1962 Liberation Day Grand Prix Cycle Race

Race Report

Picture of the start

DON ECOBICHON DOES IT AGAIN

Jersey’s master racing cyclist Don Ecobichon winner of the Liberation Day Grand Prix Cycle Race gave a repeat performance yesterday morning when he won the Sir Edmund Crane Trophy for the third time. This magnificent cup was first competed for in 1956 and Ecobichon initial win in 1958.

The club’s patron Lady Stanley of Alderly and the French Consul, Monsieur Yann Petit de la Villeon arrived about ten minutes before the start and were welcomed by Mr F.Machon, president of the Caesarean Cycling Club. I was announced that the Constable of St.Helier was to have started the race but was unable to be present as he was indisposed.

Watched by a larger crowd than usual the French Consul dropped the flag at 10.30 to set the 21 riders off on the first of the 20 lap course covering 27.5 miles which ran from the Lower Park on Victoria Avenue to West Park and onto St Aubin’s Road as far as First Tower and back along the Avenue. While the race was in progress the northern carriageway was closed to traffic.

At West Park Stan Perchard had gained a slight lead closely followed by the rest of the field. A.Renyard of Guernsey edged into the lead at the end of the first lap which was completed in a very good time of 3 minutes and 30 seconds from a standard start. Lap two was even faster, the best of the morning in fact, the time being 3 minutes 28 seconds.

RIDING IN GROUPS

The race now began to develop into a pattern with the riders settling themselves into three groups, interspersed here and there by one or two stragglers. The first group was made up of D.Ecobichon, B.Witcomb, a competitor from the mainland who was second in the South-East London Junior Championships and who had come to Jersey specially to ride in the event. D. Le Brocq, D.Lidster and two Guernsey men A.Reynard and T.Le Pelley. They soon drew away from the field and were to remain together throughout the race. By lap 10 the distance between the first and second groups was at least 1,000 yards.

SPECIAL LAP PRIZES

Points were awarded for the first five placings in each lap, the first rider obtaining 5, the second 4, and the others 3,2 and 1 in that order. A lap prize was given at the end of the race to the rider who had accumulated the greatest number of points. Then there were prime prizes which were awarded to the winners of certain laps selected by the chief judge and announced to the riders at the beginning of each circuit.

CHEERS FOR VETERAN

By the halfway stage Don Ecobichon had a three point advantage over his nearest rival B.Witcomb and by lap 15 he had doubled the lead to six points. The six riders in this group were making a rare battle of it and the spectators cheered excitedly everytime they came into view. It was great stuff to watch and the crowd responded warmly to the efforts that the competitors were making. A great cheer in particular went up every time club captain veteran Bill Aubert raced past. This 50 years young cyclist suffered the bad luck of tacking tumble near First Tower during the first lap of the race when his chain came off but undaunted he soon put the trouble right and was back in there with the youngsters and travelling quite as fast as the leaders at the end. It was a great show by the great sports man.

At the end of the 19th lap the English rider B.Witcomb had narrowed the cap between himself and Don Ecobichon to two points and excitement rose to fever pitch when it was realised that everything depended on the last lap. Beside the scrap for points between these two all six riders in the leading group were so close together that the eventual winner was anyones guess. They had kept close to each other throughout the race fighting hard not to be dropped and now they were in at the kill. It was tremendous !

LAST LAP THRILLS

The riders came into view behind the motorcycle out riders jockeying for position, Nearer they came, 600 yards, 300 yards, 150 yards and still no more than the length of a bus between them all. then in a last hectic effort Don Ecobichon got a wheel in front and held on to pass the line and win from Guernsey’s Alan Renyard who by taking second place turned in the best ever performance by a rider from the sister Island. David Le Brocq for the second year in succession had to be content with third place.

THE PRESENTATIONS

Before lady Stanley of Alderly presented the prizes she was given a lovely bouquet of spring flowers by 12 year old Ethel Noel, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs E.C Noel, prominent members of the Caesarean Cycling Club.

Then Don Ecobichon mounted the steps to the rostrum where Lady Stanley presented him with the winners traditional bouquet of flowers, the Sir Edmund Crane Trophy and a replica. He took his place on the winners dais while A.Renyard and D.La Brocq came forward to receive their prizes.

The lap prizes were then presented as follows: 1. D.Ecobichon: 2. B.Witcomb: 3. D.Le Brocq.

This was followed by the awarding of the prime prizes: 1. D.Ecobichon: 2. D.Ecobichon: 3. K.de la Haye: 4. G.Clark: 5. K.de la Haye: 6. Don Ecobichon.

A special prize was awarded to Alan Renyard for being the first Guernsey rider to cross the finishing line.

I do not have the names of the other 11 competitors.

WINNER’S WORDS

Interviewed at Mr Machon’s residence where the club members had retired after the event, Don Ecobichon said it was a very hard race and he was surprised by the improvement in the Guernsey riders, never before had they done so well. He said a spoke had broken in his rear wheel early in the race but it gave him no trouble.