15 mile Time Trial
1. The Lennie Hitchin Memorial Trophy. This is awarded to the winner. Lennie was the first rider to break the 20mph barrier, this was at the Club’s Wetherby and Back (42.5miles) Time Trial in 1933, only four other riders managed this feat in subsequent years.
Sadly, Lennie lost his life fighting in WW2 at Arnhem serving with the Parachute Regiment. His son Albert Hitchin, also a Thorper, would have made his father proud as he became a very successful professional cyclist- recording 30 victories and making a Tour de France appearance. Albert was the UK National road race Champion twice in the 1960s.
10 mile TT (four Awards)
1. The Armitage Trophy: this is currently for the fastest rider, the winner also receives an engraved medal.
The Armitage family were involved with the Club over a number of years. The Club Captain in the 1950’s and 60’s was Laurie Armitage, he owned a bike shop in Mirfield. His father George Armitage was club president in the 1950’s he owned an electrical business in Ravensthorpe that also sold bikes. In 1951 George started the practice of awarding the President’s Diamond Jubilee Goblet – for Club Run Participation.
The Armitage Trophy in the early 1950’s was presented to the handicap winner of the Longmarkers’ 25m TT (the Longmarkers event ran from about 1932-1955). The goal of the Longmarkers’ award was to encourage participation from inexperienced club members. This was done by limiting participation to only those who had not beaten a nominal time, for example; 1hr 10min over 25miles.
2. The Bob Inman Memorial Shield: fastest Veteran
The goal of this award is to provide a level playing field with respect to age. Cycling authorities produce tables of “standard” target times for a person’s age. The winner is the veteran who beats their standard by the largest margin. The Bob Inman shield includes prior winners’ names by year with their winning margin time known in the TT community as a “plus”.
Bob Inman was a talented and popular Time Trialist, he had been with Gomersal CC along with Derrick Milner for a few years before moving to the newly formed Mirfield CC. The new club however did not last very long and folded. Bob planned to move to Ravensthorpe CC, but he was tragically killed on a busy roundabout when out training. Although this was a “hit and run” incident, another motorist was able to chase and identify the driver.
The money that Mirfield CC retained when it folded was donated to the Thorpers for a Trophy in Bob’s memory. The first engraving was made for the 10mile TT that ran in April 1999 – the year after he died. For a few years the Trophy was awarded to riders from outside of the club too – at the Club’s Open 10. Some notable winners were Lenny Grayson and Brian Haskell.
3. Mike Dawson Memorial Shield: Handicap Time Winner
The goal of this award is to encourage inexperienced riders to participate in Time Trials. The handicap target time is set by the Club President and is based on a rider’s form and experience. The shield includes previous winners’ names.
Mike Dawson was a long standing and active rider with the Thorpers. He participated in most club events including club runs and time trials. Mike was originally with Meanwood Wheelers but moved to the Mirfield area when he married Sylvia, also a cyclist. Mike had a Milkround business and always wanted to retire to be able to pursue his passion for cycling. Tragically, within days of selling his business to be able to retire, he was diagnosed with a terminal condition.
4. Fastest Lady
This is currently a Medal. Ladies often win the Mike Dawson shield too.
25 mile TT (four Awards)
1. The Winner currently receives a Medal (at one time the Lennie Hitchin Memorial Cup was awarded, but the medal replaced it in the1980’s)
2. Ravensthorpe Tradesmens’ Association Challenge Cup: awarded to the person who can beat their target handicap time by the largest margin.
The Club was founded by tradesmen and shopkeepers. This solid silver Trophy was donated by the Ravensthorpe Tradesmens’ Association in 1895. Initially this was a handicap award for a 5 mile track event around Savilletown Cricket field. The event then moved to a cinder track in Ravensthorpe. In 1909 it was awarded for a 25 mile Time Trial around Heath Common and the Redhouse area, this tradition continued until the late 1960s. In addition to the Cup there was a medal for the fastest novice over 25 miles.
3. The Herbert Hirst Memorial Rose Bowl. This is for the Ladies’ winner on handicap:
The award was introduced in 1955, in memory of the late Herbert Hirst a life member. Prior to being awarded for the Time Trial the Rose Bowl was awarded for the winner of the Ladies Road Race.
4. The Tom Oldfield Memorial Shield (commencing 2021) This is for the Fastest Veteran on Standard.
Tom’s wife donated £100 for a shield in Tom’s memory.
50 mile TT (two awards)
1. Fastest Rider -The Phillips Challenge Cup
This trophy was presented to the Club in 1951 by J.A.Phillips and Co. – Bicycle Manufacturers of Birmingham. The Club used the Cup to mark the Club’s Diamond Jubilee 1891-1951.
Ravensthorpe CC was selected for the trophy by J.A. Phillips at a cycling rally in Lemington Spa. This was because the Thorpers attending the event had accumulated the most mileage riding there when compared with other clubs traveling there from around the UK.
Bryan Rounding (Phil Rounding’s Brother) rode to the event, Phil was too young at that time. Phil joined in 1955.
The award is currently for RCC riders only, but until recently it was an Open Team Time Trial on the A19 Selby-Goole road. Some of the past winners were Gomersal, Yorkshire Road Club and Selby.
2. Fastest Lady This is currently a Medal.
Best All Rounder (BAR)
Owen Wood Memorial Shield (unfortunately we have no information about Owen)
The current BAR is calculated by taking the average speed of one 50 mile TT and two 10’s. The events must be official CTT open races. Prior to this the BAR calculation was based on 2 x 25’s and a 50.
Evening 10 Mile TT series: Medal for the Fastest time on standard.
These are enter on the day time trials organised by Calder Clarion Cycling Club. Riders can enter as many of these evening events as they like. Their best time is compared with the “standard” time for their age. This award was introduced in 2017 by Andy Shaw the Race Secretary at that time.
In recent history the Club organised 10 and 15 mile evening time trials around the Hartshead course, the final lap was extended towards Bailiff Bridge to make them the correct mileage. These were discontinued due to the installation of traffic lights on the course.
Non TT Awards
1. The President’s Diamond Jubilee Runs Championship Goblet: This is a long standing award for the rider who has accumulated the highest number of club runs.
The Award was started by the Club President George Armitage in the 1950s. This award is solid silver. In the past it was not unusual to have early start Sunday club runs (6.30am) these tended to be of longer duration than those of today, especially during the summer months. The longer rides would finish in the evening and involve multiple meal stops.
Special annual club runs have taken various forms in the past. In the 1950’s Midnight runs would go far into the Yorkshire Dales. During the 1980’s there was a popular midnight run to Staithes and back, this was on the longest day of the year. For a number of years in the 1950/60’s the Club held a biannual 24hr ride to Carrie’s Bike Shop in Colwyn Bay and back. The regular distance Club members would ride out to meet them on their return leg at Marple in Cheshire (the 24th hour). Note: the epic distance riders still had to ride home from Marple via Holme Moss, taking them well over the 24hr period!
2. Member of the year Currently a small Trophy and Medal.
3. Ladies Member of the year Currently a small Trophy. Both awards can be won by a Lady Member.
Ladies have been a strong part of the Club throughout its history. Club Runs in the past tended to involve larger mixed groups of riders. Miss J Nettleton was the Club’s Captain at the time of the Diamond Jubilee year 1951. During the 1980’s Lisa Brambini was the Club’s most successful and famous rider.
4. Hill Climb: The Sports Cup is a long standing award for the Hill Climb.
It has been given to either the handicap winner or the overall winner
5. Most Improved Rider: The John Carter Award (Cup)
The Award was originally for the most improved young rider, it’s now open to all ages.
John Carter was a club member in the 1990’s he was noted for riding the epic “Europe: top to bottom” journey from North Cape within the Artic Circle in Norway to Tarifa near the straits of Gibraltar passing through Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany and France and Spain (3,914miles).
6. The Freewheel Award. This is awarded to the winner of the downhill competition.
The award for this fun event was designed by Mike Dawson (see Mike Dawson Memorial Shield) It’s an unusual but interesting design made from hardwood and bike gears.
Discontinued Events or Trophies
1. Longmarkers
This was a handicap 25m TT for non racing or novice club members. The goal for this event was to exclude those who had beaten a particular time eg 1hr 10mins over 25 miles, but encourage less experienced riders to aim for this as a target. The competition dates back to the early 1930’s and ran for decades. The Armitage Trophy was briefly used for this event in the 1950s.
2. The 1938 Cup
This was as originally awarded for the fastest ride to Goole and back. In the 1960’s/70’s The Cup was awarded to the Handicap Winner of the “Rough Ride” cycle cross competition. The Cup was later used for a 12.5 mile TT in the 1980s.
3. The Sports Cup
This was originally awarded for the fastest ride to Wetherby and back, this competition ran for decades. Since the late 1950’s the Cup has been used for the annual hill climb.
4. John Smiths Cup
This was awarded to the Thorpers by the John Smiths Brewery for the fastest to ride to Tadcaster and back. (Unfortunately the Trophy is lost).
5. Interclub 50mile Team TT
This was a Heavy Woollen area competition that started in the interwar years (1930-37), it was resurrected in 1950’s with new rules that used the time of the fastest third rider (rather than the aggregate time for the fastest 3 riders). Participating Clubs included Batley, Drighlington, Farsley, Gomersal, Morley, Ravensthorpe and Spen Valley Wheelers.
In the late 1950’s it became a 3up 25mile TT on the Monk Fryston Ferrybridge course. The HQ was usually at the Chequers Inn Monk Fryston. Although the riders tried hard to train together as a team it wasn’t always possible due to National Service commitments this led to pacing difficulties on the day!
6. Rough Rider
This was an award for the winner of a cyclocross event on the 2nd Sunday in February.
7. Treasure Hunt
A cycling treasure hunt fun event.