A 480 km Permanent
by Harold Bridge

In 1922 a Dr Kilham (I love that name!) Roberts joined Britain's North Road Cycling Club and promptly offered 2 trophies to the Club. As the Club at that time looked down its nose at anything less than 50 miles he made one of the cups a 25 mile TT trophy. The other one was for an out and home time trial between Barnet, just north of London, and Doncaster in Yorkshire. Round trip; a nominal 300 miles up & down the Great North Road.

The rules were that a rider, with suitable notice & fee, could go at any time between April & November and plan to start and finish at any one point along the North Road. The route was flexible too. The shorter & faster stretch could be replaced by the longer & easier side roads. The termini were Barnet & Doncaster.

When in around 1950 the Northern members organised an event, they started & finished at Doncaster of course.

Dad got a real gold standard medal in 1926 & I got a silver standard in 1950 and a fake gold standard in 1951.

The records are not complete, but I have dug up some & added some from memory.

1922    F.& Mrs Thomas    20:38 (unofficial)
        F.Armond          21:08
1923    ????
1924    L.Cockerill       20:52
        T.Owen            21:15
        F.Thomas (trike)  22:22
1926    W.Ellis           19:35
        F.Thomas (trike)  22:17
        R.Bridge          22:19
1927    W.Ellis           19:08
1928    W.Ellis           17:51
        T.Maddex          18:15
1929    W.Ellis           17:18
1930    T.Maddex          18:00
        G.Pitt            18:09
1931    G.Pitt            17:41
        T.Maddex          18:01
1932    G.Pitt            17:38
        T.Maddex          18:02
1933    G.Pitt            17:34
        J.Yates           19:40
1934    G.Pitt            17:45
        F.Marston         20:35

1946    J. Rhind          ??
        J.Sewell          ??

1949    R.Mynott          16:06
1950    H. Bridge         18:55
1951    R.Mynott          15:44
        H.Bridge          17:51
       (+ 8 others)
1952    A.Blackman        14:57

October 14, 2009