A civic reception was held on the evening of December 5th, 2024 with the Mayor of Bath, Michelle O’Doherty at Bath Guildhall
Bath CC members were invited to attend a reception given by the office of the Mayor of Bath in the Mayors parlour at the Guildhall. The event was to celebrate the long term loan of the clubs most valuable and prestigious silver trophy set – The Tempest Trophy Set (dated 1897) which will be going in the city’s historic and notable silver display collection.
Bath CC members invited included 10 of the past 12 winners. Also past and current club committee members were there including Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen, Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Club Captains, Communications and Trophy officers.
The event included a presentation by Dag Martensson, Trophy Officer on the history of the Tempest Trophy. He also had the opportunity to give special recognition to our Tempest Trophy winners and their exceptional achievements.
A Brief History of the Tempest Trophy
The club was founded in 1880 and is one of the oldest amateur cycling clubs in the U.K. It is not known exactly when members started to race or when the club held its first cycling race, but we do know it started early as the club recently acquired a Bath Cycling club plate trophy dated 1885.
The story of the Tempest Trophy starts with Sir Tristan Tempest, Baronet, of Tong Hall, Bradford, West Yorkshire moving to Bath in 1893 at the age of 28 for health reasons. It is reported he was an invalid and could not walk at the time of his arrival. However, according to his obituary “ …thanks to the Bath healing waters, within two years he so far regained his health to enable him to indulge in the pastime of cycling, to which he became an ardent devotee and was constantly to be seen flitting about the city mounted on his silver-plated bicycle”.
In 1896 he became a Vice-President of the club and was very involved in the organization’s activities. He was a generous donor and in 1897 he presented a very impressive Diamond Jubilee gold plated solid silver set to the club. The set was given in commemoration of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
In the early days of cycling, there were no national racing events for such an impressive Trophy set to be awarded. The club therefore started a Club 1 Mile Handicap race which was held in the recreation grounds in the centre of the city. The first recipient of the Trophy was a Mr. T.C. Learman.
Sir Tristan Tempest also added a silver “Tempest” cup to be awarded to any man who won the race 3 times. In 1906 a Mr. E. Payne from Worcester St John CC won the Tempest cup.
In 1901, the race was changed to an open 3 mile challenge race, but was changed again to a very short sprint race of ½ mile in 1905 and continued until the First World War.
Sir Tristan Tempest died in 1909 and it is likely thereafter the Trophy set officially became known as the Tempest Trophy.
From 1960, the Tempest Trophy was awarded to the winner of the Victoria Park Road race which the club organised for decades.
In 1980, the club decided to have the Tempest Trophy awarded “at the discretion of the club committee for a members’ outstanding performance with a bias towards longer distances “. This criteria continues today in the awarding of the Tempest Trophy to a club member.
Per the loan arrangement with the Guildhall, the club will be able to take possession of the Trophy set for the annual club Awards night and other special events.
Bath CC Tempest Trophy Winners 1981 to 2023
Tony Thorne (Life Member) won the Tempest Trophy 3 times. The 1st one in 1981 and the 3rd time 24 years later (2005). For performances and setting club records in Time Trialing, both 10 miles and 24 hr
Pete Wilson (Life Member) won the Tempest Trophy 2 times, also in Time Trials. In 1987 for a new impressive club record (441 miles in 24 hrs). The second time almost 20 years later winning the National Veterans 100 Mile Championship.
Petes wife Janet Wilson (who unfortunately passed away) also a very strong cyclist, won the Tempest Trophy 2 times for club Time Trial records and later for her National Women’s Veterans 24 hr record.
Rob McMillan won the Trophy in 1999 for a 50 Mile Time Trial with a speed averaging 27.3 mph.
Rob Pears has won the Trophy 5 times. The first in 2000 when he shared it with his wife Gillian and then 4 more times for outstanding Time Trials, setting club records and winning National Championship titles.
Derek Fisher (Life member) won the Tempest Trophy in 2008 for his long distance and time record from Lands End to John o’Groats and back.
Gillian Pears was also awarded the Tempest Trophy on her own in 2013 for several Time Trial club records
David Stoyle won the Tempest Trophy for an outstanding 24-hour Time Trial in 2015.
Martin Croxford won the Tempest Trophy in 2017 for significant long distance Audax performances. Martin has become a legend among members for his long-distance rides, on a Fixie Bike (one gear and no free-wheeling)
Kim Barfoot-Brace who has been very successful in Time Trials, has been awarded the Tempest Trophy 3 times out of 4 during 2018-2021. She has set several club records in Time Trials, including one in the 12 hrs category where she beat both the club Women and Men records (273 miles). In 2021 she became a National Women’s Champion and set a new National Veteran Women record (278 miles).
Charles Thibault won the Tempest Trophy in 2022 for finishing and placing 99th out of 300 riders,the Trans-Continental race from Belgium to Bulgaria in 13 days and 5 hours. A self-supported race over a distance of 4000 km.
Oliver Bridgewood was awarded the Tempest Trophy in 2023 for finishing an ultra endurance race called Tour des Stations Ultimate 1000, riding 1000 km over 25 alpine peaks in Switzerland. He finished 6th out of 20 riders in under 72 hours.
Check out our Summer 2024 newsletter
Please check out our Spring 2024 newsletter
(Photo- Pete Dyson on February 25th at the Bath CC Hilly)
Thanks to our new Time Trial Captain, Marianne Carpenter and her update below:
The season got off to an early start with our BCC Hilly Time Trial at Maiden Bradley (near Frome)
on Sunday 25th of February. We had 47 entries in total across the time trial bike/ road bike
categories, 8 of whom were women. 13 entries were from Bath CC members, with 8 of those making
it to the start line.
It was a cold but dry start, only getting a bit damp for the last few competitors who rode the fast
undulating course down to Mere village, tackling the stiff climb of Mere Hill before returning gently
downhill and through the Deverills, for a shortened finish at Longbridge Deverill. It was then back
to HQ to warm up with hot tea and an excellent spread of homemade cakes and sausage rolls –
kindly provided by various Bath CC members.
The prize giving saw Robert Francis (Team Bottrill) take 1st Open TT in 48:02 with the fastest Female TT going to Corinne Clark (360VRT) with 57:21.
Fastest Bath CC TT rider was Charles Thibault (52:53). Bath Amphibians Triathlon Club took 2nd
(Female TT bikes) and 1st and 2nd (Female Road bikes), with two first-timers gaining the prizes in
the road bikes category.
UPCOMING TIME TRIAL EVENTS
Our next event is the fast (and flattish) Bath CC 10 mile Time Trial on May 12th. HQ will be at Nunney
Village Hall and I’d love to see a big club turnout, and especially a good number of women
competing. Don’t forget, if you are over 40, you also have the chance to win the Vet’s Prize based
on the fastest Age-Adjusted time – it’s not just about the overall fastest.
We also have a 25mi on June 9th (see below) with HQ at Maiden Bradley.
The West District has a season long competition called the ‘Hard rider Series’ with various events
included, where riders can accumulate series points over their best 6 scoring rides. Bath CC is
currently in 2nd team position for this behind Pronto, as per the standings after the third race
(Marshfield, 3rd March). The next events in the WTTA Hardrider Series are: Swindon (10/01),
Gillingham (18/03), Bristol South (24/03) Gloucester (28/04), Chippenham (02/06), and our very
own BathCC 25miler (09/06). The more BathCC riders we can get to these events, the better
chance of winning the Series!
NEW TO TIME TRIALS? HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW…
• Firstly, they are very friendly events, and welcoming to first timers of ALL abilities. You are racing
against yourself to improve your time over the season. CTT is especially keen to get more
women involved, and there’s nearly always equal prize money on offer
• The governing body’s website, CyclingTimeTrials.org.uk has listings for all the time trials in the
UK, under the ‘Open Events’ tab. We fall within the WEST District, which means all of our routes
start with the code U followed by a number (the Hilly was U32R)
• Any BathCC member can ride in CTT events in any District
• You’ll need to enter a minimum of 10-14 days in advance of the event you’ve selected
• There are separate categories for Road bikes and for Time Trial bikes
• You must have working front and rear light attached to your bike and ride with a helmet on
• You can view the course (including elevation and distance) in advance on the website. Shortly
before the event, a Startsheet is published on the website, where you’ll see your race number
and start time.
• Turn up to the HQ in plenty of time. You’ll need to “sign on”, pick up your number, warm up and
ride to the start ready for your start time
• Riders get set off one minute apart, so you’ll likely be riding the whole course solo
• The course should be well marked, often with marshals at key junctions
• As you pass the finish, it’s good practice to shout out your number for the timekeeper
• DO NOT make a U turn within sight of the start line and do not warm up on the course once the
race has started
• Return to the HQ to “sign out”, have a cuppa and cake, and chat with your friends about how
much fun you had. You might even be picking up a prize!
Please checkout our Newsletter from October 2023
Please come out for the Charity Ride- Sunday, July 30th. Organised by Bath CC and VC Walcot.
Our aim is to raise funds for 2 incredible local charities: All Cycle Bath and West and Warmley Wheelers. Both organisations help disabled children and adults to experience biking.
Routes and distances for all levels of riders, from beginners to advanced. Routes are between 18 km to 100 km – all with a coffee/tea and cake stop at Manor House Burnett. We encourage you to bring your children, family and friends. Suggested donations- £10 Adults and £5 Children.
Please ride and support. Further information can be found at https://bathcharityride.eventbrite.co.uk and also on the Bath CC Rides App.
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