Doug many thanks for again making a habit of digging me out and disagreeing. There is nothing I like better than a friendly humourous banter. There are numerous photographs of Arch Harding with a fag (lighted cigarette) on when riding a 24 he was famous for it. He won the 1961 Championship 24 when The Mersey organized it. Arch road for the Middlesex R.C. along with Dick Poole and Fred Burrell. Didn't they win the team prize that year? Cliff Smith also road that year any relation? This was long after your time Doug when prohibition had been rescinded in the North West. I think you memory might be a little bit suspect 240 miles in a 12 when its down in the book at 236 3/8 ? Mal Rees told us in the shop one day that the 61 Mersey was remembered for "the arid publess drag out of Flintshire to the Denbigh border at Bangor on Dee" his very words. If you ever had the privilege of hearing Mal talk you would have heard the wonderful phrase at lighting-up time Arch harding drifted by in the half light smoking a ready made cigarette and shouting he had missed his lights. Mal was president Middlesex R.C. What may I ask is the "imfamous annual Catford CC 24 hour time trial " Do you mean infamous? The later from where I hail from means notoriously bad or having a bad reputation and even abominable thats if you mean infamous. Famous yes and a much better faster course the North Road CC 24 on the INFAMOUS Fen Roads which are notoriously known for their bad rough road surfaces. The Catford course had the record mileage for many years at 444.75m and it was the perfect 24 course. You then say " I was privileged to see riders such Eddie Mundy of the Addiscombe CC and Stan Butler winning the 1950 National Championship at a distance of 458.18 miles to his credit". Did the Catford organize the National 24 in 1950? Stan Butler did ride the Cat 24 in 1950 and he did 450m 1498y (page 96 Catford History) which did indeed better the pre-war record of Edgar Seeley's Calleva CC of 444.75m 13/14th. July 1935 Catford 24. To my knowledge the Catford did organise the National 24 in 1951 and not 1950 as you incorrectly state. Gus Andrews Addiscombe CC won it with 461m 546y. So Doug does it boil down to some dodgy dates and distances and what I think is a poor memory from you or might I be wrong but the Catford 1950 National 24 I don't think so. Was it not the Mersey who organised the Championship for 1950? Although Stan Butler was the 24H Champion for 1950 with I think 458.18m. My any stretch of imagination I didn't say they were all drinking or smoking but some did and there are pictures to prove it. Yours in cycling Joe. PS. Newsflash many thanks to George for the photograph of Arch Harding on his way to winning the National 24 in 1961 sockless and complete with cigarette dangling from lips.
Croeso Cymru Joe King Nr. Maenaddwyn Ynys Mon Wales