In 1955 four young cyclists in Lincoln decided to form a cycling club concentrating mainly on road racing. After the first meeting it was agreed to call the club the Witham-Valley Road Racing Club, named after the River Witham that flows through the city and district. Mike Jones, a road racing rider from the Midlands was working in Lincoln as a student engineer at the time and was introduced to the new club. Mike persuaded the committee to promote a major road race, volunteering his services as organiser. So the first ever Witham-Valley Grand Prix, later changing its name to the Lincoln Grand Prix was born.
The first race was held in the summer of 1956 and had attracted a strong entry. After 90 miles of racing Bob Eastwood from Huddersfield Road Club narrowly outsprinted former Tour of Britain winner Tony Hewson and local star Nev Crane. The following year (1957) produced an even better Field, when Wilson Cycles Independent Ron Coe starting his 3 year domination of the event, beating super sprinter Dave Bedwell at the line. The same two riders were first and second the next year (1958), and Coe completed his hat-trick by beating Bill Bradley and Harry Reynolds in 1959.
This race however was marred by tragedy when local rider Roy Hart, who had been in the leading group all day, came off the back, and hit a van when starting the last lap. A great future was predicted for Roy who had been racing for the RAF in Belgium and Holland, but sadly we would never know as Roy died later that day in Lincoln Hospital. A memorial trophy is still presented to the winner.
Falcon Cycles John Perks won the next two Grand Prix's (1960/1961) followed by Jim Grieves in 1962. Then came Albert Hitchin who was winning nearly everything during that period. Albert scored a lone win in 1963 leading a Viking Cycles 1-2-3 beating team mates Bernard Burns and Stan Brittain. Hitchin retained the trophy the following year (1964) with England international Derek Harrison second.
By now former BCF President Ian Emmerson, then only 18 years old, had taken over the organiser's job, and the 1965 edition was named as an official selection event for the world championships. An unfortunate clash with the London-Holyhead, kept Albert Hitchin and other top independents away, but a first class field of amateurs started. Yorkshire rider Arthur Durham led an England select 1-2-3 beating Doug Dailey and Roger Claridge.
The 1966 race was a classic. Southern roadman sprinter John Clarey drove a 60 mile, 6 man break just holding off a chasing group inspired by Hugh Porter and Les West. Clarey won by 3 lengths from Brian Rourke (now a frame builder) and Lincs champion Owen Davis. Also in this breakaway group was Peter Buckley, now well known for his memorial trophy, given every year to the top junior in the country.
Des Thompson from New Zealand became the first overseas winner in 1967 leaving a small break to win alone. Third in this race was our present day race commentator Roger Hobby. With the amalgamation of Lincoln's cycling clubs, into the name of Velo Club Lincoln, it was decided to change the name of the 1968 event to the Lincoln Grand Prix. At the finish, Doug Dailey won, catching Les West on the run in to the finish, with another Liverpool rider Graham Owen, who had worked like a Trojan to catch West in 3rd place.
The Lincoln GP had now gained Star Trophy status (season long competition to find the Uk's leading rider for that year) and the next three years winners were all well known all rounders. Clifton CC's Pete Smith won in 1969, and surprisingly Ticker Mullins won the next year (1970) in one of the few big bunch finishes we have ever had. In both these races, Beeston RC strongman Ian Hallam was 3rd. Then in 1971 pursuiter Dave Allen of Birkenhead was the winner.
The 1972 event was a straight fight between Britains two leading road men, after Phil Bayton's big attack with two miles to go was successfully countered by Phil Edwards, there was only going to be one winner. Edwards beating Bayton by 3 lengths at the line. Later that year these two riders finished 4th and 5th in the Olympic Road Race in Munich. Great days to be sure!
A change of circuit and organiser the next year (1973). Ted English being in charge and the new circuit included the Yarborough hill climb and the Burton village descent still used on the latest editions of the race. On a rainy day, Dave Vose from Kirby CC beat team mate John Clewarth and Peter Watson of Clifton CC. Another innovation was the running of the Peter Buckley Series event, the West Common RR on the same circuit at the same time. Steve Heffernan, Archer RC, won the Grand Prix in 1974 with Ian Hallam 3rd again. The 20th GP (1975) produced another bunch sprint Tony Gornall (Clayton Velo) leading home a group of 17 riders.
The event in 1976 was another tremendous race. Two great riders sprinting it out after a super fast event averaging over 26mph, later to fill the same two places in the round Britain stage race, one of the worlds top amateur events, the Milk Race. Bill Nickson beating Joe Waugh, over 2 1/2 minutes up on Steve Lawrence and Paul Sherwen.
By now I had taken over the organisers roll, and if this was a good race, the 1977 edition surpassed even it. An early breakaway group formed containing all the race favourites, and looking like the 'who's who' of British road racing at the time. It included Bob Downs along with Ian Hallam, Paul Sherwin, Phil Griffiths, Steve Lawrence, and outsider Dave Cuming from the Kirby CC.
The West Common Junior race, being held at the same time had just received the last lap bell, when 30 seconds later Sherwen, going like a train, came through the finish area with the remains of the break hanging on for grim death. A rapid rethink was needed to give the juniors some space so a 1 mile extension was quickly enforced for the seniors and in the confusion, Cuming who had just lost contact, re-joined the break and at the finish had enough strength left to beat Lawrence and Hallam, 3rd yet again.
Steve Lawrence riding for VC Olympia Sport and living in Essex, has always been a local lad to us, learning his racing with the Lindsey RCC in Grimsby. Steve had finished 3rd and 2nd, so in 1978 it was justice that he should win, but he had to work hard because at the bell, riding for Scotland a certain Robert Miller (who went onto win the King of the mountains jersey in the greatest stage race of all, the Tour de France) was 30 seconds clear. Miller faded to finish 5th at the line after being caught by Lawrence, another Scot Robert Melrose, Bob Downs and Phil Griffiths.
While Geoff Taylor was beating Liverpool Century team mate Dave Grindley and Steve Joughin in 1979 in pouring rain, 90 minutes earlier the junior race had been won by Malcolm Elliot of Rutland CC who would later in his career, achieve many great honours. Taylor started a Merseyside domination of the Grand Prix being followed by victories by Steve Joughin, Phil Thomas, and Mark Bell. The man to break the monopoly being the junior race winner of 1979, Malcolm Elliot now riding for Manchester Wheelers sprinting clear of Mike Davies and Dave Lloyd. Elliot, who later was the winner of the Points Jersey in the Tour of Spain, returns in 2003.
I had now passed the organisation back to Ian Emmerson and Ian used his influence in Lincoln to alter the course using the new pedestrionised area of Lincoln's High Street and the cobbled climb up to the cathedral of Michaelgate. Neil Martin, was the first to win on the new course beating Chris Whorton and Pete Sanders from an 8 man break.
1985 produced a very popular winner with the Lincoln public, the controversial and highly talented Darryl Webster. Darryl, riding for the all conquering Manchester Wheelers team was in dispute with the GB team selectors over an incident during the recent Sealink International Race, but he put all his troubles behind him as he led team mates Pete Sanders, Pete Longbottom and Jeff Williams for a Manchester Wheelers clean sweep of the first 4 places.
Webster would have loved to have retained his title the next year -- in fact he looked more than capable as the race progressed -- but one rider he couldn't shake off was Paul Curren who had shown great early season form that year, peaking a few days before the Grand Prix when winning the Circuit De Mines in France (still running and won a few years ago by Great Britains Chris Newton).
Curren broke away with 2 laps to go to comfortably win his first 'Lincoln', while Webster was beaten into second place by 19 year old Welsh lad Stuart Coles. Surprisingly the same three riders gained podium places in 1987, with Curren continuing his dominating form by winning using similar tactics to the previous year, this time though, Webster got the better of Coles for second position.
Paul Curren became the first rider to score a hat-trick of Grand Prix wins since Ron Coe in the late 50's, when he achieved another lone victory the following year ahead of Mark Gornall and Ben Luckwell (making a comeback this year and winning plenty). This was the first race to finish in Castle Square after pressure of shopping etc forced us away from the High Street area.
This proved to be a blessing in disguise as the Up-hill finish became more popular right up to the present day. Making his Grand Prix debut in 1988 was a young Yorkshire rider later to make a huge impact on the race, John Tanner. John finished a creditable 19th in this event. With Curren absent from the 1989 race, Mark Gornall and Luckwell stepped up a notch filling the first two places from a breakaway group which went away after only 15 miles never to be seen again.
Into the 90's and it was Scotsman Brian Smith who finally broke Manchester Wheelers 5 year domination of the race. Smith beat Pete Longbottom by just 4 seconds at the line, and was just too strong to give Longbottom the ideal 31st birthday present. Pete was a great supporter of the Lincoln Grand Prix and before his untimely death, he had completed 14 editions of the event with no less than 10 top 10 finishes.
Since his last win in 1988, Paul Curren had tried to establish himself riding as a professional, but things didn't work out right for Paul, so in 1991 he decided to re-instate as an amateur. He had a steady start to the season finishing 5th and 3rd in Star Trophy races before returning to Lincoln. On this day though, Paul hit top form to gain a record 4th win in front of Dave Spencer and 89' winner Mark Gornall. Race organiser Ian Emmerson and his wife Sheila were combining there organising duties with VIP duties, as there were Lincoln City Sheriff and Lady that year to the Mayor, Councillor David Jackson who has been a staunch supporter of cycling in the city and has been, and still is instrumental in the work of gaining Lincoln City Council's support for the running of the Grand Prix.
1992, and John Tanner had emerged as a real contender for the race, but on the day he couldn't quite cope with John Charlesworth who was in tremendous form. Charlesworth winning by 30 seconds from Tanner, Mark McKay and a young Mark Lovatt 4th. The race went 'open' the following year when Keith Reynolds riding for the strong Banana team beat Tim Hall and Banana team mate Shane Sutton (an Aussie coaching the Welsh team). Keith had improved on his father Harry's third place behind Ron Coe 32 years earlier.
Chris Walker had won the West Common junior race in 1982 and was now one of the country's leading professionals. He dominated the Grand Prix in 1994 leading the race over the climb on nearly every lap before leaving John Tanner on the last lap to win by 13 seconds, with a 20 year old Roger Hammond (now a professional in Belgium) in 3rd place. The 40th edition of the event was won by another in form Sheffield rider, Mark Walsham, winning from two up and coming youngsters, Chris Newton (riding for Great Britain these days) and Roger Hammond again.
Paul Curren was back in 1996, and while not as dominant as he used to be, he was still an obvious contender especially in the Lincoln Grand Prix. Paul was riding for Optimum Performance that year with a very strong team of Mark Lovatt, Drew Wilson and leading Time Trialist Kevin Dawson. At the bell most of the crowd where tipping Curren, but Dawson (having a great year this year as well on the road and pictured left) stormed away to win from Curren and Joe Bayfield with previous winner Brian Smith, who had just returned from a spell with the Motorola Pro team, in 4th place.
John Tanner finally gained his just reward in 1997 scoring a great win over fellow Yorkshiremen Chris Walker and Simeon Hempsall. That same morning the National 10 mile Time Trial Championship had been held in Lincolnshire and Johnny Clay had ridden and left early to start the GP. Being well warmed up, John was in the break all day and with 4 laps remaining received the news that he had won the 10 championship. That message took away Clay's momentum, but he still finished the race in 4th position, an incredible day's racing. Sadly 1997, was the final time the long established West Common Road Race was to be run in conjunction with the GP. Tighter Police traffic control had forced us to abandon this successful formula.
The very strong Team Brite had controlled and dominated all the early Premier Calendar events in 1998 standing at eight consecutive wins before the "Lincoln". The bad weather and the greasy cobbles of Michaelgate Hill was to mark the end of that victory run. Harrod's Joe Bayfield had looked the strongest, winning 12 of the 13 Castle Square Primes, before team mate Chris Lillywhite and Team Brite's Chris Newton took over. These two had broken away on the last lap.
Newton looked a winner when he attacked with under a kilometre to go, only to slip and fall on the Michaelgate cobbles. Lillywhite took his chance and went past to win by 7 seconds with Welshman Matt Beckett, Bayfield and Julian Winn filling the next three places. Previous winners Brian Smith and John Tanner completed the break, and pursuit star Bryan Steel leading in the rest of the finishers.
The 44th Lincoln Grand Prix graduated to International status in 1999 with foreign teams including Sport-groep Koksijde squad from Belgium, Oktos-MBK from France as well as strong Scotland and Ireland national teams. Unusually, a group of 12 riders were still in contention at the foot of the final climb of Michaelgate with Banesto's Jeremy Hunt (now the UK national Road champion) and then national Champion Matt Stephens looking good. UK End to end record holder Gethin Butler was there, as was Chris Newton and John Tanner. In a hectic last lap massed start hill climb, when Hunt had to replace a derailed chain, the Lithuanian rider Saulius Ruskis proved to be the strongest, finishing just 3 seconds in front of Tanner and Irishman Ciaran Power.
Chris Newton became the first GP winner of the new millenium in spite of an increased overseas contingent. Chris, riding for Middridge CRT, beat John Tanner in the only sprint finish we have seen in Castle Square. These two had left breakaway companion Paul Manning on the last lap, with a star studded group of Mark Lovatt, Julian Winn, Dave Rand and leading continental New Zealander Scott Guyton riding for the Flanders-Prefatex Team, over 3 minutes behind.
Since riding his first "Lincoln" in 1988, John Tanner, apart from his win in 1997, had finished 2nd on no fewer than 4 occasions. In the 2001 edition of the race John proved he had lost none of his enthusiasm for the event in spite of the disappointment of the collapse of the Linda McCartney Pro team which Tanner, Matthew Stephens and other top UK riders had signed for.
The race was decided from a 17 man break which went away after 30 miles. Most of the favourites were there including Tanner, Julian Winn, Stephens, Kevin Dawson, Huw Pritchard from Wales and Irelands Morgan Fox as well as the complete British pursuit squad, who later the same year were to finish a close 2nd in the World Championship (Chris Newton, Bradley Wiggins (another McCartney team collapse victim), Paul Manning, Bryan Steel and Steve Cummings. The breakaway group broke up eventually due to the strength of Tanner and Winn, who went on to finish in that order, just ahead of Matt Stephens who had made a great last lap effort to catch the two leaders.
It was certainly the year for Wales in 2002. Julian Winn after riding the Lincoln later went onto to win the National Road Race Championship and Nicole Cooke won her biggest race, the Commonwealth Games Road Race. But in a warm up for the Commonwealth Games where he was to win silver on the track, Welsh rider Huw Pritchard (Angliasport) was to prove too strong for the rest to contain and crossed the line well clear of 2nd placed Bradley Wiggins. In a post race interview, Huw explained what happened over the closing miles.
In 2003, it was the turn of Mark Lovatt and he's back for the 50th celebration along with many other former winners. In 2004, it was the turn of the Irish, David O'Loughlin, to win the big one ahead of Recycling's Robin Sharman and this year is sure to see a very open race with as many as perhaps ten local riders capable of winning the event although it has to be said the foreign invasion is always difficult to gauge and this year is no different and it well be one of the visiting riders who yet again carry away the major prize.