Manchester Wheelers' Club
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Manchester Wheelers’ Club is a cycling club based in Manchester, in the North West of England.
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[edit] Formation & Early History
The club was formed on the 7th of July 1883, as 'Manchester Athletic Bicycle Club', changing its name to Manchester Wheelers’ Club in 1890.
[edit] Today
The Club has a long and illustrious history and continues to thrive. It has an active membership, taking part in road, track and mountain bike events. They hold regular social rides, plus a very competitive season of time-trials, hill climbs and road races.
[edit] Club Colours & Emblem
Club racing jerseys are Royal Blue, Red and White, emblazoned with the words 'Manchester Wheelers'.
[edit] Riders
Men & women who ride, or have ridden for Manchester Wheelers' include:
Alan Bannister MBE
Mark Bell
Chris Boardman MBE
Paul Curran
Alan Gornall
Mark Gornall
Reg Harris OBE
Steve Joughin
Dennis Lightfoot
Dave Lloyd
Peter Longbottom
Ben Luckwell
Will Mansfield
Scott O'Brien
Darryl Webster
Jeff Williams Mike Williams Ian Cammish John French John Woodburn Bob Downs Phil Guy Martin Harney Terry Tinsley Brian Lowe Steve Wilkinson Gareth Armitage Gary Pickard Wes Mason George Halls Goz Goodman Peter Gordon Ken Nuttall Derek Harrison Hugh Cameron Des Fretwell Phil Rayner Greg Newton Alan Davey Syd Merron Bill Silkstone Geoff Thomas Bob Barlow Ken Pearson Harry Hardcastle Don Murray Harry Whitehouse Ged Horne Joe Pilling Pete Watson Cyril Cartwright Bev Chapman Johnny Gandy Johnny Berry Jim Parkes Syd Cozens Alan Danson Alan Geldard Alan Newton
[edit] Reg Harris
Reg Harris born in Bury on March 1, 1920. He joined Manchester Wheelers as a raw but highly promising teenager in 1939 at the invitation of a quartet of young members enthusiastic to see the Wheelers’ at the top of the racing scene. At the time even Reg himself did not foresee the heights he would attain, not only as the member who would bring the club into a golden era of honours and acclaim but prove to be this country’s most successful and famous racing cyclist in history.
During his racing career Rag Harris won five world sprint championships, one as an amateur and four as a professional, and broke world records. He had set himself the highest standards and in retirement he was critical of the state of British sprint cycling. Indeed he felt so strongly that, thirty years after he had won his first national amateur championship, Harris made a comeback. He proved his point by winning the British professional title at Leicester in 1974 at the age of 54.
[edit] Muratti Cup
The history of the "Muratti" Race, "The race of the Champions", began in 1899 when the Vice-President of the Manchester Wheelers’ Club, Mr. D. B. Muratti, on behalf of Messrs. B. Muratti, Sons & Co. Ltd., Cigarette Makers of Manchester, presented to the Wheelers’ a massive silver cup valued at 100 guineas. So began a long series of epic struggles between the champions of their day for this Amateur 10 miles Race at Fallowfield, Manchester, which was to become famed the world over. The Muratti Gold Cup is presented annually to the winner of the Open 10 Miles Track Event and has been presented several times at the UCI World Masters Track Championships. The trophy was won most recently in 2006 by Sergio Gili of Argentina.
[edit] External links
[edit] The Area
Manchester is perfectly placed for cycling between the flat Cheshire plane to the south and west, and the high peaks of the Pennines to the north and east. Manchester is also the home of British Cycling and the National Cycling Centre.
