Not the best choices for domain names….

October 2005

Click HereA trip to the zoo for the Haygarths and the Pixtons.  Lovely bit of fun and a pretty quiet zoo in term time!!

National Trophy round two, Astley Park, Chorley.

The second round of the British Cycling national trophy series was very local to me in Chorley, and I had another good ride. The course was nothing like I’d have expected there – it has the potential to be very muddy – but this time round, early in the season it was dry and very fast.

Chorley national trophy cyclo-cross 2005

Lewis Craven had a great ride to finish 9th (and had the fun of being escorted post-race for a drug test), but other than that, it was not a brilliant day for Wheelbase /Ron Hill – Stuart Reid was a bit below par and seemed tired and Rob Jebb snapped his chain and could have done with a bit more mud to suit his style.

Chorley national trophy cyclo-cross 2005

Keep that rectal inspection quiet please….

Poor old Ricky Gervais is furious with watchdogs at the Radio Advertising Clearance Centre for insisting he makes cuts to his new radio commercial for the Prostate Cancer Charity.

They reckon his advert, urging men to go for a rectal examination, is a bit too graphic – and insisted a ‘squish’ noise to indicate the delicate probe be cut. Even so, it still can’t go out before the 9pm watershed.

Gervais said: “One of the reasons that people die of cancer is that they don’t get themselves checked. One of the reasons they don’t get checked is embarrassment over the issue. The radio authority has actually enhanced this as a taboo and put the cause back.”
But you can still hear the ad, squish and all, here.

Ronnie Barker….


Sorely missed… looked alot like my Grandpa Catlow. Here are some of Ronnie’s most memorable lines:

“The man who invented the zip fastener was today honoured with a lifetime peerage. He will now be known as the Lord of the Flies.”

“The toilets at a local police station have been stolen. Police say they have nothing to go on.”

“In a packed programme tonight we will be talking to an out-of-work contortionist who says he can no longer make ends meet.”

“The search for the man who terrorises nudist camps with a bacon slicer goes on. Inspector Lemuel Jones had a tip-off this morning, but hopes to be back on
duty tomorrow.”

The Campfire Headphase – post 2

The Campfire Headphase - 17 October 2005In a tribute to the wonders of the internet, I’ve already got my copy of the The Campfire Headphase, the new Boards of Canada album. In a tribute to the wonders of Boards of Canada, I’m still going out to buy it on the 17th. It’s predictably rather good on first listen and will only grow and grow on me as all BOC albums have.

National Trophy – Round 1

National Trophy round one, CheltenhamI had a great race at Pitville Park in Cheltenham on Sunday. 27th (6:29 behind the winner) was my best ever result in a national trophy event – I did very well not to be lapped, but I have no doubt that a fast dry course like that suited me well. I beat several people who I would have expected to have been thrashed by – a very impressive field. Lovely opportunity to catch up with my old club mates from Cheltenham and it really helped so much to hear everyone cheering me on. Good photo here from Larry Hickmott (thanks Larry – made my day!). More photos on the British Cycling web site here.

The race was won by Oli Beckonsale, in fine style – he disposed of second placed Jody Crawforth with about 15 minutes of the race remaining and soloed to victory. Oli was 7th in the recent world mountain bike chapionships.

Pittville Park – Cyclo-Cross national trophy

The RouteI’m on the start list for a national trophy event for the first time in four years. The Pittville Park course is special to me because i used to co-organise the race in its infancy with Pat Alexander. The field’s like a who’s who in cyclo-cross and I don’t expect to finish in the top 30, but it’ll be a good laugh and a chance to catch up with some old friends.