The Swinnertons.
Swinnertons Cycle’s was started by Roy’s Mother and Father in 1915, living above the shop number 69 Victoria Road. Remarkably it remains at the same address today, more than 95 years on. Roy’s mother and Father retired in 1954 when Roy and Doris decided to take the shop on, knowing as they did that the motor car was likely to grow in popularity. Buying the stock for £100 they moved in above the shop in 1958 so becoming the family home as well as their place of work. Roy worked part time at the shopnin those days, Doris taking up the mantel working full time until Roy gave up his full time job as general manager from a local engineering company in 1970. They acquired No’s 71, 67 and finally numbers 73 Victoria Road which is what we all know as Swinnerton Cycles, where after 36 years working together, 7 children, 22 grand children and seven great grand children they retired passing the baton on to the next generation.
Roy started his club cycling career with The St Christopher’s back in 1939, Doris shortly afterwards in 1944. They married in 1950, the same year Doris was elected club president. Doris also participated in the formation of the Lyme and elected president in 1956.
In the 1960’s both Roy and Doris helped with the forming of the Newcastle Track Association. They helped Nolen Burgess in forming the North Staffordshire cycling Association which bought all clubs together under one umbrella. Sadly the NSCA does not exist today, although many are thinking it should be resurrected.
In 1970 Roy and Doris were asked if they would be prepared to run a cycling section for the City of Stoke Athletic Club. Stoke ACCS was formed and was to become one of the most successful clubs and back then there was a least 15. Stoke AC can boast members competing in Tour De France, The Ladies Tour De France, World Championships, National Championships both Road and Track and many Divisional Championships. Competing in many countries of the world Germany, both East and West, Holland, France, Czechoslovakia Canada, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Norway and even Palestine to name but a few.
Roy certainly was no slouch when it came to cycling, being prolific almost unbeatable on the track as anyone who’s seen the seen the beautiful trophies won by Roy on display in the shop. Among them the Michelin Perpetual Trophy, the Brooks Bowl, the BSA Trophy, and the Granta Trophy. He also led the way in the long tally of national championship gold medals being the first to collect the National half mile grass champion ship at the Michelin sports in the 1950’s.
Bernadette Swinnerton - Won silver in the 1969 World Championship Road Race in Brno Czechoslovakia and an selection of Golds in the British National Championships both on the road and track.
Margaret Swinnerton – Won many track and road events, including the ladies star trophy series twice and qualifying for the 1984 Olympics but sadly for some unknown reason was never selected. She represented GB in 3 world road race championships between 1979-1983.
Catherine Swinnerton now Catherine Earley – Rode 7 British National road race championships, winning in 1977 and 1984 and never below 3rd. Her total of national championship medals both on the road and track must be a record.
She rode the first ladies Tour De France almost winning the final stage in Paris being piped into 2nd place on the line. She competed in many world championships on both the road and track.
She road the 1989 Olympic Road Race in America where she met Martin Earley.
Martin Earley – Turned professional in 1985 joining the Fagor Team with whom he stayed until 1987. In 86 he won the 14th stage of the Giro d’Italia. In 1987 he was part of the Irish team at the world Road Race Championship that ended in a win for Stephen Roche. He then rode for Kas and the Dutch PDM team of Sean Kelly. The highlight of his carrier was a stage win in the 1989 Tour De France when he broke clear of three riders 750m from the end of 157 km stage from Labastide-d Armagnac to Pau. Martin competed in eight Tours. He now practices as a physio in Hilderstone.
Mark Swinnerton – Was the highest place British rider in the 1980 Milk Race. He won the 1980 Pernod Star Trophy and the Essex Grand Pre. He represented Britain on many occasions around the world, Germany, Holland, France and Palestine. He was piped out of third place in the national cycle cross championship. Many here tonight will however remember him best when he and Brother Paul dominated at the Newcastle Track League
Bernard Swinnerton – Raced from 1975 to 88. During this time Bernard was the divisional Schoolboy Sprint and Pursuit Champion, Junior Sprint Champion, a member of Winning Senior Pursuit Team and 12th in the National Junior Points Race. On the road he was 14th in the National Road Race Championship and competed in star trophy events also representing GB in Germany.
Frances Swinnerton now Frances Mayer – Competed on the track, road and time trial. She decided to pursue a career in catering and successfully runs her own business “The Secret Kitchen “.
Tony Mayer – Tony was the Junior National Pursuit Champion in 1978 / 79. He was selected for the 1980 Olympic alongside Paul Swinnerton, unfortunately both Sercombed to glandular fever so unable to compete, however he did recover in time to attend the Junior Worlds taking bronze in the team pursuit. He qualified 8th in Mexico with a time of 3” 30’ a good time even by today’s standards. In 1982 he was second to Dave Lloyd in the National 25, so no slouch then. Silver in the team pursuit at the Commonwealth games in Brisbane and Gold in the team pursuit at the Oceanic games. He won no less than 15 National Championship medals.
Sean Mayer – finished 8th in the National Track Sprint Championships in his first year of racing.
Paul Swinnerton – Most of us will remember Paul’s dominance of the Newcastle track league, many said he was unbeatable on our track and in the most part the many were right !!
One of Paul’s biggest disappointments as with Tony Mayer was contracting glandular fever just prior to the 1980 Olympic Games having qualified for The Sprint, Kilo and Team Pursuit. That said his list of success is impressive –
1978 Won over 300 track and road events in one year.
1978 British Best all rounder on the track
1979 National Kilo Champion
1980 Entered the Guinness Book of Records having gained the “World Speed record riding at 109 mph unassisted on Rollers
1981 National Sprint Champion
1983 National Tandem Sprint Champion partnered by Nigel Bolton.
Competed in the world championships on many occasions.
1977 to 1983 The National ½ mile and National 5 mile Grass Track Champion. This in itself being a record, winning the National Championship 4 times as not been surpassed, only Dean Downing getting close winning on 3 occasions. Unsurprisingly Paul was now following in the footsteps of is father 40 years earlier.
1984 saw Paul retire from competitive cycling deciding to take up marshal arts and in particular Ju-Jitsu. This saw him competing in the super heavy weight European Champion age 40 and a black belt 1st Dan.
Barney Swinnerton – Paul and Rozy’s son was a black belt in the Marshal Arts aged 12. He started cycling in May 2009, his first season on the track 2010 and is now riding with the Science in Sport Olympic Sprint Team with whom he won the gold medal in the 2010 Welsh open Championship.