AdminHistory | The Rutland Cycling Club was formed in 1908 at Rutland Hall at the junction of Rutland Road and Platt Street, Neepsend, Sheffield and was originally known as 'Rutland Hall Cycling Club'. One of the club's earliest competitions, the '50 mile handicap cup' dates back to 1913. In the 1920s, one of the club's most accomplished cyclists was Len Ingle who was the first man locally to cycle 100 miles in under 5 hours. Ingle also served as club secretary and president. In 1932, Bill Littlewood helped to put the club on the map by accepting a challenge from ‘The Sheffield Star’ to ride from Sheffield to London, a feat he accomplished in 8 hours 59 minutes. In the late 1930s, club cyclists Alwyn Cawthorne, Joe Wilson and Ron Masterman all achieved success in local races.
In the early 1950s, the club's leading road riders were Ray Lockwood, Brian Trippett and Dick Bartrop (with the latter two breaking into the professional ranks and Dick Bartrop riding theTour of Britain with distinction). Around this time, the club also began to make a mark in long distance events. Joe Thompson, Lofty Leversidge and Ron Coukham all won 24 hour championships and, with the help of Tony Fouldes, Jim Hall and George Steers, won five team championships. During this period Jim Hall took the 24 hour NRRA record from fellow club member Benny Hudson with a distance of 441.75miles. Benny Hudson was also second in the 1949 championship. Rides at this point in time were done under the guidance of club stalwart Ron Masterman.
In the 1960s, club members to achieve notable success included Ben Hamilton (who broke the Sheffield to York record achieving a time of 1 hour 51 minutes and 31 seconds) and Dave Dungworth (who won the 25m and 50m double at the national championships in both 1966 and 1967). |