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ROD OVERTON
2ⁿd January 1934 - 11th November 2019

highlights being wins in the Finchley CC ‘25’, in
which he beat Alf Engers, and the Eagle RC ‘50’,
on the E1, when he recorded 2:00:26 in windy
conditions, beating a number of that season’s
main BBAR contenders.
By the mid-1960s Rod had moved up to the longer
distances; his PB ‘100’ and ‘12’ were 4:29:24 and
244 miles, in 1965 and 1967 respectively. He
took the San Fairy Ann senior BAR from 1966-
1968, and helped his club to three team wins in
the Kent CA BAR during this period.
In 1973 he focused mostly on the KCA BAR,
finishing in second place, but his best ride came in
the Brentwood ‘25’ on the E72, when he reduced
his PB to 55:41, another club record.
Upon reaching 40 Rod reverted to the shorter
distances, and in 1976 he recorded a super-fast
53:02 on the E72 in the Southend Wheelers ‘25’, a
We are very sorry to report that Rod Overton, one new VTTA national record for age 42. Two weeks
of Kent’s best ever riders, and the first man to later he was back on the same roads to win the
beat the hour for a ‘25’ on a Kent course, has University CC ‘50’, recording a PB of 1:54:30.
passed away after a period of ill health. The following weekend he was a member of the
Rod’s cycling began in 1947 with the Dover CC, South East DC team that finished second in the
but after moving to Maidstone he began racing in 100km TTT Championship at Newark with
1949, with the San Fairy Ann CC. In his first 2:16:35, 2:16 down on the Kirkby CC. Rod then
event, an inter-club ‘25’, he recorded 1:05:28 for recorded a PB 21:37 in a VTTA (Kent) ‘10’,
second place! another club and VTTA national age record.
By 1950 he was track racing all over the country, Rod enjoyed another good year in 1977, including
one major highlight being fifth place in the senior a 1:06:42 PB ‘30’. Then at the end of the season
national five miles grass track championship at he gave me his best wheels and retired from the
Newcastle, while still only 16. In 1951 he set sport. He would never race again but he
many club and course records, including a 23:15 continued to take a close interest in cycling, and
in a junior ‘10’, establishing a course record that remained in contact with several long-standing
stood for 22 years. He also beat the reigning friends.
BBAR, Ken Joy, in a ‘25’. Rod leaves his wife Rosemary, daughters Carol,
It was in 1954 that Rod achieved his first sub-hour Sandra and Tracey, son Nigel, eight grandchildren
‘25’, 59:48 set in a Thanet RC club event. Rod and six great grandchildren, to whom we extend
then enjoyed many individual and team wins our deepest sympathies.
across the south-east over the next few years. Mark Vowells
His best ever season was probably 1959, two
Credit photo to Legends of the Time Trial

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