Memories of the Kynoch CC 1963-1976 (John W)
Not sure if this thread is still being monitored but I would like to add some of my memories to it. I happened upon it after a Facebook post in a group mention of the IMI Kynoch Sports and Social.
I joined the Kynoch CC as a 14 year old schoolboy in 1963 and stayed until its demise in the mid ‘70’s. By then we had lost the support of the sports and social and used a meeting room in a large house on Birchfield Rd near Trinity Rd (sadly not somewhere I would go these days).
I have fond memories of working with Al Harper co-organising open race events. We ran the H. Binks Trophy 1st cat and 3/J road races and through I think until 1974. Initially this was on the Bassetts Pole/Drayton Manor circuit and later on the Baddesley Common circuit. The HQ/dressing rooms were in the Baddesley Ensor pit paths.
We also ran the open 25 TT’s from Alrewas Village hall on the K16 (A38). This was a top Midlands event attracting such riders record holding as Roger Iddles, Roy Cromack and June Pitchford.
I must admit I cannot recall a Kynoch CC cyclo cross, I do remember events running from Banners Gate organised by the South Staffs Cycling Association events. Al was a senior official there too. Indeed I remember him getting me and others out at the crack of dawn to stand on the A5 marshalling the SSCA 25. Another memory of Al was that in all the years I knew him he always drove a Triumph car.
Before moving on to other club members I can confirm club colours as blue gold blue on white, I no longer have a jersey but have a photo of myself on the Buttermilk club hill climb. I may be wrong but I thought club nights were Friday
The members I recall - firstly the racers (Dr) Roger Wilson, Roger Bick (short stocky powerful sprinter), Alan Ordidge (suave guy with a liking for top bike kit and fast cars in ‘68 he owned a Porsche 911!), Malcolm Hancock, Jerry Fitzgerald, Ken Evans (trackie),Tom Moore. Bryan Saywell (his dad had a bike shop in Newtown, I got my first road race frame a Carlton Giro d'italia from him) . Some of the above were also first or second claim i.e. they rode for other clubs such as the Bob Maitland’s Concord I think. There were other but I cannot recall names.
Roger Wilson rode the 1967 National Hill climb on Whinatts pass (I have a photo of him on the hill). Roger and I rode the Lichfield Bower grass track c’67 too, he enjoyed more success than yours truly.
On the touring side in the early days Jim Burley and his wife ‘captained’ the club runs. Other names I recall were Nigel Marshall, Ray Layton, Chris Jones and John Stanley. As well as long summer club runs we had many YH weekends in winter joined by some of the racing lads. Broom Hall YH (long since closed) was a frequent venue. Slinging a saddle bag on my fixed wheel track bike I remember winter’s nights on the ups and downs of the Roman road south past Weatheroak Hill to Alcester. We all wore plus ones's and knee length socks in those days. Some of the above also joined me on an epic two week hostelling tour of Northern Scotland in 1967.
The club magazine was the Lions Tale in later years edited by Ray Layton. I do wish I could lay my hands on a copy from those days. All in all my days in the Kynoch were some of the greatest of my early life. I still ride and in giving something back I volunteer for the Sustrans cycling/walking charity.
