a pause in the journey as we neared Beverly, the sight of Martin Perfect on his loaded down bike prompted Dave to stop so we could give him a cheer. By the time we walked back to the main road to encourage Martin along on his marathon ride from London to Beverly, he had already passed us, ten minutes passed before it dawned on us that he had in fact sped passed.
Entering Beverly a London clarion jersey was spotted ahead, Martin had indeed beaten us into town.
HQ was found and after booking in I took a walk round the town as Dave began his task as National chairman of drawing together arrangements with ‘Meet’ organiser, Chris Goode.
Beverly is a great town to visit, full of interest and history with the impressive Minster and an equally impressive old church directly opposite HQ.
I wandered around before eventually arriving at the railway station, I was here out of a necessary need to find a wc. Suitably relieved I gave the station a good looking at and I have to say I have never seen a nicer, cleaner set of platforms all neatly shrouded by simple roof set off by the retained original cast iron entry to it.
Outside the station were bike racks and a row of hire bikes, interestingly the bikes were set up for twenty four hour use with impressive dynamo sets.
Back to HQ and a chat with friends old and new, particularly pleased as ever to see Ken Hemsley, club President. Dave and I then went in search of a chip shop and eventually found one, though I felt later that we should have looked a little further. The chips and fish were the darkest colour I have ever seen, well since my days in Cyprus at any rate, looking as though they were fried in(used) sump oil.
Starving as we were, we ate them, I pushed the possible consequences to the back of my mind.
Back to the impressive 300 year old HQ, where the famous Dick Turpin allegedly stayed, I think he must have been a forerunner of ‘Kilroy’ but ‘he’ visited mainly wc’s and not, as with Turpin, famous hostelries.
The visitor this evening was the Mayor who gave an inspiring welcome to the National Clarion with an invitation to explore the historical and interesting sights of Beverly. Socialising and eating of very tasty cake followed.
Dave and I then visited a local pub, a small place almost opposite HQ, and sampled a couple of pints of local brew while being entertained by the singing of an inebriate woman who seemed totally convinced she had star quality, she certainly had not.
Saturday morning and a good breakfast prior to the main event of the day, the A.G.M.
Now an A.G.M. is never particularly inspiring to the average member but this year the Clarion finds itself in a new era as membership increased at a rate not been seen since the dawning of the National Clarion in 1895.
We now have to face the fact that our trusty volunteers for committee are being stretched to the limit and some form of commerce will be a necessity, naturally this will come at a cost.
To meet these rising costs it will be necessary to increase the annual membership fee, in my opinion already far too minimal, by £2.00. It was thought that an increase in membership fees would be a contentious issue but common sense prevailed after the pointing out our already low fees were less than many monthly commercial cycling magazines, plus the fact that our national award nominated ‘Boots and Spurs’, alone is worth our meagre fee, the £2.00. increase was approved.
There is always a feeling of liberation on conclusion of the A.G.M. a let the ‘Easter Meet’ commence feeling. And so it was that the gathering for the afternoon rides began, a longer ride and a shorter ‘easier’ ride began.
Opting for an easier ride seemed to make sense as past experience has always proved that ride to be shorter but not always ‘easier’. An interesting ride round the YorkshireWolds ensued, though the arrival at the cafe stop of riders in dribs and drabs proved once again the easy rides can be anything but.
There was a good atmosphere though at the cafe and the dry conditions allowed dining out in the sheltered courtyard, the now together group enjoyed what a Clarion Meet was about, the wheels of social riding being the bond.
After lunch we returned to Beverly via wonderful quiet lanes through typical Yorkshire villages, had I been on my own many stops would have been made to record the beauty of these quiet places.
As on the outward leg the front runners set a pace that frequently required some catching up to be done, as far as I know though we lost no one and Beverly was reached without incident. It was an enjoyable afternoon. Before I leave this bit I have to mention the interest shown in the London Clarion jerseys, on the jersey pocket is the clarion logo with the name ‘Bolton Clarion’!
Come the evening, come the dancing, not ‘come dancing’ but more in the style of Ceilidh. Now Dave enjoyed dancing the night away so much at Scarborough he bought a new pair of dancing shoes in anticipation of more of the same, alas it was not to be. After the opening country dance,the band by the way was fantastic, Dave sat the rest of the dancing out morphing into a wallflower, tight shoes?
The leader of the music trio was a fantastic fiddler and he really did entertain and was the star of the evening, the audience clapping enthusiastically after every performance.
Sunday morning highlight was a very good breakfast despite a thin veil of smoke over the dining room and the heavy smell of burnt toast. Dave decided the toaster was toasting too lightly and put his two slices back in and out came two pieces of black charcoal,I chuckled at this for some time.
Two rides were on offer in the morning and before setting off we had a gathering for the traditional photo shoot and on a bright sunny morning we posed with the ancient church opposite HQ as an attractive backdrop.
After much dis organisation we eventually got it together and the two groups were off,the shorter ride heading for the mighty Humber Bridge.
It was a sunny start to the day, quite cool but the forecast of bad weather came to nought, we however did have a little drizzle as skies became grey and overcast.
As the day before, the fitness of the leader again was obvious as the group began to string out resulting in frequent regrouping. The Wolds, though not hilly but rolling become hard when tackled at speed. Again as the day before the leaders had to be praised for choice of route, quiet lanes and roads that eventually gained distant views of our destination, the bridge.
Just below the bridge is a kind of park with about three or four chuck wagons and here we dined on a variety of choice fast foods, mine being a giant hot dog covered in mustard, perhaps I was just starving but it tasted delicious and washed down with a mug of tea.
Time now to tackle the bridge and with a near gale force wind across the wide estuary we were virtually blown across, a wonderful experience though I was aware the return leg would be a trifle harder. A trifle harder was an understatement, it was very hard. Steve Menhams rode away from me as I began to wilt in the wind then a huge shape shot past me, with an all out effort I jumped across to catch the back wheel of Dave, it was like suddenly being behind a barn door.
On regrouping at the far end of the bridge we learned the group had split in two,the others opting to return without the bridge crossing. The return to Beverly was again led with perfection though when just a few miles from the town my aged legs began to falter, the dreaded bonk was rearing it’s head. Another regrouping allowed a bit of recovery and the will not to die returned, so much so that with just a couple of miles to go, and for no apparent reason an all out sprint began.
I was hooked, my seventy six year old legs were dragged into the mad dash by my teenage head, the thrill of the chase was not forgotten.
I was impressed with the youngest and littlest rider Alex Ball, I’m convinced this kid is going to be a star. How he manages to wind up those little legs without so much as heavy breathing at 18 and 20 mph is amazing. I surprised myself with the effort I managed to drag from myself, though unlike little Alex, heavy breathing gave away the effort it took.
On the programme for the final day of events was an arrangement with a local pub to screen the finale of the classic Amstel Gold cycle race. The distance of the days rides should allow a return early enough to catch the programme, or so it was thought.
After stowing my bike away in the superb lock up provided by HQ I walked on wobbly legs to the pub and on getting there found Steve Menhams at the bar. Steve asked the barmaid about putting the cycle race on the large tv screens as it seemed Premiership football was the prime interest.
Steve explained to the lady that loads of cyclists would soon be entering the pub and if cycling was not screened they would move off elsewhere. A puzzled looking barmaid phoned someone, presumably the landlord, still looking puzzled she put down the phone. No cycling on tv, end of.
A few disconsolate cyclists left the pub but were soon forgetting their disappointment as a first class chip shop was found close by, nothing beats the comfort eating of fish and chips.
As Dave was busy finalising matters with organiser Chris Goode for the evening, I accompanied Ian Clarke in tracking down Bob Harber at a highly recommended pub,good beer, lowest price and very traditional. It was as Bob said, cheap good beer, and as traditional a pub as you will find anywhere.
Back to HQ and get ready for the big night, the ‘Annual Presentation’, the night members contributions to the National Clarion are recognised on merit and competition, not forgetting of course, the ‘Big Raffle’.
Dave and I were honoured to be placed on the same table as the ‘Guest of Honour’, a man most if not all racing cyclists will have heard of, non other than Peter Read, author of the famed ‘white’ ‘blue’ and ‘black’ books on interval training. I was doubly honoured to be sat at his side.
After our chief guest’s interesting talk giving an insight to his coaching and his famous clients it was time for the awards presentation.
National racing Secretary Francis Grafton called forward the trophy winners who were then handed their awards by Peter Read. The last trophy to be awarded is the most revered ‘Tom Groome’ trophy, a stunning solid silver award that is priceless to the National Clarion. The winners this year being the East Yorkshire Clarion in recognition of the work they have done over the last two years organising the Easter Meets atScarborough and Beverly, both being exceptional events.
I have never won a raffle prize over the many years I have been to the annual meets, this year was an exception, I won, only one, a box of beauty skin soap,shampoo, and cologne, to think I have waited years for this when it’s all too late.
Well the weekend is almost over and we pack our stuff in Dave’s car, this time we stuff Steve Menhams in as well, Steve had ridden over but will be working the next day so a lift is more than welcome.
Before we leave Dave takes us back to the market square, he had spotted a sign of great interest over one of the shops, a cast iron ‘winged wheel’ of the C.T.C.
Another trouble free journey back over the Pennines, another enjoyable Easter Meet and we are back indear old Bolton. Next year? Well a fifty thousand dollar question, as yet we do not have an organiser, a rather odd end to a successful event,particularly as the club now has over 1500 members and still growing. Let’s hope that among our new members is someone keen to continue the tradition of the unique ‘Easter Meet’.
1.30.pm and we were off heading for the M 62 and East Yorkshire with a slight wondering about holiday motorway traffic. The worry of heavy traffic came to nought as we had a trouble free trip all the way to Beverly, arriving in a couple of hours, the only traffic hold up was on entering the town itself.
We did have a pause in the journey as we neared Beverly, the sight of Martin Perfect on his loaded down bike prompted Dave to stop so we could give him a cheer. By the time we walked back to the main road to encourage Martin along on his marathon ride from London to Beverly, he had already passed us, ten minutes passed before it dawned on us that he had in fact sped passed.
Entering Beverly a London clarion jersey was spotted ahead, Martin had indeed beaten us into town.
HQ was found and after booking in I took a walk round the town as Dave began his task as National chairman of drawing together arrangements with ‘Meet’ organiser, Chris Goode.
Beverly is a great town to visit, full of interest and history with the impressive Minster and an equally impressive old church directly opposite HQ.
I wandered around before eventually arriving at the railway station, I was here out of a necessary need to find a wc. Suitably relieved I gave the station a good looking at and I have to say I have never seen a nicer, cleaner set of platforms all neatly shrouded by simple roof set off by the retained original cast iron entry to it.
Outside the station were bike racks and a row of hire bikes, interestingly the bikes were set up for twenty four hour use with impressive dynamo sets.
Back to HQ and a chat with friends old and new, particularly pleased as ever to see Ken Hemsley, club President. Dave and I then went in search of a chip shop and eventually found one, though I felt later that we should have looked a little further. The chips and fish were the darkest colour I have ever seen, well since my days in Cyprus at any rate, looking as though they were fried in(used) sump oil.
Starving as we were, we ate them, I pushed the possible consequences to the back of my mind.
Back to the impressive 300 year old HQ, where the famous Dick Turpin allegedly stayed, I think he must have been a forerunner of ‘Kilroy’ but ‘he’ visited mainly wc’s and not, as with Turpin, famous hostelries.
The visitor this evening was the Mayor who gave an inspiring welcome to the National Clarion with an invitation to explore the historical and interesting sights of Beverly. Socialising and eating of very tasty cake followed.
Dave and I then visited a local pub, a small place almost opposite HQ, and sampled a couple of pints of local brew while being entertained by the singing of an inebriate woman who seemed totally convinced she had star quality, she certainly had not.
Saturday morning and a good breakfast prior to the main event of the day, the A.G.M.
Now an A.G.M. is never particularly inspiring to the average member but this year the Clarion finds itself in a new era as membership increased at a rate not been seen since the dawning of the National Clarion in 1895.
We now have to face the fact that our trusty volunteers for committee are being stretched to the limit and some form of commerce will be a necessity, naturally this will come at a cost.
To meet these rising costs it will be necessary to increase the annual membership fee, in my opinion already far too minimal, by £2.00. It was thought that an increase in membership fees would be a contentious issue but common sense prevailed after the pointing out our already low fees were less than many monthly commercial cycling magazines, plus the fact that our national award nominated ‘Boots and Spurs’, alone is worth our meagre fee, the £2.00. increase was approved.
There is always a feeling of liberation on conclusion of the A.G.M. a let the ‘Easter Meet’ commence feeling. And so it was that the gathering for the afternoon rides began, a longer ride and a shorter ‘easier’ ride began.
Opting for an easier ride seemed to make sense as past experience has always proved that ride to be shorter but not always ‘easier’. An interesting ride round the YorkshireWolds ensued, though the arrival at the cafe stop of riders in dribs and drabs proved once again the easy rides can be anything but.
There was a good atmosphere though at the cafe and the dry conditions allowed dining out in the sheltered courtyard, the now together group enjoyed what a Clarion Meet was about, the wheels of social riding being the bond.
After lunch we returned to Beverly via wonderful quiet lanes through typical Yorkshire villages, had I been on my own many stops would have been made to record the beauty of these quiet places.
As on the outward leg the front runners set a pace that frequently required some catching up to be done, as far as I know though we lost no one and Beverly was reached without incident. It was an enjoyable afternoon. Before I leave this bit I have to mention the interest shown in the London Clarion jerseys, on the jersey pocket is the clarion logo with the name ‘Bolton Clarion’!
Come the evening, come the dancing, not ‘come dancing’ but more in the style of Ceilidh. Now Dave enjoyed dancing the night away so much at Scarborough he bought a new pair of dancing shoes in anticipation of more of the same, alas it was not to be. After the opening country dance,the band by the way was fantastic, Dave sat the rest of the dancing out morphing into a wallflower, tight shoes?
The leader of the music trio was a fantastic fiddler and he really did entertain and was the star of the evening, the audience clapping enthusiastically after every performance.
Sunday morning highlight was a very good breakfast despite a thin veil of smoke over the dining room and the heavy smell of burnt toast. Dave decided the toaster was toasting too lightly and put his two slices back in and out came two pieces of black charcoal,I chuckled at this for some time.
Two rides were on offer in the morning and before setting off we had a gathering for the traditional photo shoot and on a bright sunny morning we posed with the ancient church opposite HQ as an attractive backdrop.
After much dis organisation we eventually got it together and the two groups were off,the shorter ride heading for the mighty Humber Bridge.
It was a sunny start to the day, quite cool but the forecast of bad weather came to nought, we however did have a little drizzle as skies became grey and overcast.
As the day before, the fitness of the leader again was obvious as the group began to string out resulting in frequent regrouping. The Wolds, though not hilly but rolling become hard when tackled at speed. Again as the day before the leaders had to be praised for choice of route, quiet lanes and roads that eventually gained distant views of our destination, the bridge.
Just below the bridge is a kind of park with about three or four chuck wagons and here we dined on a variety of choice fast foods, mine being a giant hot dog covered in mustard, perhaps I was just starving but it tasted delicious and washed down with a mug of tea.
Time now to tackle the bridge and with a near gale force wind across the wide estuary we were virtually blown across, a wonderful experience though I was aware the return leg would be a trifle harder. A trifle harder was an understatement, it was very hard. Steve Menhams rode away from me as I began to wilt in the wind then a huge shape shot past me, with an all out effort I jumped across to catch the back wheel of Dave, it was like suddenly being behind a barn door.
On regrouping at the far end of the bridge we learned the group had split in two,the others opting to return without the bridge crossing. The return to Beverly was again led with perfection though when just a few miles from the town my aged legs began to falter, the dreaded bonk was rearing it’s head. Another regrouping allowed a bit of recovery and the will not to die returned, so much so that with just a couple of miles to go, and for no apparent reason an all out sprint began.
I was hooked, my seventy six year old legs were dragged into the mad dash by my teenage head, the thrill of the chase was not forgotten.
I was impressed with the youngest and littlest rider Alex Ball, I’m convinced this kid is going to be a star. How he manages to wind up those little legs without so much as heavy breathing at 18 and 20 mph is amazing. I surprised myself with the effort I managed to drag from myself, though unlike little Alex, heavy breathing gave away the effort it took.
On the programme for the final day of events was an arrangement with a local pub to screen the finale of the classic Amstel Gold cycle race. The distance of the days rides should allow a return early enough to catch the programme, or so it was thought.
After stowing my bike away in the superb lock up provided by HQ I walked on wobbly legs to the pub and on getting there found Steve Menhams at the bar. Steve asked the barmaid about putting the cycle race on the large tv screens as it seemed Premiership football was the prime interest.
Steve explained to the lady that loads of cyclists would soon be entering the pub and if cycling was not screened they would move off elsewhere. A puzzled looking barmaid phoned someone, presumably the landlord, still looking puzzled she put down the phone. No cycling on tv, end of.
A few disconsolate cyclists left the pub but were soon forgetting their disappointment as a first class chip shop was found close by, nothing beats the comfort eating of fish and chips.
As Dave was busy finalising matters with organiser Chris Goode for the evening, I accompanied Ian Clarke in tracking down Bob Harber at a highly recommended pub,good beer, lowest price and very traditional. It was as Bob said, cheap good beer, and as traditional a pub as you will find anywhere.
Back to HQ and get ready for the big night, the ‘Annual Presentation’, the night members contributions to the National Clarion are recognised on merit and competition, not forgetting of course, the ‘Big Raffle’.
Dave and I were honoured to be placed on the same table as the ‘Guest of Honour’, a man most if not all racing cyclists will have heard of, non other than Peter Read, author of the famed ‘white’ ‘blue’ and ‘black’ books on interval training. I was doubly honoured to be sat at his side.
After our chief guest’s interesting talk giving an insight to his coaching and his famous clients it was time for the awards presentation.
National racing Secretary Francis Grafton called forward the trophy winners who were then handed their awards by Peter Read. The last trophy to be awarded is the most revered ‘Tom Groome’ trophy, a stunning solid silver award that is priceless to the National Clarion. The winners this year being the East Yorkshire Clarion in recognition of the work they have done over the last two years organising the Easter Meets atScarborough and Beverly, both being exceptional events.
I have never won a raffle prize over the many years I have been to the annual meets, this year was an exception, I won, only one, a box of beauty skin soap,shampoo, and cologne, to think I have waited years for this when it’s all too late.
Well the weekend is almost over and we pack our stuff in Dave’s car, this time we stuff Steve Menhams in as well, Steve had ridden over but will be working the next day so a lift is more than welcome.
Before we leave Dave takes us back to the market square, he had spotted a sign of great interest over one of the shops, a cast iron ‘winged wheel’ of the C.T.C.
Another trouble free journey back over the Pennines, another enjoyable Easter Meet and we are back indear old Bolton. Next year? Well a fifty thousand dollar question, as yet we do not have an organiser, a rather odd end to a successful event,particularly as the club now has over 1500 members and still growing. Let’s hope that among our new members is someone keen to continue the tradition of the unique ‘Easter Meet’.
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