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.