Page 63 - Hindsight Issue 26 April 2020

HeRItAge
Peterborough Cycling Club silver medals of 1929 and 1947 [30mm diameter]
place on the County Cricket ground and at the Racecourse and Victoria Palace gardens. this had a cycle track laid in 1889 according to a report in the Northampton Mercury 6 July 1889, p11. the Victoria Cycling Club was very active at the time and reports appear in the Northampton Mercury of various handicap races and for the Challenge Cup. the 4 July 1888, edition, gives details of the 3, 5, 7, and 10 miles prizes and Challenge Cup. the 4 August and 18 August editions of 1888, give results of the 5 miles and 7 miles handicap races.
Unfortunately, the author has not seen any medals awarded
for prizes during this early period. In fact very few cycling
medals have been found. the earliest recorded medal noted
(1929) was for a second in a 50 miles handicap race from
the long running Peterborough Cycling Club. two medals,
of the same type as the 1929 medal, also dated 1929 had
been noted in a private collection. these were awarded to
the same person, H Blake, as the 1929 medal illustrated above. In this case they were for a 25 mile handicap, 2nd prize and a 3rd in Hill Climb event prize.
A later medal to C slater (1947) from the same club gave results for 12 hour race, and the 25 miles as well as 50 miles, times.
Another medal is known, awarded in 1953 for the second placed competitor in the smith Cup (a 25 miles race).
the Peterborough Cycling Club was established in 1874 and is still active today. their website, www.peterboroughcyclingclub.co.uk/club-history gives details of club activities as well as listing major cup winners from 1922. there is no mention of medal awards on the website.
A 1931 Wellingborough Cycling Club medal for 25mile race
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