Eagle Road Club

Hog Hill Series 7

A sunny day but unfortunately mucky course, and the 3 4, and Women's race were run clockwise around the hill on the upper circuit. The up and down course proved challenging for all.

Again our high finisher was Liz with a sprint finish 3rd to open a bit more margin on her overall 2nd place in the series. Liz also achieved 2nd Cat, 7 weeks from the day of her first circuit race - Chapeau!

The 3, 4 race had Chris and Damien for the Eagles and broke apart in the first 15 minutes. Chris took a lap to replace a wheel. A couple of laps later a break of 9 riders went off the front including Chris. The reward was a 7th place finish for the effort on a deflating front tub - expensive day. It was another training day for Damien.

The E 1 2 race was held on the full circuit as the sun had dried the course a bit. Phil had a steady fast paced day in the group and managed 13th in the bunch sprint - ahead of former Giro rider Flavio Zappi who missed the finishing group.

Hog Hill

Hog Hill 6 - Eagles covered 3 of the 4 races, missing only an entry in the E 1 2 3 as Phil was away.

 Liz upped her game and finished 2nd following her instigating a break with the eventual winner Ruth. The two of them dropped last week's winner who ended as a DNF. Liz now has 36 points as a 3rd cat, and is 2nd overall in the women's series.

John Skinner made his long awaited debut in the 4th cat race and put out a promising first effort to finish in 27th of 30 finishers in a race that started fast and dropped a few of the riders in the first couple of laps.

 The 3, 4 face saw Damen and Chris on the start line, with Damien challenging the hill for the first half of the race before dropping off the pace. Chris chased down a couple of the early attacks but couldn't beat the strength of the East London Velo riders who placed David Barnes off the front where he stayed. Despite a successful attack with 3 laps to go, Chris managed to chute on the bell lap and rolled in a wounded 18th

The way we were

A glimpse back in time.  I think I recognise a couple of faces? Does anyone else?

Hog Hill - round 5 winter series

Chris, Liz, James and Phil raced at Hog Hill on Saturday.  It was absolutely freezing - water bottles froze up during the racing.  Despite the harsh weather decent sized fields took part in the racing.  Liz raced in the women's race and picked up 4th place and is now well on her way to a second cat licence.  In the 34 race, James had to take a lap out to fix his bike and finished well up in the sprint finish, but was classified as being a lap down (laps out are not allowed at Hog Hill) and Chris finished in 15th place.  Phil took part in the E123 race and finished 14th - Simon Bateson for East London Velo won with a well timed solo effort with 3 laps to go.  There were also a few eagles and friends there to support the riders in the harsh conditions.

There are some pics from the racing on Saturday on the BC site:

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/eve/ImageGallery.asp?gid=4207

Club Dinner

Message from Cippo

Well as I write this mail we only have twenty-six days till our big party, so organisation for me is speeding up and there is now a lot to do. In particular the table place names, and as you know I hand make these based on a theme (this year being our 85th birthday), I must say they are rather wow, but are taking me a long time to make!! I would therefore be grateful for the members that have not already responded with their confirmation to do so ASAP!!!!!!!!!!

I have also had the caterers onto me for my provisional numbers, which I have to confirm a week in advance, so in theory you only have a couple of weeks to respond. Your welcome to bring as many guests as you like, children welcome, all I ask is that you give me their full names and indicate if they are vegetarian.

Please also note that I will definitely not be accepting any cheques or cash on the night for payment of tickets. Please forward in advance in the return addressed envelope to me with your cheques payable to Eagle Road Club, or Cash to me in person by no later than the Saturday 17th January, Adults £30 ~ Children £20.

NOTE; However since we are having a Club House Working Day on Sunday 18th January, (which I hope you are all going to come along and muck in), then I will be happy to take your cheques and cash payments then! Otherwise please post to me in time to arrive by the 17th Jan.

Since this is our 85th Birthday why not put the word around and get all of our members their, for a real big bash and one to remember……………

Kind regards
Cippo

Clubhouse update

A big Thank you to Leanne (Phil’s girlfriend) and Phil Hersey for coming up last Sunday along with Tony and me for another working day, Leanne and Phil will be unable to make the next official day 18th Jan so offered their help in advance.

Just to bring you up to date;

• We have now cut back hedging and trimmed the lower tree branches along the entire length of the right hand side (looking at the club house from the road), the area behind the Memorial Gates is also complete, other than a big rake off and protruding tree stumps cut down to ground level.

• Tony has erected a compost area in the bottom right hand corner of the field so gathered leaves can be place here instead of burning.

So all that is left for us to do on the BIG FINAL PUSH Sunday 18th January 2009 arrive 08.00am is;

• Cut back and trim the remaining left hand side (already half done).
• Cut back and trim the frontage area (minimal work)
• Strip trees of Ivy
• A Massive rake off around the club house perimeter and Nissan hut area.
• Cutting tree stumps to ground level.
• Bonfire.

If everyone turns out armed with rakes, cutters, gloves etc and we get started by 08.30 and work hard but steady I feel we can complete the ground work in one day. But that is only if EVERYONE turns up!!!!!!!!!!!

If any one is able to bring a wheelie Bin (Mick and I will bring one), but the more we have the easier the work will be as this will speed up the raking off programme instead of using the one wheel barrow that we have to move debris. Also if anyone can bring ladders for reaching up the higher level of trees for Ivy removal this will also be a big help.

This will then leave the following jobs to do when the better weather picks up;

• Tidy the Nissan Hut
• Repair club house roof
• Treat bike hut roof with Bitumen
• Complete fence treatment on front gates
• Renew putty in window frames
• Rub down and paint window frames

We may have to look at erecting sum fencing up behind the Nissan hut to segregate ourselves from our neighbours.

In the meantime time we will start work on the club house interior, Hands will be needed but these jobs shouldn’t take long at all to complete;

Jobs to be done

• Painting
• Floor lying in bedroom,
• Wood work
• General tidy up
• Convert shower in men’s WC area into another WC.

 

We will need to look at replacing the flooring in the lounge area of the club house as the existing flooring is lifting and It wont be long before someone takes a trip  over it. If you have any suggestions to suitable flooring then please put you ideas forward!!

See you Sunday 18th Jan Bright and Early

Kind regards
Cippo

Round 4 - Hog Hill winter series

The Eagles are continuing their strong form in the Hog Hill winter series.  In the 34 race, a break of three riders got away early and unfortunately James and Chris missed it.  However, James got second spot from the remaining bunch in the sprint (an excellent 5th place overall) and Chris came home in the bunch.  Liz was in a race long break of three in the womens race and finished third in the sprint.  In the E123 race Phil attacked from the start, was caught after 5 laps and spent the rest of the race recovering in the bunch, finishing 11th overall.

There are some excellent pictures and a report on the British Cycling website (taken by Larry Hickmott): http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/roa/News2009/20090103_Redbridge.asp

James - sprinting for 5th place

 

Liz - enjoying herself in the break

 

Phil taking the hairpin bend