The F. T. Bidlake Memorial Trust

 

THE F. T. BIDLAKE MEMORIAL PLAQUE

Recipients since 1933 when Trust was formed

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1934 - Hubert Opperman for his 24 hours Land's End to John O'Groats and 1,000 miles bicycle records accomplished in one ride, 16th/17th/18th July 1934.

1935 - Frank W. Southall for his London to Brighton and Back bicycle record on 24th August 1935 in 4 hrs. 38 mins. 27 secs.

1936 - Edward J. Southcott for his exceptional services in connection with the representation of Great Britain in the Cycling Championship of the Olympic Games at Berlin, 1936.

1937 - Sydney H. Ferris for his bicycle records, Land's End to John O'Groats in 2 days 6 hrs. 33 mins., and 1,000 miles in 2 days 22 hrs. 40 mins. 17th/19th July 1937.

1938 - Frank J. Urry for his outstanding work on behalf of cyclists as a member of the Transport Advisory Council during 1938.

1939 - Marguerite Wilson for her bicycle records, Land's End to John O'Groats in 2 days 22 hrs. 52 mins. and 1,000 miles in 3 days 11 hrs. 44 mins. accomplished in one ride, 29th August - 2nd September 1939.

1940 - There was no award.

1941 - Arthur S. Gillott for his outstanding services to cycling during 1941 in founding the Institute of  Cycle Traders and Repairers.

1942 - there was no award.

1943 - George Herbert Stancer for untiring work on behalf of cyclists culminating in the presentation of a National Testimonial in 1943.

1944 - Frank Patterson for his joyous delineation of the pastime of cycling for 51 years, and the pleasure his work has given in particular to cyclists serving their country the world over during 1944.

1945 - there was no award.

1946 - Albert E. G. Derbyshire for his outstanding series of time trials during 1946 at 50 miles, 100 miles and 12 hours, which gained for him among other honours four National Championships.

1947 - Reginald H. Harris  for his victory in the Amateur Sprint Cycling Championship of the World at Paris on 27th July 1947.

1948 - Gordon H. Basham for his outstanding performance in winning the North Road Cycling Club's 24 hours' time trial, 21st/22nd August 1948, when he covered 454.5 miles, thereby gaining the National Championship.  His distance exceeded the previous record by 9.75 miles.

1949 - Reginald H. Harris for his victory in the Professional Sprint Cycling Championship of the World at Copenhagen on 28th August 1949, during the first year of his professional career.  He is the first Englishman ever to win this title.

1950 - Eileen Sheridan for creating a new high standard in women's cycle racing with an outstanding series of three championships and five record performances on the road in 1950.

1951 - Kenneth H. Joy for his outstanding series of time trials in 1951 at 50 miles, 100 miles and 12 hours, which gained for him two National Championships in both cases with record-breaking performances.

1952 - Keith Bentley for his outstanding series of 50 miles time trials in 1952 in which he won the National Championship, gained the national competition record of 1 hr. 56 mins. 44 secs. and which included four of the five fastest fifty miles rides of the year: all inside two hours.

1953 - John F.  Arnold. for his outstanding unpaced 24 hours time trial on a tricycle of 457.33 miles in the Mersey Roads Club event 25th/26th July 1953, in which he added thirty-five miles to the existing national competition record.

1954 - Cyril F. Peacock for his victory in the World Amateur Sprint Cycling Championship at Cologne on 29th August 1954.

1955 - Norman Sheil for his victory in the World Amateur Cycling Pursuit Championship at Milan on 2nd September 1955.

1956 - Ray C. Booty for his superlative ride of 3 hrs. 58 mins. 28 secs. in the Bath Road Club 100 miles time trial of 1956, this being the first time 100 miles had ever been ridden on a bicycle, out and home, inside four hours.

1957 - Albert Crimes for his tricycle record from Land's End to John O'Groats in 2 days 12 hrs. 37 mins. on 16th/19th August 1957.

1958 - Reginald C. Shaw for his outstanding work on behalf of cyclists culminating, through his initiative and persistence, in the official adoption in 1958 of the National Safe Cycling Scheme for training and testing child cyclists.

1959 - Beryl Burton for her victory in the Women's World Amateur Pursuit Cycling Championship in which year she was also British Time Trial and Road Champion at all distances, best all-round woman rider, and established a new national competition record of 250.375 miles in 12 hours.

1960 - Beryl Burton for her double victory in the Women's World Amateur Pursuit and Road Race Cycling Championships of 1960, in which year she was again the National Champion at all the women's road distances and for the second year in succession the best all-round woman cyclist in Britain.

1961 - Eileen Gray or her work on behalf of women cyclists culminating in the promotion of the Women's World Championships in Great Britain in 1961.

1962 - R. Frank Colden for his National Championship win in the Bath Road Club 100 of 1962 in which his time of 3 hrs. 54 mins. 23 secs. beat the next competitor by 10 mins. 5 secs. and the previous record by 4 mins. 5 secs.  In this year he was also National Champion at 50 miles and British Best All-Rounder with a record average speed of 24.652 miles per hour.

1963 - Leslie K. Carter for his outstanding service to cycling in devising and organising the National Schoolboys' Championship culminating in an entry of nearly two thousand riders in 1963.

1964 - Alex Moulton for the wide encouragement given to cycling by the production of the Moulton bicycle.

1965 - Tom Simpson for his victory in the World Professional Cycling Road Race Championship in Spain on 5th September 1965.  He is the first British rider ever to win this title.

1966 - Arthur Metcalfe for his unique achievement in winning both the British Best All-Rounder Competition and the British Senior Amateur Road Race Championship in 1966.

1967 - Beryl Burton M.B.E. for her victory in the 1967 Women's World Amateur Road Race Championship and for her ride of 277.5 miles in a 12 hours time trial; the greatest distance ever achieved in competition by man or woman.

1968 - Hugh Porter for his victory in the World Professional Cycling Pursuit Championship at Rome on 29th August 1968.

1969 - Roy Cromack for his outstanding performance in winning the Mersey Roads Club 24 hours time trial, 26th/27th July 1969, when he covered 507 miles to gain the National Championship, beating the previous record and exceeding 500 miles for the first time.

1970 - Benny Foster for his outstanding services to British Cycling as Director-Organiser of the 1970 World's Cycling Championships at Leicester.

1971 -  Leslie West for his London to Portsmouth and Back bicycle record in 6 hrs. 8 mins. 10 secs. on 19th September 1971.

1972 - Eric Tremaine for his outstanding unpaced 24 hours time trial on a tricycle of 457.89 miles in the North Road Cycling Club's event, 26/27th August 1972 - a new national competition record.

1973 - William H.Townsend for his outstanding services to cycling culminating in his election in January 1973 as Chairman of the Road Time Trials Council for the twenty-first time.

1974 - There was no award.

1975 - Phil Griffiths for his victory in the Best All-Rounder Competition of the Road Time Trials Council, this being his third victory and the second in succession.

1976 - Ron White for his untiring efforts over many years to achieve a cycle-racing track at Harlow, culminating in the opening of the track in 1976.

1977 - Arthur Campbell for his services to British cycle racing at home and abroad culminating in his appointment in 1977 as Chairman of the Technical Commission of the Union Cycliste Internationale.

1978 - Leslie C.Warner for his dedicated work over the past 25 years in the interests of cyclists and of the defence and protection of their rights.

1979 - Paul Carbutt for his Land's End to John O'Groats bicycle record of 1 day 23 hrs. 23 mins. 1 sec. on 11th/12th July 1979.

1980 - Tony Doyle for his victory in the World Professional Cycling Pursuit Championship at Besancon, France, in 1980.

1981 - Ian Cammish for his outstanding series of 100 miles time trials in 1981, being the five fastest rides of the year and in which he won the National Championship in the national competition record time of 3 hrs. 38 mins. 39 secs.

1982 - Mandy Jones for her victory in the Women's World Road Race Championship at Goodwood on 4th September 1982.

1983 - Alan Rushton for his initiative in organising city centre cycle races in 1983 that led to their television presentation and so to being seen by more than a million viewers.

1984 - there was no award.

1985 - John Woodburn for his outstanding time trial performances during the past 25 years including the Land's End to John O'Groats bicycle record of 1 day 21 hrs. 3 mins. 16 secs. in 1982, culminating in his winning of the Veterans' Time Trials Association Best All-Rounder Championship for the third time in 1985.

1986 - Jeremy Isaacs, Head of Channel 4 Television, for that channel's coverage of the Tour de France that attracted so many non-cyclists to the sport.

1987 - there was no award.

1988 - Ivy Thorp in recognition of her dedicated work at local and national level for the safety and welfare of all cyclists, culminating in 1988 on the completion of seven years as President of the Cyclists' Touring Club.

1989 - Colin Sturgess for his win in the World Professional Pursuit Championship at Lyons, France, in 1989 at the age of 20 years in his first season as a professional cyclist.

1990 - Pete Longbottom whose outstanding 1990 season started with fifth place in the Commonwealth Games Road Race in February, later embraced victory in the 100 miles National Championship, national competition record at 25 miles in 49 mins. 13 secs. and R.R.A. 50 miles bicycle record in November of 1 hr. 30 mins. 14 secs.

1991 - Glenn Longland for his 12 hours national competition record of 300.08 miles to become the first rider to average more than 25 m.p.h. when he won the Poole Wheelers event on 1st September 1991.  This ride also ensured his second victory in the British Best All-Rounder Competition.

1992 - Chris Boardman M.B.E. for his outstanding year of success, crowned by his victory in the 4,000 metres Pursuit at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, where he gained Britain's first individual cycling gold medal since the 1908 London Games and during the series set a World Record of 4 mins. 24.496 secs.

1993 - Graeme Obree with his own novel and unconventional cycle design and training, during a three month period in 1993, broke the World Hour Record, became World Pursuit Champion in a World record time, won the British Pursuit Championship, and the day after breaking the 10 miles national competition record, won the 50 miles National Championship by 9 mins. in competition record time.

1994 - Sean Yates for his outstanding performances over many years of cycle racing including the wearing of the race leader's yellow jersey during the 1994 Tour de France and for his unselfish support and work for team mates during a long professional career.

1995 - Ron Kitching for his enthusiastic support and promotion of all branches of cycling, including the generous backing for the Centenary 50 to mark the anniversary of the first time trial in 1895.

1996 - Andy Wilkinson who brought a new dimension to men's time trials to win the British Best All-Rounder Competition for 1996 with a record average speed of 28.236 m.p.h., setting national competition records in each of his qualifying rides at 50 miles, 100 miles and 12 hours.

1997 - John Helms, Warrington Road Club, the cartoonist whose sense of humour has delighted cyclists for over 50 years.

1998 - David Duffield in recognition of his unique ability in the promotion of cycle sport through his television commentaries of international cycle racing.

1999 - Kevin Dawson for his all round cycle racing performances during 1999, which included his fifth British Best All-Rounder title, his win in the National 100 miles Championship and the silver medal in the National Road Race Championship.

2000 - Yvonne McGregor who for eight years successfully competed at international level on road and track: she won a bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and crowned her season by becoming the Women's World Pursuit Champion.

2001 - Nicole Cooke  - Junior Women's World Road Race Champion in 2000.  She excelled in 2001 by winning gold medals in the World Junior Women's Mountain Bike Cross Country, Time Trial and Road Race Championships.

2002 - Keith Butler who for many years has encouraged and provided the opportunity for cyclists of all abilities to participate in road racing, particularly through his outstanding work for the Surrey Cycle Racing League.

2003 - there was no award.

2004 - Ron Webb for his work in the design of more than sixty tracks worldwide including those at Manchester and Newport and which have furthered the development of cycle racing in this country, leading to British Olympic successes at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.

2005 - Michael Hutchinson who became the first rider to win the National Championships at 10, 25, 50, 100 miles and 12 hours, together with the British Best All-Rounder title and the Time Trial Series in the same season.

2006 - Gethin Butler for his second win in the Time Trial Series thereby adding to a career with highlights including the Land's End to John O'Groats and 1,000 miles bicycle records, two British Best All-Rounder titles and 100 miles, 12 hours and 24 hours National Championships.

2007 - Peter King for his management and leadership in reviving the fortunes of British Cycling over the past decade.

2008 - Dave Brailsford C.B.E.  for his role as Performance Director of British Cycling in leading the Great Britain Team to unprecedented success at the 2008 World Championships and the Beijing Olympic Games on road and track.

2009 - Julia Shaw who won the 2009 Women's National Championships at 10, 25, 50, 100 miles, the British Best All-Rounder Competition at a record average speed of 27.451 m.p.h. and for the third successive year was crowned the Champion of Champions.

2010 - Philip Heaton in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the sport of cycling.

2011 - Mark Cavendish M.B.E. for his outstanding performances in 2011 culminating in his victory in the World Elite Road Race Championship.

2012 - Bradley Wiggins C.B.E. The first British rider to win the mensTour de France.

2013 - Dot Tilbury M.B.E. for her outstanding voluntary work over many years to bring hundreds of young people into the sport of cycling.

2014 - Matthew Bottrill who won the Men's National Championships at 10, 25 and 50 miles, the RTTC Circuit Championship, breaking three competition records and being crowned Champion of Champions.

2015 - Phil Liggett M.B.E. for a lifetime of services to cycling.

 

Since the first Bidlake award was presented to Hubert Opperman in 1934, the world of British cycling has clearly changed out of all recognition. The committee in those early days cannot have imagined that the award would ever be given to British world champions or Tour de France winners, in fact they would probably never have considered that a British rider would even take part in the Tour. They probably did not foresee that so many women would feature in the list either. In one way however, the Bidlake was ahead of its time in being open to amateurs and professionals alike. It has always been generous too in recognising the work of behind-the-scenes figures in the sport, as well as the great riders. Presenting the award now is more complex than it used to be because the sport has so many facets, and because we live in an intensely publicity-conscious world in which so many achievements clamour for our attention. The Bidlake award has been part of the British cycling scene from its inception. It has been a symbol of excellence which each new winner felt it an honour to be given, to link his or her name with the names of the great riders of the past. This year we celebrate eighty years of the Bidlake Trust, and we look forward with confidence to reaching its centenary.

 

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