History of the Velo Club St. Raphael
The history of the Velo Club St. Raphael is closely linked to that of its predecessor the Velo Club Aquila, which was founded in 1951.
The best-known riders during the seven-year life of the V.C.A. included Jim Beales, Michael Dowling (10th Circuit of Britain 1955), William Endruweit, Bari Hooper, Harry Jackson, David Linehan, Graham Munden, John Richardson, Brian Riley, Mike Wall, Dave Walker and Chris Wood.
It was James and William Endruweit and Dave Walker (already members of another local club) who conducted the initial investigations and negotiations that led after many months to the formation of the V.C.A.
It was a drastic departure for Portsmouth in that this new group was to be a purely road racing club in an area where track racing and time trials were previously the undisputed kings.
Here we should explain that between 1942 and 1958 there were two governing bodies striving for national recognition in this country. This was contrary to the rules of the world governing body, the Union Cycliste International, who only recognised one, the National Cyclists Union.
This meant that participation in the Olympic Games and the World Championships depended on being affiliated to the N.C.U.
The N.C.U's local interests included track racing at Alexandra Park (now the Mountbatten Centre) and closed-circuit massed-start racing on airfields such as the Royal Naval Air Station at Lee-on- Solent.
The rival national body was the 'rebel' British League of Racing Cyclists formed in 1942 in the months following Percy Stallard's successful Llangollen - Wolverhampton Road Race, the first open road event in mainland Britain.
The 'League' was dedicated to the development and promotion of continental- style open-road racing on British roads. It was to this body that the V.C.A. affiliated.
The old-established National Cyclists Union was bitterly opposed to open-road racing and took every opportunity to discredit the activities of the 'League' and its members. Any N.C.U. member found to be a member of the 'League' was promptly suspended.
The N.C.U. had a working agreement with another national organisation, the Road Time Trials Council, which was also opposed to the B.L.R.C.
As elsewhere in Britain at that time, there was some initial local opposition to the formation of a 'League' club, and feelings occasionally ran high.
However, during the sixteen years of conflict between the N.C.U. and the B.L.R.C, the 'League' grew steadily in strength and Velo Club Aquila joined the increasing number of League clubs putting something back into the sport by organising road races, a trend that continues today.
At the beginning of 1958 the V.C.A was re- named Velo Club St. Raphael, the inspiration behind this being Bari Hooper who contacted the Societe St. Raphael in Paris, then a main sponsor of the French- based Geminiani-St.Raphael professional team.
The Societe were impressed by the name change to one similar to their own and presented the club with track suits and a large trophy at a banquet at the Queen's Hotel in Southsea, to which local clubs were invited.
The Societe St.Raphael had just begun to market their white and red wine-aperitives in Britain at about that time, and it was hoped that a similar type of club sponsorship to that enjoyed by clubs in France might be possible.
It was even hoped that such support might lead to a rider or riders from the club racing abroad as semi or full professionals with the Geminiani team in France, a team which already included Huddersfield's Brian Robinson on its strength.
In actual fact a Geminiani-St.Raphael 'independent' (semi-professional) team was formed locally and raced in Wessex events during 1959, it included Mike Wall and Graham Munden from the club in addition to other prominent Wessex riders.
The team was supported by British manufacturers also.
From surviving press cuttings and personal diaries, it seems that membership in 1958 stood at 35, the senior team including George Childs, Bari Hooper, Vic Howlett, Brian Lewis, Graham Munden, Brian Riley, Mike Wall and Chris Wood. The latter is still active as a U.C.I. commissaire in Canada.
The club's junior team in 1958 included John Bailey, Harry Jackson, Paul Kelly, Leo Needham, Mike Shawyer and Brian Smart.
Both teams enjoyed a successful season, a feature being the high number of team awards won.
Of the juniors, Jackson was in an interesting situation in that he was also a member of Portsmouth North End C.C. Jackson rode for the V.C.A. and the St.Raphael in road races, and for the North End on the track and at Lee.
When the two rival national bodies were obliged to merge in 1959, becoming the British Cycling Federation, Jackson was forced to choose between the two clubs, ultimately leaving the V.C.St.Raphael and going on to a successful national and international career with the Portsmouth North End C.C. However, he rejoined the club some years later.
One of Velo Club St.Raphael's many behind-the-scenes workers deserves a mention, this being Harry Forder who joined the club in its V.C.A. days and proved to be a tireless worker. Despite his frequent and enthusiastic involvement, Harry was a very private person and did his best to shun the limelight yet his reputation spread apparently beyond British shores.
This was evident when on a visit to the Pan-American Games in Winnipeg, Canada in 1999, he was publicly recognised for his organising efforts on behalf of the V.C.A. and St.Raphael.
Our thanks goes to Chris Wood for writing this informative piece.
