Summer - Norwood Paragon

www.NorwoodParagon.co.uk Summer 2008

WARNING! Riding into the side of a van can seriously disrupt your
racing season. I discovered this the hard way on 1st July, the result of
which was a broken shoulder. So far I’ve had one operation to rebuild
me and with another to look forward to I’ve had plenty of time to watch
every mile of the Tour de France while I convalesce and with the
Olympics coming up, I should get to watch this too!
This editions cover picture shows a few of our members travelling out
to the alps to compete in various cyclo sportifs such as the Etape or
Marmotte. And while some of us get to travel by road others are
fortunate enough to journey by private jet, which is nice.
While sportifs are a relatively new and exciting branch of cycle sport,
we haven’t been moving away from the more competitive side with our
members racing regularly gaining the fine results that we’ve come to
expect. This issue has a very informative and amusing member profile
to read along with an interesting diary from Chris Moores detailing his
experiences in the Milk Ras.
Should you have any articles or content for BLAH then please pass this
on to me.
Stephen Roach July 2008
_________________________________________________________________
Surrey League Handicap Championships Our next club promotion is on August
31st and if you’re not racing and are available then Nigel Carpenter (the organiser)
would like to hear from you as these events always run best with lots of help.
British Cycling's Chief Executive, Peter King, will be the guest speaker at our
annual Prize Presentation & Buffet on 8 November. This is an event not to miss
where we can celebrate another year of our club and catch up with each other in
relaxed surroundings. Further details will be in future ‘What’s Parag On’ and on our
website.
www.NorwoodParagon.co.uk has had its content updated greatly of late thanks to
Pete Ansell, so do make the most of this resource. Right now the homepage shows
Andy McKie - clear winner of the MOD 3rd Category RR on12th July!
www.NorwoodParagon.co.uk 2 Summer 2008

Comment by Johnnie Dennis
Reading through your racing report of May 12-18 warms the cockles of the heart! That's the stuff for the Club to
retain its top status, and your work to cover such a range of events is to be commended.
If I have any misgivings its the fact that only one man was racing on the track, but he did get a second place. Reflecting
on past glories it must be remembered that the Paragon's strength at Herne Hill in the 50s was due to the
fact that there was no real road racing at that time, just a few circuit events. So many of the riders of that day
would, by today's standards, have been racing and probably winning on the road if the races had been available. A
few of us did travel to Manchester, Coventry, Paddington and Southampton and numerous grass tracks around the
country but of course none of us had cars so it made travelling away a different experience when compared with
today's conditions.
The wide variety of racing opportunities today is much to be envied. Mountain bikes, cyclo cross and event triathlons
were all unheard of 50 or so years ago, and ironically track racing is the discipline that has suffered most
largely due to the absence of suitable modern velodromes.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Les Ingman RR 2008
A field of just under 60 riders tackled the Les Ingman Memorial Race on the tough Bletchingley circuit.
The Norwood Paragon promotion attracted a strong field, undeterred by the hills or the threat
of rain for the afternoon. The race split early on with a group of about 15 riders breaking clear on
the first lap up the long climb. Five other riders, including two London Dynamo’s and two Norwood
Paragons bridged across to the leaders leaving the trailing bunch to chase for the remainder of the
race.
With seven laps to go, the front break settled into a good rhythm punctuated by various attacks.
Chris McNamara (Wildside) was part of a strong move of 6 riders which broke clear for a few miles,
but this was reeled back in. Likewise Medway Velo’s Gareth McCullough made a spirited move together
with Marcus Brueton (Norwood Paragon) although this was also in vain. The evergreen
Steve Gowar put in a solo bid for freedom on the 4 th lap and stayed clear for almost an entire lap,
however he was caught as the hills took their toll.
It was McNamara who instigated the key move on the main climb during the 5 th lap. In a blistering
attack he rode clear of the break with only McCullough, Chris Moores (Norwood Paragon) and Steve
Hone (Twickenham CC) for company. This quartet proceeded to work well together, although their
lead remained at only 20 seconds for quite a while. Various riders attempted to jump across with
London Dynamo’s Paul Delahunty proving the only successful candidate whilst Hone dropped back
to the chasers unable to match the pace being set by the leaders.
True to form the weather played its part and soaked the riders, causing many of the fragmented
bunch to pull out and whittling down further the chasers behind the front break. Entering the final
lap, McNamara’s group was comfortably clear and the pace was slowing on the hills for the chasers.
Dulwich Dynamo’s Kevin Knox made a plucky move and rode away from the 2 nd group on the climb
up to Outwood Common following a crash on the previous lap. Meanwhile the leaders rode the hill
one last time to Bletchingley before descending to turn and off the circuit to the flat finish. Delahunty
(London Dynamo) made an early move in the sprint and took an impressive victory comfortably
ahead of Medway VC’s McCullough with McNamara and Moores settling for 3 rd and 4 th respectively
.
Knox’s gamble paid off as the chasers got to within 10 seconds of him, then foolishly sat up as tactics
came into play ahead of the final sprint. Knox took 5 th place whilst Medway Velo’s Ivan Jordan
lead in the chasers half a wheel ahead of Norwood Paragon’s Marcus Brueton and Andy Davis (Fit-
For). Justin Lomas (Norwood Paragon) lead in the next group to take 19 th place whilst TSN’s Adam
Cotterill lead in the last main group on the road bringing to a close a challenging day’s racing. The
final Paragon lineup at the finish was Chris 4th, Marcus 7th, Mike Hawkins 12th, Justin Lomas 19th,
Jason Humphries 32nd, Anthony Chandlen 36th and John Masters 37th.
www.NorwoodParagon.co.uk 3 Summer 2008

A whole load of TOSH
The Tour of the Surrey Hills (TOSH — get it!) is a 110km Audax event held each
August starting and finishing in Shere, near Guildford.
Marcus sent a few emails to the club about the event and having pulled out two
years previously due to mechanical failure I thought it was about time I ticked it off
the list. Prior memories of the event were of James Shrubsall “riding it like a
25” (his own words!) off the front. The rest of us left him dangling there until he
was wound back in to become a shadow of his former self. That day saw Wozza &
Ed Pickering leading the field home, but of course it isn’t a race is it.
In timely fashion I sent off my entry two days before the event and arranged to
meet Marcus in Reigate on the morning of the ride so we could pedal out to the
HQ. However, overnight rain and a grim forecast caused me to drive down. I
passed Marcus and John Masters on the A25 pedalling along looking decidedly
moist but happily chatting away for a change. I felt mildly guilty for not riding with
them but these feelings soon left me as the spray from my car obliterated them
from view.
Audax events do draw in some interesting types so it was nice to have spare time
at the HQ prior to the start to people watch while I feasted on coffee and biscuits.
A damp but smiling Marcus, accompanied by John Masters and Kevin Davey soon
arrived and before long it was 0958 and off we went. The event literally crisscrosses
the Surrey Hills, never getting too far from the HQ, but with all the steep
ups and downs along narrow, wet and twisty roads it soon became a real test of
bike handling and fitness. Fortunately navigation was easy as we knew the course
very well and thankfully the rain eased off which made the conditions far more
pleasant
.
As the miles were eaten up and the fatigue drew in the effort became harder with
the final few miles becoming a modest test of attrition. 65 miles isn’t a great distance
for a Paragon, but with lots of up and down it proved tough enough for me
and the final haul up over Ranmore had me staring at Marcus’s back wheel and
willing myself to hang on. Thankfully it was only a few minutes of suffering and we
were soon whizzing downhill towards Shere and the finish.
One of the best parts about of an Audax event that I’ve seen is the food at the
end. I’m not sure if it’s the same at all events of this type but the savoury spread at
the end meets a cyclists needs spot on. Sandwiches, pork pies, quiche & even
jelly..… the list went on and on, and really hit the spot.
This event is well worth doing for the training, the view, the company or simply the
consolation of seeing your clubmate suffering on your wheel.
Regrettably, I won’t be riding this year but I trust there will be some Paragon’s in
the event on Sunday 17 th August.
Stephen Roach
www.NorwoodParagon.co.uk 4 Summer 2008

Member Profile—Alan Bristow
First cycling memories and other sporting endeavours
Riding a tricycle in the streets in the Lordship Lane area of Dulwich aged about five in 1942. Going to Herne Hill
track asking to see my father who was officiating and getting in for free, this was about 1945/6.
About this time I had my first two-wheel bike with my mother trying to teach me to ride it in our passageway. I kept
on leaning against the wall, not having the confidence to do otherwise. My mother decided that sterner measures
were required, so out into the street we went. Me riding on the pavement, her holding the saddle.
I sensed when she let go, the next challenge was to turn a corner and this was accomplished. I then entered a new
world, the next couple of hours spent riding the streets of Greenwich.
About age 11 or 12 my mother brought me a Philips-Vox-Populi blue frame with dropped handlebars. The first day
out I went down the middle of the tramlines, fortunately with no damage.
I then decided to venture further afield, setting out for Rochester with pocket money and sandwiches. I pressed on
past Rochester, eventually turning left to the Isle of Sheppey; this must have been around 1950 (age 13) and several
years before the new bridge was built. The road across to the Isle of Sheppey in those days meandered, now
the A240 steamrollers its way to Sheerness, not so attractive.
Pushing on I reached Sheerness, the legs protesting. Having eaten all my food and spent my money on the slot
machines I turned for home in Greenwich. The Sags were now in evidence. Those last miles along the Rochester
Way (A2) were agony, I was nearly in tears finally reaching home having taken seven hours to cover 38 miles.
I had a go at other sports. At school I was persuaded to enter a boxing contest consisting of three one-minute
rounds. I landed with a haymaker, my opponent was not impressed and proceeded to give me a boxing lesson —
he was taught to box while I’d never had a lesson in my life. I could not get near the bastard and lost on points.
Played cricket, highest score 7 — a slashed 4 another slash for 3, then bowled next ball. Believe it or not I was the
team’s highest scorer and we lost heavily.
Took up judo at 15 but gave up after being thrown around by some gorilla. Football; they put you in goal if you were
no good so that was where I landed up. One match we were one down at half-time with the wind and rain on our
back. The second half, facing the adverse conditions, they scored nine. We hardly got out of our penalty area, it
was like Custer’s Last Stand without the horses. Worst of all, the goals had no nets; I must have walked miles retrieving
the ball. I never got the call from Charlton Athletic!
What got me into cycling
It was the name of Louison Bobet, winner of the Tour de France in 1953. His name conjured up something magical,
so I blame it all on him.
I then decided to join a local cycling club, the Catford CC. I mentioned this to my father, his expression registered
6.5 on the Richter scale. “You don’t want to join that crowd,” he said. He paid 12/6 (62½ pence) junior fee and took
me down to the Gun Tavern in Croydon where I was introduced all round and also to a certain Keith Butler. This
was in September 1954.
I had brought my first ‘real’ bike from R.O. Harrisson whose shop was in Peckham. The frame was black, nothing
fancy. Went out with the club, they seemed to ride up hills just as fast as on the flat.
In 1955 I joined Brian Newcombe on cycling tour of Scotland. Brian said the first night’s stop was Lancaster. About
11.30 at night, in the middle of nowhere, pushing our bikes up a hill, I decided to sleep in a field with Lancaster
miles away. After a restless night we managed to get to Lancaster for a hearty breakfast. We took £10 each, some
digs costing 10/- (50 pence), averaging 125 miles per day over 10 days and one day only riding 12 miles. We
ended up in Fort William. Such was my introduction to touring.
Arrived back in London just about skint. I took a ride to Sheerness and back, this time no problem, aged 18 — last
time I was 13 and suffered.
First race and most embarrassing moment
My first race was a disaster. The Kentish Wheelers novices’ ‘25’ on the G9 Cherry Tree I caught two or three riders
and reached the turn gaining confidence, when at Crawley roundabout it happened — hunger knock, slower and
slower, riders passing me. I got off at Salfords, finish at Earlswood Lakes. Finished in 1-20-58. There were two riders
slower than me so god knows what happened to them.
The most disappointing aspect was that I was on for a 1-6, which would have got me in the winning team. However,
the lads beat the Redmon by nearly four minutes, with Keith Butler, R. Chittenden and C. Paxton doing the
business.
Best cycling moment
Was in the Kingston Phoenix RC 2nd class ‘25’ on the Portsmouth Road. I had a one-minute handicap which indicated
I had a good chance of winning something. Full of confidence at catching three riders, second fastest to the
turn by one second into a headwind, nearly four minutes faster on the return, losing some 18 seconds to the eventual
winner D. Sexton (Kingston Rd CC). Him 1-4-03, me 1-4-22. I was second leading the winning team and sharing
first handicap. I was backed up by Ron Stempfer and Len Saunders.
www.NorwoodParagon.co.uk 5 Summer 2008

It was to be three years before I beat Len Saunders again. I also won £3-5s (£3-25p) I received a post card from St
Ives from Valerie Taylor (nee Butler) congratulating me on my ‘benefit’. I still have the postcard, Val.
Went on a cycling tour of Wales with Keith Butler, Chris Gray & Tony Davey. None of us rode gears. It was the first
time Stan Butler had sold four single free sprockets in one day. We had gears of 64’ on one side and 72’ fixed on
the other. Ever drank five milkshakes one after another We did, trying all the flavours at 1/- (5p) a time.
Got into a top-class ‘50’ on the Southend Road with riders of the calibre such as Ron Jowers, Brian Wiltcher, Alf
Engers, Jon Finch and Bob Addy, also an up and coming Mick Ballard riding, in those days for the Dartford Wheelers.
Jowers equalled Comp Record with 1-53-56, Wilcher
next 1-54-17, Engers 3rd 1-56-18. This was
Engers’s first time under two hours — he caught
me for six minutes, dropping me for nearly three.
With 15 mins handicap I earned £1 for 3rd place.
My 2-5-15 was a PB but well down the field in 54th
place.
Alan Sturgess managed 2-1-18 and Chris Gray,
now with the Festival, 1-59-13. I had my knuckles
rapped by the committee as I had entered independently
and not through the Open TT Secretary.
In 1962 I began to travel the world — got as far as
Denmark. Worked for the Danske Maelke Compagni
in Copenhagen stacking up crates of milk,
and had a go at selling easily constructible small
warehouses. Successful at the former, not so good
at the latter.
1965 saw me at Herne Hill to assist with the club
track championship and they asked for more riders.
I said if a bike could be found I would have a
go. A bike was found so no turning back.
Came nowhere except in the 500 yards handicap, which I won on a long mark. Alan Sturgess and Les Black were
busy keeping an eye on each other, by the time they realised what I was up to it was too late.
My very last event was a club ‘25’ — my 1-7-49 was way behind Les Black who won with a 1-2. I always gauged my
times against the winners. My best ‘25’ was nearly six minutes adrift and my ‘50’ almost almost 12 minutes, so I was
clearly outclassed.
I did try some massed starts but was no hill climber. One event down Portsmouth way on a flat circuit there was a
prime every other lap. I ‘won’ a lap but it was not a prime lap, talk about using your brain!
There was one event which always had a top-class field, the Worthing Bash. Robin Buchan and I were both on 68’
fixed, the rest on gears, and he said to me that we might be in for trouble, fortunately the action did not start until the
climb out of Horsham. The Worthing bridge was narrow in those days so you had to be careful when sprinting for it I
won the sprint with Keith Butler obligingly making a mess of his gear change, LAUGH. This epic occurred about the
late fifties.
My top tips
• One quote from Eddie Wingrave. Miles bring fitness and fitness brings speed.
• Ride your bike wherever possible.
• If riding to work make sure you can take it inside and not locked to railings.
• Take up track riding, it teaches bike handling and really opens up the lungs.
• Keep your articles as short and succinct as possible, think of the editor.
Career Highlights
1956: Open team Medal 2nd class event. 1st counter. 2nd place. Shared 1st handicap
1958: Club Purley-Brighton. 3rd place. 2nd handicap. Open team Medal, 3rd counter.
1959: Medal for completing club reliability 100 in 6 hours.
Club Purley-Brighton 3rd place
Personal best 25. 1-2-05.
Club standard medal for 25, 1-3-20.
1960: 1st club 30. PB 1-17-07.
4th best placing in open ‘25’
Open 50, PS 2-5-I5. 3rd handicap.
1965: Track. 1st 550 yard handicap
I still have the result sheets when Alf Engers got under the hour for a ‘25’ and two hours for a ‘50’. He was charismatic,
controversial and one hell of a rider. I would like to meet him one day. My all-time favourite rider was Jacques
www.NorwoodParagon.co.uk 6 Summer 2008

Anquetil, we were both the same height (5' 7") and that is where the comparison ends. Favourite track rider Dave
Rickets (Polytechnic CC). He always seemed to win. I like to think it was yelling him on as a 10 year old. I never
spoke to him personally, I wish I had.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
MILK RAS
The Rás Tailteann (aka the FBD Insurance Ras) is an annual eight-day international stage race,
held in Ireland in May. Our very own Chris Moores was selected to ride as part of the Surrey
League team for this year’s event. Well done to Chris for getting round, and let’s hope his entertaining
account of the race can inspire other Paragons to go for selection in subsequent years.
Sunday May 18, Stage 1
Navan to Ballinamore (142km)
After an introduction to the gathered public, and a bearable walking pace parade through the
town centre, we rolled to the outskirts of Navan, a little bit outside of Dublin.
Pity the poor soul whose tyre blew as the flag dropped. It wasn’t ridiculously frantic, but a favourable
wind meant we covered 98km in the first two hours. I heard he was unable to regain contact,
although credit where its due — he rolled in less than half an hour down, after a day at the
coalface.
The bunch was incredibly fluid, and it was hard work to maintain position. I spent most of my
time in the back third. A couple of crashes kept me on my toes. The Pezula boys were flying,
and nailed it on the front for the best part of an hour, successfully reeling in the break. It got a bit
grippy near the back on a couple of small rises in the last 10k, as the pace wound up at the front.
A sizeable crowd was waiting at the finish town, bigger than the average Tuesday night at
Hillingdon for sure. They even needed to be kept behind barriers. I snuck into the top 100, with a
place to spare. Team support had a fine spread waiting for us. Top marks there.
Myself and Andy Bye had to bunk down in the back of the team’s stickered-up transit van for the
short transfer back to the hotel. Pitch black, we were crashing around against all sorts of tools
and trickery. I’m sure behind the tinted windows of the Rapha people carrier we’d find Messrs
Newton and House in a similar state of distress.
Monday May 19, Stage 2
Ballinamore to Claremorris (167km)
Yesterday was the longest race I’ve ridden. Today was longer, just over a ton. I had to force
breakfast down. Not likely to be the trickiest part of the day, but unpleasant nonetheless. In the
face of common wisdom, I usually don’t eat until mid-morning.
The schools on the race route line up the pupils, hand them flags, and tell them to make as
much noise as possible as the riders pass. We passed several schools today. Equally impressive
are the crowds as we pass through the town centres en-route. The towns grind to a halt, the
shops and pubs empty, and people stand on the pavements and clap. No throwing of missiles.
Special mention to Dean Downing, who punctured just after a big group of riders had congregated
off the front, having shot off in small groups. He flew through the bunch, heading straight
on up the road. Super smooth, he made it look easy on his way to winning the stage.
A category-three climb over a ridge at half-distance cemented the split, and the bulk of the race
conceded more than seven minutes to a group which contained all the big hitters. Bye had a
solid ride to finish in the lead group of 14. I clipped off the front of the second peloton with a few
miles remaining to salvage a couple of minutes. The podium girl was rather attractive. Should
have tried harder.
I decided to warm down by riding a hundred or so 50m laps round a small green, getting dizzy in
the process. Job done for the day, we were rewarded with a stay at a very tasteful hotel. Little to
do except nap, and have a paddle in the pool.
www.NorwoodParagon.co.uk 7 Summer 2008

Tuesday May 20, Stage 3
Claremorris to Lisdoonvarna (133km)
On paper, a short stage. But we were warned that the wind would play a big part in the race, and
the last 40k, on lumpy coastal roads would make for a pretty uncomfortable run-in.
The first two hours were into a fierce headwind, along a main road several lanes wide. The motorcycle
marshals do a fine job of stopping oncoming traffic, insisting they park up on the side of
the road. The race surged, lining out, and bunching up. We belted along for spells, 140 riders in
file.
What motorists who are pulled up on the verge make of a line of cyclists a quarter of a mile long,
riding straight at them on the wrong side of the road, and flicking round at the last possible moment
— when there is 20m of empty tarmac on the other side of the road, I don’t know.
Gaps would open, as riders popped. Temporary relief came every once in a while as riders
spread across the road as the pace slowed.
Rounding a headland, the scenery was ace. A geographer by trade, the raised beaches, and
limestone pavement were fine case study material.
A couple of wild horses bolted, and ran into the middle of the peloton. They joined in for a while,
keeping a steady but slightly slower speed. Someone at the front had the sportsmanship to ease
the pace, panic over.
A category-three and a category-one climb were the sting in the tail of today’s stage. I was
swinging a little, and was at the back. The collective groan at the back of the peloton as we
turned a 90 degree corner to be faced with a one-in-five nearly brought us to a standstill. Cresting
the top, there was a five-metre gap to a big group of riders. I didn’t have the legs to slip it into
the 11 and jump across, so was consigned to cover the last 5k in a small chase group off the
back of the peloton.
Team-mates Chris McNamara and Andy Bye made a break of around 20, hot on the heels of
stage winner Chris Newton and Ireland’s David McCann, a fine ride by them.
Wednesday May 21, Stage 4
Corofin to Tralee (156km)
The forecast on Tuesday evening showed the whole of Ireland covered under a giant raincloud,
with a strong south-easterly wind. Morale was poor as soon as the curtains confirmed steady
rain. The short transfer to the start town was sombre. It called for some ravey davey trance music
to lift the spirits. Definitely one of those mornings when you wonder what you do it for.
Trusty directeur sportif Keith Butler, he of several years as a pro, was good for some support. He
could see I was as grey as the clouds, and assured me that everyone else would be feeling the
same thing. Someone quipped at sign-on that the stage had been cancelled. If only!
While fiddling around before the start, one of the motorcycle commissaires spotted from our
sticker that we were team car number four — the positions in the chain of cars being dictated by
the highest rider on GC.
“Oi, Surrey League, have you cut the first digit off!”
The rain eased soon out of the start. A few guys slid out on an early roundabout, but the roads
soon dried out. We were under instruction to be as close to the front as possible approaching
Limerick, as the race was to pass through eight roundabouts. In the wet, this could have
stretched the race to breaking point. I nearly got caught out several miles prior, as we joined a
dual carriageway and the race went straight into the gutter. A large gap opened up 10 wheels in
front. Just as I got ready to stump up the cash, a giant of a man took the task, and we were soon
back on.
The yellow jersey had a nasty crash, which led to a welcome spell of twiddling. He rejoined for a
few miles, but soon withdrew. What followed was an hour and a half of riding on the limit, in the
right-hand gutter, in driving wind and rain.
In point to point racing, if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction, it tends not to relent. The
race exploded. I was fortunate. I made the crucial selection, and a depleted peloton of 50 riders
www.NorwoodParagon.co.uk 8 Summer 2008

turned off the main road into the final 25k, up a third-category climb, then down a twisty descent
into the finish town.
Once over the hill, I thought it would be straightforward to finish with the bunch. A small group
were a minute up the road, and it was eyeballs out. Chris Mac, Wouter, Andy and myself all lost
contact on the treacherous descent, and were frustrated to lose precious seconds so carelessly.
Thursday May 22, Stage 5
Tralee to Skibbereen (141km)
Legs felt very weary. The short ride into town to the start was almost a chore, despite the following
wind.
My bike propped up outside signing on caught the eye of some local kids. They couldn’t believe
how light it was. More used to the full-suspension variety I suspect, but they weren’t poking fun.
This was something that was beginning to surprise me in the whole circus around the race. The
interest that the locals were showing – in Ireland, this bike racing lark isn’t such an underground
sport.
Big day today. Five categorised hills. A break went from the gun. This wasn’t my ‘race plan’, so I
let it be. In reality, I didn’t see them go. I was so far back. I was only told at the end of the day
that this is when the attack went.
It quickly became apparent I had overdressed. Any lingering suspicion of rain soon disappeared
and the sun bore down from overhead. No need for that long-sleeve base layer. Not possible to
call a ‘time-out’.
The second climb of the day was a biggie. Up tight, twisty roads, the gradient kept changing. Out
of the forest, and onto barren slopes, a proper climb! The pace was steady. Uncomfortable, but
bearable. Over the top, and relax.
Disaster struck; a design defect with my crank meant that as I passed over a bumpy surface, I
shipped my chain, and it got caught between the crank arm and the chainring, having slipped
past an inadequate safety rivet.
Neutral service leapt into action, brandishing a wheel. Insistent that I needed a new rear, it was
all I could do to divert attention to the drivetrain! It took minutes to fix. A short chase, and I was
onto the laughing group. Thirty or so warriors who had found the pace of the first climb too hot.
The pace was easy, and I thought we had haemorrhaged time.
Through one town, the road had been reopened to traffic, and we had to overtake a funeral procession.
As it was, we lost only 12 and a half minutes. Frustrating, as I slipped to the lowest GC position
out of my team-mates, and out of the top 60, but by no means a catastrophe.
Friday May 23, Stage 6
Skibbereen to Clonmel 180km
The longest stage of the race. No leisurely start. It went from the gun. Tight lanes meant I didn’t
see the front of the race for a while. All day as it happens.
By the time I’d worked my way up, a move had gone up the road, and Rapha, who had missed
the move, were chasing. The first hour and twenty was ballistic. The men in black had called
Hammer-time. Then in unison, they cracked. The game was up. If they had been instructed by
their earpieces to drift to the back and look shattered, they heeded. Dean Downing was labouring
up every rise. A giant. A hero.
The penny dropped there and then. These guys can really suffer too. At 50 miles I was really
swinging, and could feel cramp coming on in the legs. I’d put my concrete shoes on. Crap. How
much time could I lose if I pottered in on my own Quick arithmetic; 62 miles, I’d have an extra
hour to play with. I think others felt the same.
At forty miles to go we were still ambling along. The Irish national team had been on the front for
two fruitless hours, trying to minimise the time lost by their man in yellow. Thirty miles out, the
time gap at six minutes-plus, the peloton sprang to life. Two of the Irish guys went out the back
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immediately. Their reward for working like Trojans Losing 30 minutes.
Coming into town, I gave up trying to hold a position near the front of the marauding bunch. It
was getting increasingly cunning, besides, the legs had begun to ignore commands.
Saturday May 24, Stage 7
Clonmel to Roundwood (177km)
Treetops were horizontal. Worse, they were pointing in the wrong direction. A severe headwind
all day. Bloody great. Two category-one climbs after 140k were the cherry on top. Today was the
king stage.
I lost my reserve as we were re-introduced to the people of Clonmel on the startline, relieving
myself while the opportunity presented itself. Note to self; learn how to wee while riding.
There were many tired legs today, gaps were opening, the elastic was on a knife edge. The
stage was unbelievably draining. Full-on, then sit up. Over and over again. Mid-way through, a
dozen people flung themselves up the road in pursuit of the early break, which included the yellow
jersey. This time, there was no reaction, nothing. I looked around. It was every man for himself
today.
I chased the next small move up the valley, 10 miles before the first climb, but couldn’t make the
junction. I rode steadily, until I was absorbed into the next small group half way up. I was quickly
hanging on, staring at the hub of the wheel in front. A Ksyrium ES, in case you wonder.
We swept up a number of big guns who had sacrificed themselves, or forced the pace for a fraction
too long. I was in and out of the saddle, even though the pace on the second climb was
steady. A huge crowd at the top. More than at the day’s finish. Much like one of the end of season
specialist hill-climb events.
The run-in was along an unfinished road surface. Sapping, each mile felt like three. Several
rises. One after another. I was at the end of my tether. Good job I’d put as much food into my
jersey as the pockets could handle.
Sunday May 25, Stage 8
Newbridge to Skernries (130km)
Sunny, but a blistering headwind, and cold. On the start line I stood behind Stephen Gallacher,
the yellow jersey. Several camera and TV lenses were pointed in our direction. I will concede,
this was more for him than me.
The usual start. Uncompromising, until a break went up the road. As usual, I wasn’t involved in
the posturing, and the break’s make-up was fine by me. None of the four posed any threat whatsoever
to my position on page two of GC.
Ninety minutes in, several miles of newly built bypass. It was exposed, the wind whipped across
from the side. Vegetation had not had time to grow. A drop of about six feet was to the immediate
left of the tarmac. Following Dave McCann’s wheel was no good. He was no more than a
couple of centimetres from the drop. Not a spot of shelter.
I moved out, into the firing line, to try to force my way in further up. I made three bike-lengths,
and was on the limit. Had to get back into line. I copped a few swear words. No matter; desperate
times, desperate measures. I could feel the legs going. I admit.
I was counting down the miles today, big time. Kept playing games with the odometer. Must wait
until it says 50 before I look again, etc. Onto the finishing circuit, the pace was wound up. Single
file line, head on the handlebars. On the rivet — I’ve heard that somewhere before!
First lap through the finishing straight in the seaside town of Skerries. Great crowd, fantastic
support. I heard someone shout “Chris” over the barriers. I was getting delirious. The categorythree
climb on the finishing circuit was an all-out sprint. The gradient eased up, but did not level
off for another k. Gaps everywhere. It was all I could to hold the wheel in front.
The next two miles were a frantic chase. A line of 40 riders in front of me, I could see team-mate
Sybrandy; his colossal frame leading the charge. As luck would have it, the front of the race sat
up. All back together, except the four still out front. Those guys must be superheroes to ride into
www.NorwoodParagon.co.uk 10 Summer 2008

such a wind all day. I didn’t hear a bell, but I was sure we were to pass through the finish only
twice before the real finish. I asked another rider. His assurances weren’t enough; I asked one
more.
My fuel gauge was on empty. “C’mon Chris!” I heard the shout again. No chance of picking a
face out in the crowd. I tried to get some shelter as we passed along the seafront again, but it
seemed that however closely I rode to the wheel in front, I was pedalling too hard for the legs to
recover. A sharp left, under a railway bridge. A frenzied squeal of brakes. Everyone wanted a
good position before the selection was made on the hill.
It started well enough, I was making up places, others were grinding to a halt. Trouble was, the
rise seemed endless, and I was fast beginning to crack. A voice instructed me to hold a wheel.
The wheel came and went. I was 10 metres off the back of a large group. I charged round a corner,
damn, 11 metres. I couldn’t close the gap. I was stuck in no-man’s land, adrift. Riders came
past, in threes and fours, I tried to accelerate, to hang on to their coattails, anyone, anything, but
it was no good. I threw in the towel. Slumping over the bars, I moved to the side of the road.
For a moment I stopped pedalling. I could pedal no more. This was it. The game was up. The
hungry cavalcade needed no invitation. Showing no mercy, cars, some with riders attached to
their rear bumpers thundered by. The glamorous Surrey League team car, which had been
punching well above the quality of the two spare bikes on the roof all week came past, emitting
a small bleat of encouragement.
It was a lonely run-in. The whoosh and fizz of the peloton replaced by silence, punctuated by
bouts of commiserating applause. I lost two and a half minutes in 5k. Not long enough for the
crowd to have gone home. Head bowed, I slunk up the finishing straight alone. I stared at the
floor, embarrassed. The place perhaps, but not the time for a Le Tour-esque victory salute.
Over the line, I re-joined my team-mates. Can of Coke, perfect. My brother shouted my name
again from across the barriers. He’d flown over from London for the day. What a man. Mind you,
what a race!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Track Attack by Simon Warren
A couple of months ago after weeks of terrible road race results, crashes and bad luck I needed
a new focus for my season. I am too competitive to take failure and fully aware of my physiological
limitations I needed a challenge that was within my grasp. I needed a target I could have
more control over, focus on and achieve. I was looking at the records section the the club handbook
and the 4km pursuit record of 5.14 caught my eye. Set by A P Sturgess in 1964, maybe
this was within my abilities; surely I could get within a minute of Bradley Wiggins! I guess Mr
Sturgess was quite an athlete, as in 1964 there was no indoor velodrome in Britain (or was
there) and certainly no aero bars, low profile aero frames or disc wheels. I kept a lid on my
ambitions so as not to end up with egg on my face so set about SECRET training.
This is what I needed to do:
4000m = 8laps + 400m.
Target time 5.14 = 314 seconds = 35.325 seconds a lap @ =45.86 kmh = 28.47mph.
I went down the track an hour before the track league, strapped my stop watch to the handlebars
and set about trying to time myself over 3 laps. If I got close to the 35 second mark then I
would give it ago. In that first test I was lapping around the 38 second mark but it was hard. I
considered this close enough so the record attempt was on. I talked the judges and timekeepers
into running two 4k pursuits on consecutive Wednesdays at the end of July. They were keen to
promote the events and there was reasonable support from the riders, with 10 of us signing up.
I now needed a pursuit bike. As I’ve never used a low profile bike of any sort I figured it would
www.NorwoodParagon.co.uk 11 Summer 2008

e too short notice for my body to adapt to a new riding position so I just decided to change the
bars on my standard track bike. I took an old pair of road bars, flipped them over and cut them
down. Dug out my circa 1990 fluorescent yellow profile tri bars and stuck them on. For two
weeks I had trouble with the bars slipping in the stem but I managed to jam a piece of rubber in
and eventually it gripped. I stuck my disc in the back, a £100 purchase of ebay that I’ve spent 18
months restoring with the help of a lot of epoxy and the services of a machinist to make me a
new solid axel. After crushing 3 sets of bearings we finally got the set up sorted.
Each week I came to the track 30 minutes early to get used to the position and ride 6 laps at
speed, I tied my watch on and at the end of each lap glanced down to see how I was doing.
Each week I just wasn’t quite hitting the mark but I was getting faster. Finally the week before
the first race I was almost there, now I could tell a few other people. This would have the effect
of putting pressure on me to do it and avoiding failure.
Race day: Wednesday 23rd July. I’d raced the club TT the night before and had a nightmare
with a stupid mechanical and was feeling down, but had to pick my self up. I spent the day monitoring
the wind and although it was no ‘float’ it was reasonably still. For the event, I stuck on my
shoe covers, covered the hairs on my arms with arm warmers and even sewed up the holes in
my skin suit left over from crashing. I put 150 psi in my tubs and was ready to do it.
Here we go, 8.75 laps.
Start hard, accelerate to 90% then float, do not push it, keep some in reserve. You get the first
lap for free as you get up to speed and the body consumes its adrenalin. The second lap also
floats by as you enjoy the speed but then you hit the third. At this point your body knows fully
well what you are trying to do to it and it starts to hurt. You cannot slow down though, but you
cannot go faster. The next 5 laps must be ridden at 90%, a fraction inside maximum. There’s no
down hill to pick up speed, no traffic to pull you along, just follow the black line. This leaves the
last two laps, it’s now all or nothing. The second to last needs to be ridden at 97% then on the
bell you have 450 meters to empty every last ounce of energy from the legs and cross the line
seeing stars.
First result, my first pursuit: 5 minutes 18.64 seconds
4.7 seconds off, that’s half a second a lap, so close. I had one more chance.
Second attempt, Wednesday 30th July. It was now all or nothing, I’d become quite anxious and
this had made my breathing quite tight. My legs were in good shape but I knew my breathing
would affect me. For this final attempt I’d borrowed an aero helmet of Mike Hawkins, this had to
make the difference. Wind was slightly up from the week before but my legs were fresher as I’d
not ridden an 80 mile Road race on Sunday and I had the special helmet.
My first lap was a shocker, I reacted badly to the gun and for a few seconds lost focus. By the
second lap I was back in the groove and set about riding a more conservative first half than the
week before to avoid tying up. I was paired with a slower rider this time and by lap 5 suddenly he
was slowing and within a lap I had caught him. The catch however took over 20 meters, a bit too
much energy and I ended up going quite wide and away from the racing line. I now just had 2
laps and I buried myself. When I crossed the line that was all I had, that was the limit of my athletic
ability. Sure there was a bit more the body could have given, but at that moment, during that
ride, there was no more pain I was able to take.
Second result: 5m13.75s
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I had done it by .25 of a second, the blink of an eye. That was all I wanted. Whether this can be
a proper club record is up to the club, I was slightly secret in my task as I know faster riders
would do a faster time and I was trying to ensure my place in the spotlight for just a few seconds.
But so far as setting myself a task and completing it with the resources at my disposal, I did it
and can be happy with that.
Next time, get a coach, get to an indoor track, get a pursuit bike...the list goes on.
THE FACTS
4000m = 8laps + 400m of Herne hill velodrome.
Target time 5.14.00 set by AP Sturgess in 1964 = 314 seconds = 35.325 seconds a lap @
=45.86kmh = 28.47mph.
My actual time 5.13.75. A new club record by .25 seconds.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Club Pictures
Our members at a club social event
Marcus (far left) in the sprint for
minor places at the Les Ingman
road race
Chris Moores
www.NorwoodParagon.co.uk 13 Summer 2008

Norwood Paragon Results 27th April - 12th May 2008
The Norwood Paragon has seen a flurry of good results over the last few weeks as well as promoting two
challenging races in the region. Alex Mackmin enjoyed his first road race victory at MOD Chertsey, the
Paragon time triallists took won team prize in the Robin Buchan Memorial 25m TT and Kaye Paton narrowly
missed out on victory in the Gorrick 40m MTB enduro.
Andy McKie was the first Paragon home at the Kitsmead Lane handicap on 1st May where he finished 6th
on a very wet evening. The following weekend several Paragons raced in the Gorrick MTB enduro in
Bracknell Forest. The majority rode in the 5 lap (50mile) race although Kaye Paton chose the 4 lap event
having recently completed weeks training camp in Mallorca. Paton was flying and took a comfortable
second place in the ladies’ race finishing behind elite endurance racer L Gould (Torq Kona) after over four
hours’s of racing. Nick Ffoulkes, Steve Watkins, Dave Mascall and Marc Ravetto raced in the 5 lap event
with fellow Paragon Paul Davies riding in his Aircom colours. They set off well with Davies in the top 5
and the rest working their way through the field towards the top 20. Davies finished in 6th, with Mascall
13th, Ffoulkes (21st) just pipped Watkins (22nd) on the line to beat him after chasing for most of the final
lap.
On Sunday 4th April Mike Hawkins, Rudie Marais and Dave Kennett raced at Cutmill in the 2/3 63m
race. Agiskoviner’s L Atkins won the race whilst Hawkins finished just inside the points in 13th place
with Kennett 33rd and Marais came in behind the bunch. Meanwhile in the morning 3rd category race
Stephen Roach, Andy McKie and Anthony Chandlen all rode with McKie finishing 17th followed by
Roach in 21st and Chandlen 22nd.
On the same day Norwood Paragon’s Rob Douglas rode the Charlotteville CC 50m TT at Bentley. After
a strong start, Douglas suffered in the second half of the race to post a time of 2.01.17 which was still
enough to place him in the top 20 overall.
Last week saw various members racing in the evening road races at Crystal Palace, Dunsfold, Eelmore
and South Nutfield. They netted a string of top ten finishes demonstrating strength in depth as Moores
and Hawkins added to their points tally for the year.
Hawkins and Calland raced at Dunsfold with Hawkins successfully getting in the lead break and finishing
3rd. Calland won the bunch sprint for 8th place.
At Crystal Palace Chris Moores and Andy Waterman rode in the E/1/2 race whilst Stephen Roach, Jason
Humphries and Anthony Chandlen rode in the 3 /4 race. Moores rode conservatively in his race saving his
efforts for the last 2 laps where he calmly moved through the bunch to finish 3rd in the sprint placing him
6th overall. Waterman finished in the bunch as did his fellow Paragons in the 3/4 race which was the first
experience of Palace for both Humphries and Chandlen.
The following evening both Hawkins and Moores were back in action, this time at Eelmore circuit race
where Moores was back on the podium in 3rd place and Hawkins in 14th.
Thursday saw several Paragons racing in the Surrey League Handicap race at South Nutfield. Nigel Carpenter
and Mike Hawkins rode in the scratch group with Kennett, McKie, Chandlen Simon Hazeldine and
Kevin Davey spread across the other groups. It proved to be a fast night with the scratch group only
catching the front group halfway round the last lap. Hawkins was the first Paragon home in 4th place, followed
by Carpenter in 10th, McKie 15th and Davey 16th and the others safely in the bunch.
Saturday’s racing at MOD Chertsey featured several Paragons in the various races. Alex Mackmin and
Anthony White rode in the 4th category 28m race with both Paragons riding strongly. The race came
down to a bunch sprint which Mackmin cleanly won to claim his first road race victory whilst White finished
in the bunch. Roach, McKie and Hazeldine rode in the 3rd category race with Hazeldine finishing
16th and Roach and McKie in the bunch. Hawkins and Marais rode in the E/1/2 event finishing 15th and
Marais 21 st respectively.
Norwood Paragon’s open 25m TT promotion – the Robin Buchan Memorial TT - took place on Sunday
11th May. There was a strong field of just under 110 riders battling it out on the G25/53 course from
Broadbridge Heath. It proved to be a fast day with many personal bests (PB) being set. Agiskoviner’s L
Harding won in an impressive 51:17 whilst Kennett was the fastest Paragon in 54:31 (PB) placing him 6th
overall. Calland also set a PB of 55:53 whilst Hawkins finished in 57:44 despite a late start penalty. This
was enough for the Paragon to net the team prize. Humphries (58:56 PB) and Roach (59:54) also finished
under the hour whilst Mascall set a new PB of 1:00:57 and Justin Lomas was set to comfortably go under
the hour until he punctured at 21miles resulting in a time of 1:04:18. In addition to the team prize the
Paragon also won one of the age categories with Roach’s time in category E.
Lastly and by no means least, special mention should go to Norwood Paragon’s Simon Warren and Chris
Moores who raced in the Premier Calendar event the Lincoln Grand Prix on Sunday. This classic race at-
www.NorwoodParagon.co.uk 14 Summer 2008

tracted almost 150 riders including international riders plus the crème of British road racing and proved a
tough test for both Paragons. Warren worked hard and stayed in the race for longer than last year, but was
pulled out after losing contact with the main group on the finishing circuit. Meanwhile Moores stayed in
the main bunch finishing 34th overall and 4th man in his group’s sprint.
Norwood Paragon Results 12-18th May 2008
The Norwood Paragon were riding strongly throughout the week, notching up some more podium places
both in the mid-week races and at the weekend. Steve Calland set the standard on Tuesday 12th May at
Dunsfold Park ably supported by team-mates Dave Kennett, Graeme Gardiner and Niall Pugin. Calland
sprinted strongly at the end of the scratch race to take 3rd place with Gardiner 12th overall and 4th veteran
whilst Kennett and Pugin finished mid-bunch.
Also on Tuesday, Norwood Paragon’s Jason Humphries, Nigel Carpenter and Andy McKie raced at
Hillingdon in the E/1/2 race whilst fast-improving 4th category riders Ian Vincent and Alex Mackmin rode
in the cat 4 race. Humphries finished in the points in 15th place (2nd in his category) whilst McKie was
safely in the bunch. Mackmin was unfortunately involved in a crash damaging his bike and putting him
out of the race with Carpenter also pulling out to help his team mate. Vincent stayed focussed and
sprinted strongly to finish 4th.
It was a busy night for the Paragon with another five members racing that Tuesday in Epsom CC’s evening
10m TT at North Holmwood. Simon Warren, fresh back from the Lincoln Grand Prix, showed his
class by beating all comers to win in 23:03 with Stephen Roach 4th (23:56) and Simon Hazeldine 5th
(23:58). Marcus Brueton recorded a time of 24:27 and Kevin Bailey recording 27:27 using the event to
test his legs ahead of the weekend’s half-ironman event in Cornwall.
On Wednesday Rudie Marais represented the Paragon at Eelmore criterium race where he rode strongly to
finish 18th. Warren chose to ride the track at Herne Hill that evening where his best result was 2nd in the
scratch race.
Thursday evening saw Humphries back in action on the road, this time at Dunton Circuit in Essex. Once
again Humphries was riding well featuring in several moves although it came down to a bunch sprint
where he finished 5th in the 3/4 category race. Cambridgeshire based Paragon Justin Lomas was timetrialling
on Thursday on his local sporting 10m TT. He took another victory there – his second in as many
weeks – with a time of 25:36 despite the rain. Lomas set a new personal best the previous week with a
time of 25:17 which was only thirteen seconds shy of the course record.
Humphries raced at Hillingdon on Saturday as well, where he rode strongly in the 3rd category support
race for the National Criterium Series. Humphries was vigilant throughout the race staying near the front
and getting involved in various attacks, but the race was decided in a final bunch sprint where the Paragon
took 3rd place giving him not only a podium finish, but also the necessary points to gain promotion up to
2nd category.
Andy Waterman raced in Essex on Sunday in the 130km E/1/2 Andrew’s Trophy Road Race which had a
strong field of elite and first category riders. Two groups of ten riders broke clear in the early stages and
Waterman got into a third chasing group which eventually caught the leaders to form one large break
ahead of the bunch. Eleven riders broke free and stayed clear to the finish with Waterman biding his time
amongst the chasers. With one lap to go Dulwich Paragon’s K Knox drifted clear of this chasing group
and Waterman quickly jumped across. This duo worked hard for the last 10miles, staying clear for Waterman
to take 13th place behind Knox.
Conditions for the Tour of Sussex support race for third cat riders were good – a cool start, no wind and
more importantly, very little traffic. The race pattern was set early on with John Heaton-Armstrong of
Mosquito Bikes making an early break, which he never lost! As the laps wore on the bunch was thinned
out on the long climb up Beachy Head. Alex Mackmin was unlucky to puncture in his first 3rd cat race
while Stephen Roach left the bunch (from the rear) with a couple of laps to go finishing 24th. Kevin
Davey rode strongly on this tough circuit to finish 13th in his first proper race of the year.
Three members of the Norwood Paragon represented the Surrey League in stage races further afield.
Chris Moores went to Ireland on Saturday to start the FBD Insurance Ras 8 day elite stage race in Ireland
(see separate article), whilst Dave Kennett and Andy McKie went to Wales to race in L’Etape de la Defonce
2 day stage race in Glamorgan.
Kennett rode as part of a four-man team over the 3 stages which comprised two road stages and a team
time trial. It was the team TT which highlighted the Surrey League’s strength as they finished 2nd behind
Cwmcarn Paragon. Kennett finished 26th on stage one, 14th on stage two and 4th overall with the team
finishing 1st overall with McKie in 28th overall.
Several of the Norwood Paragons triathletes were also in action over the weekend with Paul Davies racing
in the Eton Supersprints and Nic Ffoulkes, Kevin Bailey and Fraser Dawson racing the Marazion Middle
www.NorwoodParagon.co.uk 15 Summer 2008

Distance Half-Ironman event in Cornwall.
Davies raced on both Saturday and Sunday in the Supersprints where he was 2nd in his category on day
one and 5th on day two, posting the fastest times for the bike split on both occasions. The Marazion Middle
Distance featured a 1.9km open water swim, 85km bike section and a 20km run which Dawson covered
in 4:38:40 to finish 4th overall and first in his Vet40 category. He was closely followed by Bailey
(4:47:56) in 8th place and second in the same category. Ffoulkes (5:10:47) 33rd overall and 4th in his
category.
Norwood Paragon Results 19-26 May
On Tuesday 20th May at Dunsfold Steve Calland rode in the E/1/2/3 handicap race on the closed circuit.
Calland rode scratch and the race came together with 5 laps to go, then a lap later seven riders broke clear
leading to a sprint from this group which Calland cleanly won to take the victory. His teammates Niall
Pugin and Graeme Gardiner finished in the bunch.
On the same evening Jason Humphries and Alex Mackmin rode for the Paragon at Hillingdon in the E/1/2
race which came down to a bunch sprint won with Mackmin 23rd and Humphries 33rd.
On Thursday 22nd May seven Paragons raced at MOD Chertsey in the Surrey League Handicap E/1/2/3
event. Nigel Carpenter, Rudie Marais and Marcus Brueton rode in the group before scratch with Kevin
Davey, Simon Hazeldine, Andy McKie and Niall Pugin in the other groups ahead. The race came together
after 10 of 15 laps with several attacks following on. The sprint was keenly fought with Brueton
benefiting from a good lead-out courtesy of Davey and McKie which helped him take 4th place. Marais
was close behind, finishing 7th whilst McKie and Hazeldine came in together in 20th and 21st respectively
with the others finishing safely in the bunch.
Norwood Paragon’s Simon Warren, Andy Waterman and Mike Hawkins took part in the SERRL’s 3 day
stage race over the bank holiday. Stage 1 at Fowlmead Country Park saw Hawkins get away in a chasing
break of 3 riders in pursuit of 4 riders ahead. They caught 2 of them and then Hawkins rode clear to finish
ahead of his group in 3rd place. Warren was also in a chasing break for most of the race, but was disrupted
by a couple of crashes and finished in 35th with Waterman 22nd.
Stage 2 featured a 10m time trial. Hawkins was drained from his efforts the previous day, but nonetheless
finished in 6th place with a time of 22.07, whilst Warren did 22.45 (14th) and Waterman 24.18. Gomersham
was the location for Stage 3 on a hilly circuit with a big climb to the finish. Several attacks went
away but were all brought back, leading to a final surge up the hill at the finish which blew apart the
bunch. Warren climbed well to claim 7th place, followed by Waterman in 14th and Hawkins 16th. Hawkins
was still in 5th place overall with one more stage to go. The fourth and final stage took the riders
over the tough Tenterden circuit for 70 miles. Warren rode aggressively and was away in one break for
over a lap, but nothing stayed clear until the latter stages of the race when two riders escaped the bunch.
However then chaos broke out when the race was confronted with a fallen tree in the road. The leading
duo plus one other crossed the tree and thus passed the lead car - this leading to their disqualification
though – leaving the re-started bunch to fight it out over the last 3 miles! Two riders immediately broke
away closely followed by Warren and Knox (Dulwich Paragon). They caught one of the leaders although
Warren was also caught by some of the pursuing riders resulting in 4th place for the plucky Paragon and
10th place for Hawkins. Waterman was less fortunate having to retire following a crash. In the final classification
Hawkins was 5th, Warren 19th and Waterman 24th.
Norwood Paragon Results 16-21 June 2008
Norwood Paragon had another brace of good results last week, ahead of the Surrey League 5 Day Jaunts
and the Mountain Mayhem MTB races. The action started on Tuesday 17th June with Steve Calland and
Dave Kennet racing at Dunsfold Park. Calland got into the lead break and out-sprinted his colleagues to
take the win, whilst Kennett finished 19th.
There was also racing at Hillingdon and Crystal Palace on the same evening. The Paragon was represented
well at both of these venues, with Nigel Carpenter breaking away with two others at Hillingdon
where he came 2nd. Jason Humphries and Alex Mackmin finished safely in the bunch. Chris Moores delivered
another podium finish for the club on the Tuesday when he took 3rd place at Crystal Palace.
In addition to the road races the Paragon also had their club time trial on Tuesday which was held on the
Bletchingley circuit. There was a reasonable turnout of ten riders with the top three spots going to Simon
Warren (27-18), Marcus Brueton (28-05) and Jon Masters (28-41, 2nd claim member).
The following evening featured track racing at Herne Hill and circuit racing at Eelmore. Simon Warren
represented the Paragon on the track where he won the team sprint and took 2nd in the points race.
Moores rode at Eelmore in what proved to be a tough windy race. Moores didn’t manage to get in the
www.NorwoodParagon.co.uk 16 Summer 2008

winning break, but rode away solo from the remaining bunch for the last half of the race to take 10th place.
Thursday provided the third consecutive day of racing for Moores who rode with Andy Mckie, Kevin
Davey, Simon Hazeldine, Ian Vincent and Carpenter at the Surrey League Charlwood Handicap race.
Moores and Carpenter rode in the scratch group which caught the rest of the field with over a lap to go.
The Paragons maintained a fast pace towards the uphill finish and Moores just missed out on the win, finishing
second. Four other Paragon’s made the top ten with Carpenter 5th, McKie 6th, Davey 9th and Hazeldine
10th. Vincent was not far behind in 16th place on what proved to be a successful evening.
Rob Douglas was back on the TT circuit at the weekend with a fine ride in a sporting time trial in Essex.
He rode the SPOCO 10m event in Maldon which was beset by strong winds to make the course extra
tough. Douglas recorded a time of 24.11 to finish 15th with Gary Poole (22-18) posting the fastest time.
Norwood Paragon Results 27/5/08- 15/06/08
It’s been another busy few weeks for the Norwood Paragon with the riders reaping the rewards from the
pre-season training camp in Mallorca as several members have been getting onto the podium and the team
rode well in the Divisional Championships.
Rob Douglas rode the North Road Sporting 25 Guilden Morden on 24 th May where he finished 8 th in
1.01.56.
On 27 th May Steve Calland, Graeme Gardiner and Dave Kennett raced at Dunsfold Park where Calland
was outsprinted for the win taking 2 nd place with Gardiner in an impressive 8 th and Kennett 22 nd .
Later that week several Paragons raced in the Surrey League handicap at Wivelsfield Green where there
was another 2 nd place for the club as Marcus Brueton came in behind Fit-For’s A Davies. Kevin Davey
(13 th ), Alex Mackmin (15 th ) and Ian Vincent (23 rd ) also rode that evening. Meanwhile Jason Humphries
raced at Dunton on the same day in the E/1/2/3 race where he was 3 rd in the bunch sprint to take 7 th overall.
The Divisional Championhips took place across the country on 1 st June with the majority of the Paragon
riding in the South East Region event plus some representation in the Eastern and Central events too.
Chris Moores was the best finisher for the club taking 5 th in the SE event after a strong lead out by Calland
and assistance from fellow Paragons Brueton, Kennet, Mike Hawkins and Stephen Roach. Warren made
top twenty in the Eastern region where he finished 17 th and Justin Lomas in the bunch. Humphreys was
24 th in the Central Region race.
Whilst the roadies were battling out for divisional honours, two of the club’s triathletes took part in the
Beaulieu Half-Ironman Triathlon where Nic Ffoulkes was 3 rd in his category (45-49) and 58 th overall and
Kevin Bailey was 4 th in category (40-44) and 16 th overall. Ffoulkes has now qualified for the European ¾
Ironman Championships and will be representing Great Britain in August at Almere in Holland.
Just to cover all disciplines, the Norwood Paragon was represented by Simon Warren on the track at Herne
Hill on 4 th June. He rode strongly in the various races with his best result being a win in the Points Race.
Norwood Paragon fielded three teams in the 2008 Surrey League 4-up Team Time Trial Championship on
the Petworth circtuit on 7 th June, They rode well despite a late start for the A team which finished 3 rd .
London Dynamo A won the event with Norwood Paragon B in 7 th and Norwood Paragon C in 8 th place.
Davey and new member Chandlen were accompanied by Vincent and Mackmin at Barcombe for the Surrey
League 3 rd Category 54m race. This was on a tough hilly circuit where Davey’s climbing skills were a
distinct asset. Davey finished in 7 th with Chandlen 11 th and Vincent and Mackmin safely in the bunch.
Last week’s racing saw a well-deserved win for Moores who rode strongly at Eelmore in the E/1/2/3 criterium.
Moores got into the winning break of 12 riders and attacked four times in the last two laps until he
was clear for the win. Moores is now the 3 rd highest ranked 1 st category rider in the country.
Last weekend the Paragon had a strong team of eight riders in the Giles Ree Memorial 1/2/3 road race at
Handcross. This was a tough hilly race with a lot of aggressive riding and several Paragons got into breaks
throughout the race, however it came down to a bunch sprint for the finish. Calland benefited from some
stong teamwork not only in chasing a key break, but also helping his lead-out for the sprint. Calland duly
delivered finishing in 2 nd place, just pipped on the line by London Dyanmo’s P Delahunty.
www.NorwoodParagon.co.uk 17 Summer 2008

www.NorwoodParagon.co.uk 18 Summer 2008