Club History

HOW THE RAVENS STARTED

Compiled from the memories of founder member Tom Sumner

1923

After WW1 ended, the favourite pastime for 14 year olds  was shop window gazing, by far the most favoured shops were the cycle shops, and the best shop was Joe Graham’s in Lloyd St (Altrincham), he had on show a real lightweight bike finished in black with a bright green headstock. It was made by W H Ray & Co, subsequently taken over by Raleigh. The model in question had a trade name of “The Raven” and priced at £7.10s

Most boys on leaving school joined the makewell institute, a boys club in Altrincham, encouraging participation in all kids of sports. The supervisors (ex servicemen) on seeing a few bikes leaning against the wall suggested we spent Saturday afternoons going for a bike ride

After that first expedition into the countryside of Cheshire, we were inspired to venture further afield. Following the local football team on our bikes – Congleton, Macclesfield, Winsford. And so the big question – why don’t we start a cycling club, a meeting was called (by bush telegraph) and so the Altrincham Ravens C C was formed.

Shortly after the meeting a notice board outside the Unicorn Inn announced that a club run would leave on Sunday for a days ride starting at 10am with lunch at Mrs Littler’s at Frodsham and tea at Mrs Halls, Cranage tea rooms.

And the rest as they say is history

CLUB RECORDS   road time trials

HOLDERS OF THE 10ml RECORD

Jim Ogden                     22. 41

Peter Walthall                21.45

Roger Little                    21.33

HOLDERS of THE 10ml TEAM RECORD

1999  Roger Little  21.33    Val Palk  21.55   Alan Whitworth  22.51      -     1.06.19

HOLDERS OF THE 25ml RECORD

1934   A.J.Carr                1.04.17

1944   Cliff Farebrother     1.00.40

1950   Ruben Firth           1.00.17

1970   Peter Hallas          0.59.17   -  first club member to beat the hour

1974   Val Palk               0.55.11

1977   Val Palk               0.54.45

1980   Peter Walthall       0.54.31

1981   Peter Walthall       0.54.12

HOLDERS OF THE 25ml TEAM RECORD

1937   R.A.Thompson - Doug Pinchen - H.Jones                 3.17.03

1947   Jack Norton - Ken Redford - Cliff Fairbrother            3.05.49

1950   Reuben Firth  -  C. Farebrother - Bill Hollingsworth    3.05.41

1976   Jim Ogden  - Val Palk  -  Graham Morris                  3.04.41

1976   Jim Ogden  -  Val Palk  -  Graham Morris                 2.57.30

1977   Val Palk  -  jim Ogden  -  Graham Morris                 2.53.00

1978   Val Palk  -  Jim Ogden  -  Graham Morris                 2.50.46

1980   Peter Walthall  -  Jim Ogden  -  Val Palk                 2.50.19

1981   Peter Walthall  - Val Palk  -  Graham Morris             2.48.43

HOLDERS OF THE 30ml RECORD

1948   Norman Redford                1.12.58

1980   Peter Walthall                   1.09.14

HOLDERS OF THE 30ml TEAM RECORD

1944   Cliff Farebrother  -  Bev Chapman  -  Eddie Woolley    3.50.12

1950   Ruben Firth  -  Norman Redford  -  G Miller                3.45.59

1980   Val Palk  -  Graham Morris  -  Wilf lewis                    3.44.26

1981   Jim Ogden  -  Graham Morris  -  Mavis Morris             3.42.48

1981   jim Ogden  -  Graham Morris  -  Val Palk                   3.28.47

HOLDERS OF THE 50ml RECORD

1937   Russ Barker                        2.23.31

1939   Norman Redford                  2.13.18

1946   Eddie Woolley                    2.04.36

1948   Ruben Firth                        2.02.00

1951   Ruben Firth                        1.59.47

1970   Peter Hallas                       1.58.32

1976   Jim Ogden                          1.55.37

1978   Jim Ogden                          1.54.15

1980   Peter Walthall                     1.53.45

1981   Peter Walthall                     1.52.44

1984   Val Palk                             1.51.09

HOLDERS OF THE 50ml TEAM RECORD

1939   Norman Redford  - H Farebrother  -  Ken Redford        7.02.36

1946   Eddie Woolley  -  Cliff Farebrother  -  J.F.Norton         6.18.48

1976   Jim Ogden  -  Val Palk  -  Graham Morris                   6.09.21

1977   Val Palk  - Jim Ogden  -  Graham Morris                    6.01.47

1980   Peter Walthall  -  Graham Morris  -  Val Palk              5.48.02

1990   Roger Little  -  Val Palk  -  Jim Ogden                       5.47.37

HOLDERS OF THE 100ml RECORD

1938   Tom Hampson                     4.52.30

1947   Rueben Firth                       4.17.02  National Competion Record

1950   Cliff Farebrother                  4.14.39

1976   Jim Ogden                          4.13.21

1979   Fred Minshall                      4.10.22

1981   Peter Walthall                    4.06.35

1982   Val Palk                             4.04.17

1983   Jim Ogden                          4.02.53

HOLDERS OF THE 100ml TEAM RECORD

1934   R Barker - A.J.Carr - F.E.Fischer                15.45.04

1947   R Firth - C Farebrother - E Woolley           13.13.23  National Competion Team Record

1979   F Minshall - Jim Ogden - Graham Morris     12.56.10

1982   Val Palk - Graham Morris - Wilf Lewis        12.28.07

1982   Val Palk - Graham Morris - Jim Ogden        12.23.26