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@clubman
Here's a reminder of Christmas past.
If you could manage to ride a decent 25 on Christmas day you stood a fair chance of getting on the front cover of Cycling.
There were 72 entrants, but only 30 starters on a day of constant heavy rain. The event was held on what was then a new version of the Amersham Road course, starting a little north of the town to avoid new traffic lights in Amersham (they've gone now). This must have been the same course that was used when I rode this event in the late seventies, without distinguishing myself.
The main challenge for those wanting to ride was really having the necessary diplomatic skills to absent oneself from home on Christmas morning without destroying domestic relationships. My own marriage did survive, but I'm not sure how I managed it.
The same issue of Cycling reports one other Christmas day 25 (Tyneside Vagabonds) and three
10's, plus a number of other TT's and Cyclo Cross events in the same week. What wonderful enthusiasm!
For the record, Jackson's actual time was 1.2.40, Dick Goodman was second with 1.3.15, and Paul Bennett third with 1.5.47. Cycling reports that Bennett, who was later 25 Champion ( 1965, I think), rode 'one of the revolutionary small wheeled bicycles.' Presumably a Moulton - they never were much cop for time trials, however much Alex Moulton pushed them.
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