Thornton Road Club is ‘Coming Home’

Thornton Road Club is ‘Coming Home’

No - Thornton Road Club has been Home!

On Sunday 17^th May 2009, many members of Thornton Road Club made the pilgrimage to Thornton Heath, where the Club was founded back in 1946.

Congratulations are due to all those who participated and overcame the challenges of the event:

• Appalling ‘monsoon like’ weather conditions
• Network Rail’s Sunday maintenance programme
• Punctures
• Buckled wheels
• City streets, including pedestrianised routes and tram ways.
• Not to mention the distance, hills and endurance demands of the ride

 

We met at Botolphs Bridge, for an early start at 07:30 and amazingly, at around 12:30, we all rendezvoused at the ’Wheat sheaf’ at Thornton Heath Pond to enjoy a well earned lunch, opportunity to warm up and dry out a little, chat and exchange experiences. 

6 members achieved the ultimate challenge and cycled from Botolphs Bridge to Thornton Heath and back again – a total distance of 150miles:

Michael Pumphrey, Robbie Wheeler, Bob Saunders, Danny Frost, Colin Tuckwell, Richard Foster 

9 members cycled part way:

Graeme Pilcher, Rachelle Pumphrey, Gordon Davis, Heather Reeves, Shaun Boorman, Roy White, Jane White, Toni Spain, Paul Hope. 

A special mention is appropriate for Gordon and Heather – long standing members of the club – A great effort. 

Well done to everyone who took part in this nostalgic event.

Hampshire Hilly

Hampshire Hilly 100, 10th May 2009. Not sure if the 100 in the title of this sportive refers to the mileage or the amount of hills, you know like Eric's 8 hills. Probably both. It started at Sparsholt just west of Winchester and followed a roller coaster route on the south downs. This is our third consecutive year of entering this event. Rachelle opted for the shorter but no less demanding 76 mile route and finished in a very respectable 6 hours and 26 minutes for bronze, chapeau. I was obliged to enter the long route in fear of Colin labeling me a pussy. After having Steve pull me along in the recent Downlands and Kent Air Ambulance rides I was on my own for this one. A welcome chance to relax and control my own pace. But instinct takes over and at times it was hard going , finishing in 5 hours 49 minutes for gold, 4 minutes slower than last year, ah well another year older. Michael Pumphrey. 　 　 　

　

Kent Air Ambulance Sportive

A few words form Rachelle Pumprey

With our tummies full of porridge Michael and myself were ready to take part in our third Kent Air Ambulance Sportive. It was good to meet up the other Thornton riders and go through the usual banter. Adrian was wearing his new club colours not half as stylish as ours and Luke was impressed with my Brazilian national socks which match the Thornton outfit. It was ideal conditions for the ride -although Steve looked dressed for the artic! I rode solo for the most part but it was good to see the lads on their return journey which meant I was close to the feed station. There was plenty of cake etc and it was enough to refuel to get up the hill back to Wittersham. It was lovely to ride back into Marden and have a welcoming committee waiting. It was a good ride for me and the perfect end was Gordon waiting to offer me a cup of tea and a roll - what girl could resist?

Rachelle Pumphey

Thornton's Home Run

Thornton Road Club is coming Home

Sunday May 17^th 2009

There has been an impressive response to the daunting (for some) prospect of the cycle to and from Thornton Heath.

The aim is to have an enjoyable ride through some wonderful Kent and Surrey countryside back ‘home’ to the place where the Thornton Road Club was founded back in 1946; meet at the Wheatsheaf pub (which is on the A235 at Thornton Heath Pond) for lunch at 12 noon, meet up with Gordon, take some group photos (courtesy of Sticky) and then set off back to Romney Marsh at about 13:00.

A few tips:

Passing through Croydon centre is a bit tricky – you may prefer to stick to the pedestrianised High St - and beware of the trams!

Stick together in your Group.

Tunbridge Wells is about half way – coffee / food stop at ‘The Pantiles’, or there is a Texaco garage just after.

Take a bike lock!

Due to the numbers and varied abilities of those taking part, there will be three groups of riders ‘Coming Home’. Your Group Leader has a map of the route to Thornton Heath, which passes through Tenterden, Goudhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Four Elms, Warlingham and Croydon - a more detailed route plan is attached.

Please contact your Group Leader and confirm meeting times, details etc.

Group A Starting from and returning to Tonbridge (Average speed 10mph)

Graeme Pilcher  Group leader

Rachele Pumphrey

Toni Spain

Paul Hope

Ian Fowler

Roy White

Jane White

Group B  Starting from and returning to Botolphs Bridge (Average speed 15mph)

Richard Foster  Group leader

Russ Mason

Group  C Starting from and returning to Botolphs Bridge (Average speed 18mph)

Michael Pumphrey  Group Leader

Colin Tuckwell

Steve Bunn

Shaun Boorman

Danny Frost

Bob Saunders

Robbie Wheeler

Have an enjoyable day 

Thornton Heath Route 

1. Start @ Botolphs Bridge Pub.
2. Take Lower Wall Road to Giggers Green Rd. 0
3. Turn R. on to Giggers Green Rd. 3.6
4. Turn L. on to B2067 (signposted Hamstreet). 5.8
5. Continue on B2067 all the way to Tenterden. 18.0
6. Turn R. @ first crossroads in Tenterden on to B2080
7. Turn R. on to A28 towards St Michaels/Ashford 18.5.
8. Turn L. on to A262 (signposted Biddenden).
9. At Biddenden turn L. staying on A262. (signposted Tunbridge Wells)
10. Stay on A262 all the way to & thru' Goudhurst 29.0
11. At Roundabout go straight on towards Lamberhurst on B2162.
12. After Lamberhurst turn R. on to B2169(s/posted Tun. Wells) 33.0
13. Follow B2169 all the way to Tun. Wells.
14. At Tun. Wells go straight across 1^st crossroads(s/pd E. Grinstead).
15. Turn R. on to A267 @ Bull Inn. 39.5
16. Turn L. @ 1^st mini- rdabout, & R. @ 2^nd up hill, in Tun. Wells.
17. Turn L. on to A264
18. Turn R. on to B2188 & immediate R. staying on B2188(Penshurst)42.4
19. Turn L. in Penshurst on to B2176
20. Turn L. @ Chiddingstone Causeway on to B2027.
21. Follow B2027 thru' Four Elms when it changes to B269.
22. At junction with B2026 turn R. & then L. staying on B269(s/pd Limpsfield)
23. At junction with A25 Turn L. & 1^st R. staying on B269.
24. Follow B269 all the way to Croydon.(straight over r/abouts @ Warlingham (63 m) & Sanderstead.
25. At A235 turn R. & cycle straight thru Croydon.
26. Keep on A235 all the way to Thornton Heath Pond. (74 miles approx)
27. Turn around and go back!