..a brief description
As well as the Halifax CTC there are other local clubs whose style of cycling may appeal to you. This page describes their activities. Website links are included where available.
Halifax ImpsWebsite at http://www.halifax-imps.org.uk/
Founded in 1924, the Halifax Imperial Wheelers hold the distinction of being the longest established cycling club in Calderdale. But the Imps, as they are affectionately known, do not rest on their laurels and organise a wide range of cycle sport activities.
The Imps were fortunate in receiving Millennium funding to buy a set of rollers and associated equipment which are used for racing every Monday night, starting at 7:30pm in the warmth of Claremount Liberal Club. To sample this exciting form of all-out racing effort (even when it's snowing outside!) contact Andrew Mann for details on 01274 600893.
Every Thursday evening throughout the year there is an evening ride of 20-30 miles, starting outside the TOYMASTER store on Commercial Street in central Halifax. To join in, just turn up, and afterwards you can join in the socialising that is an essential part of these popular rides.
Every Sunday, a longer day ride is organised in association with another local club, the Condor RC. Starting points and destinations are varied, but in winter you can expect to cover 50-70 miles, and in summer up to 90 miles. These rides may include Audax events or incorporate visits to cycle races in the region. A list of the rides is available upon request.
A new venture, which first started 17 June 2007, is the "Pain in the Pennines" Challenge Ride. It is well named! There is a choice of 60 mile or 105 mile route.
The club also organises races itself, including both open and club time trials, including the open Hilly Mountain Time Trial in March, which features prominently in the national calendar. In Autumn, club members get to have a go on the same course. In addition, there are the Australian pursuit series in May & June, and a BCF road race in September. And there are others!
If this sounds like the sort of thing that would interest you, The Imps welcome new members and would love to hear from you.
For further details, contact Paul Hickey on 01274 818164
Website at http://www.halifax-racingclub.org.uk/
Another club with a proud tradition is the Halifax Racing Club. The original Halifax Road Racing Club was formed in 1942 by a group of riders who wanted to compete in massed start road racing on the open roads, something which was prohibited at the time by the National Cycling Union and the Road Times Trial Council, the sport's two controlling bodies. The Union promoted track and circuit racing on closed circuits and the Council organised time trials on the open road.
Percy Stallard of the Wolverhampton Club promoted a massed start race from Llangollen to Wolverhampton on Sunday June 2nd 1942 and Halifax RRC was one of a strong nucleus of clubs wishing to compete in this type of racing. . Prominent amongst the early members were Keith Swaby from Pye Nest and Johnny Lobb from Ovenden, but probably the best racing member at that time was Eric Law from All Souls.
Incidentally all the clubs and riders who competed in this type of racing had been banned for life from competing in track and circuit racing by the NCU and were also banned from competing in time trials by the RTTC.
On Sunday November 14th 1942, twenty two men and two women met at Sherebrook Lodge Hotel, Buxton and as a result of this meeting the British League of Racing Cyclists (BLRC) was formed. Keith Swaby was one of the twenty four people present at this historic meeting.
From this beginning until the club's demise in the early fifties, the Halifax RRC was one of the strongest in Yorkshire. Top riders at this time were C Le Bourgeous, G Cowper, E Longbottom, G Binns, E Law, K Swaby and D Shields. The club also had a very strong junior team in B Broadbent, J Bates, A Clare, D Watling and D Whitely.
In 1943 the 'League' promoted the first ever British National Road Race Championship, starting and finishing in Harrogate. This history-making race was won by Ernie Clements of the Wrekin RCC and one of the finishers was George Jowett of the Halifax RRC
Eric Law rode in the Brighton-to-Glasgow six stage race. This race was the forerunner of the Daily Express 'Tour-of-Britain' which eventually became the Milk Race.
The highlights of the club's early days were probably 1948 when Brian Broadbent won the Yorkshire Junior Road Race Championship and twelve months later Alan Clare repeated the success with S Bates taking second place. D Watling and D Whitely backed up the first two to secure the team prize.
By the early fifties most of the top riders had joined other clubs and Halifax RRC was disbanded.
In 1980 the Halifax Racing Club was re-formed in the same way as in 1942, to cater for some riders whose needs were not being met by their present clubs.
Ex-professional road race champion Danny Horton headed the senior team along with former international riders Tim Broadhead, Paul Milnes and Steve Thomas. The club was instantly successful culminating in Horton winning the Yorkshire Divisional Championship. 1981 produced a high number of road race wins, but 1982 was probably the best year the club has enjoyed so far. After winning numerous road races in the early part of the year Danny Horton decided to have a crack at the Elite British Best All Rounder Time Trial Competition. After riding two '50s', one hundred and one twelve hour Danny finished third behind the winner Ian Cammish and along the way won the National Twelve Hour Championship beating Cammish into second place. Not bad eh? for a novice time triallist.
In the late 80's and through the 1990's the club riders, following Danny's example, have concentrated on time trialling, particularly distance events and to date in the National Twelve hour competition Halifax RC riders have won one gold medal, three silver and two bronze individual medals. Also in 1998 the club won the team award,
Halifax RC is actively looking for new talent to nurture, so any young riders willing to give it their best shot are very welcome to come along and talk to us.
Club Honorary President
H Derek Browne
01274 674693
The Condor has a blog at http://condorroadclub.blogspot.com/ for current runs and other information.
Also there is the VS Cycles website at http://www.vscycles.co.uk/ for VS Cycle activities.
Richard Burnham, editor of the club newsletter The Condor's Beak, writes:
Condor Road Club members organise or are involved in a number of social rides that run throughout the year. Members and non members are welcome to turn up, and to take part.
We find that these rides are supported by cyclists from a variety of clubs. It is my view that the main aim for the Condor should be to get cyclists out riding together on as many occasions as possible, irrespective of club membership. Club runs, that are well supported by riders from a number of clubs, or perhaps by riders with no club affiliation at all have therefore to be seen as a measure of the Club's success.
The Condor's main achievement in this respect, in recent years, has been its Monday night mountain bike rides, run through the summer months. These events have attracted a wide range of younger participants from outside the normal cycling fraternity.It is encouraging to see that the Club can generate new participation in cycling.
In order to assist club members a list of runs is produced regularly. In addition a separate list of Sunday morning runs with start times, start location and general destination is also produced.
Sunday Runs
weekly, in association with Halifax Imperial Wheelers. Starts and destinations vary.
Mountain Bike Runs
Start 1st April-Finish ?
Meet 6.30 pm outside VS Cycles Brighouse Open to anyone with a suitable bike and helmet. Those over 18 years of age are welcome to join other riders for a drink at the Red Rooster.
Thursday Road Runs
Throughout the year
Meet 7.30 pm outside the Post Office Halifax
(Organised jointly with the Halifax Imperial Wheelers. Rides conclude at a pub in the Halifax area.)
Wednesday Road Runs (Luddenden Foot)
Throughout the year
Meet 7:00pm Luddenden Foot(except third Wednesday Meet Sowerby Bridge Police Station)
Training/Social run usually conclude for a drink at a local pub.
Wednesday Road Runs (Brighouse)
Winter months.
Meet 7:00pm VS Cycles, Brighouse. Run in lieu of Mountain Bike runs and will probably cease when these start in April.
For further details of Condor RC activities, contact Trevor Lever 01274 874789
Website at http://www.autumntints.org.uk/
The Autum Tints is a countrywide cycling organisation but the majority of active members are from the Yorkshire area. You do not have to be a member of the CTC to join us. The only criterion is that you are over 50 and enjoy cycling and the company of fellow cyclists. Life Membership includes an enamel club badge engraved with your choice of name for £8.50.
A 3 monthly Runs List is published (new one just out) which covers South Yorkshire, Kirklees and Calderdale, Craven and North Yorkshire runs. Although it is called a Runs List it actually lists the lunch stop cafe and people make their way there from all directions. In Halifax we have two groups who cycle at different paces. We tend to organise our meeting places the week before but both groups go at an easy pace doing about 30 miles each Wednesday during the winter and 40/50 during the summer months. In the winter we seek out a good coffee stop in the morning and when the better weather comes we stay out longer and often stop at a tea stop in the afternoon. We have about 10 regular cyclists in Halifax and we have a lot of fun and keep fit at the same time without being competitive in any way. There is also a faster group of ex -racing cyclists who are members. Typical winter runs may be to Hollingworth Lake, Marsden, Haworth and in. summer Grassington, Cannon Hall, Ilkley. Every 3rd Wednesday in the month Otley Cycling Club open up their Clubroom for us and we can meet up with the cyclists from Craven and North Yorkshire. The Runs are always on a Wednesday.
If you are interested in learning more about us please ring: Philip Lees on 01422 357632. The runs list can be viewed by clicking this link
The following information is taken from The Tandem Club (UK): West Yorkshire Regional Group. Website at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/stephenhaigh/
The group is made up of members of the Tandem Club living in the West Yorkshire area and beyond, loosely based on addresses with the following postcodes: BD (Bradford); HD (Huddersfield); HG (Harrogate); HX (Halifax); and LS (Leeds). Wakefield (WF) is served by its own regional group. You can find other regional groups/regional officers at http://www.tandem-club.org.uk/_regionalgroups.htm We meet up throughout the year for local rides and occasional weekends away. All rides are open to all tandemists, or to anyone with an interest in tandems - new riders always welcome!
As well as the main programme of runs there are usually some days planned for those riding with children. The year's runs list is put together in January, although additional rides or events can be announced via the web-site. You can access it at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/stephenhaigh/runs%20list%202007.pdf
The Regional Officers are the main point of contact for the group, but for particular rides the day's organisers should be contacted directly. If possible phone them in advance to check the ride is going ahead, and to let them know you are planning to come
Contact details:
Regional Officers:
Steve & Anna Haigh
11 Browcliff
Silsden
Keighley
BD20 9PN
Tel: 01535 658925