It takes Allsorts

In these days of unrestricted cycling on highways and by-ways (excepting motorways of course) it is hard to believe that it was not that many years ago when racing and competition was actually banned on public roads.

A few hardy souls flaunted the law by going out and competing in the early, early hours or in the dark and in secret locations out in the countryside on the fringes of the main city and urban areas of Britain.

Favoured regular courses were referred to in coded speak and these designations persist to the present day in the annual handbook of events promoted by the British Cycling Federation and the Road Time Trial Council.

The early riders against the clock were pioneers in trying to achieve a personal best and tackling national records over the distances of 10, 15, 25, 30, 50 and 100 miles and in the endurance events over 12 hours and 24 hours.

It was in the National 12 Hour Championships of 1967 that a truly astonishing athletic feat took place in establishing a distance of 277.25 miles at an average speed of just over 23mph.

This was a winning ride in the mixed event and a record that stood for a further 2 years.

The most remarkable fact was that it was achieved by the diminutive figure of the Yorkshire born and bred cyclist, Beryl Burton.

That day, 17th September 1967 was a perfect day for time trialling being still and dry as individual riders set off at 2 minute intervals on an out and back route around Leeds, Harrogate, Thirsk and York known as the V181, before entering a circuitous route for the remainder of the half day event to finish around Wetherby, North Yorkshire.

Beryl Burton set off at 7.42am on what will have been chilly early autumn morning before the conditions settled down to ideal for racing.

All of the male competitors had already left the starting position and Beryl was the first of the handful of women entrants to set off.

Beryl was a dedicated rider who pushed herself to superhuman efforts not just in competition but in her regular training sessions. This was in the days prior to the scientific approach and methods and with little or no understanding or application of nutrition or psychology that features so highly in modern sport.

Her strength of mind and purpose complimented the obvious physiological attributes that allowed her to dominate cycling for such a long period.

After 10 hours of riding that day in 1967 the majority of the earlier male starters had been caught by Beryl with her relentless pace and energy.

Her team of helpers gave her regular time checks as they criss crossed the finishing circuit to bring drink and food and give encouragement.

Gradually the then record holder Mike McNamara was being reeled in and Beryl later told of her reticence at the moment when she first saw him ahead and knew that she would definitely catch and then have to pass him. She was very competitive but was aware of the impact her superior ride could have on a fellow sports person.

In her own inimitable fashion Beryl, in preparing to overtake McNamara, reached into the back pocket of her Morley Cycling Club jersey and extracted one of her favourite treats, a liquorice allsort. She handed it to him with the words "Mike, have a sweetie" to which he responded "Thanks Love" before being left in her slipstream.

McNamara actually extended his own record on the day by 4.3 miles but this fell short of the new Burton National Record by 0.75 miles.

There was a bit of a do in the field at the finish with tea, cakes and probably something a bit stronger and the distance remains even today, some 40 years later, as the women's 12 hour record. It took another 2 years for the National Record to be reclaimed by a male rider which served to illustrate the enormity of the sporting prowess of Beryl Burton.

It was an illustrious career on the bike which included 7 World Titles, 96 National Records and the attainment of Best All Rounder for 25 consecutive years from 1959. To sum up her attitude there is a story told by a rider that she caught in a 25 mile Time Trial Event. As Beryl rode briefly alongside she said "Eh Lad, you're not trying" before disappearing up the road.