She rode the first ladies Tour De France, almost winning the final stage in Paris and thus being piped into second place on the line. She competed in many world championships on both the road and track.
She also rode 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 1986, he won the fourteenth 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 a total of 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.
Bernard Swinnerton – Raced from 1975 to 1988. During this time, Bernard was the divisional Schoolboy Sprint and Pursuit Champion, Junior Sprint Champion, a member of Winning Senior Pursuit Team and twelfth in the National Junior Points Race. On the road he was fourteenth 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 Olympics alongside Paul Swinnerton. Unfortunately, both succumbed to glandular fever and were unable to compete. However, he did recover in time to attend the Junior Worlds, taking bronze in the team pursuit. He qualified eighth 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. He won silver in the team pursuit at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane and Gold in the team pursuit at the Oceanic Games. He also won no fewer than fifteen National Championship medals.
Sean Mayer – finished eighth in the National Track Sprint Championships in his first year of racing. In 2012, he finished third in the White Hope Sprint at Hearne Hill.
Paul Swinnerton – Most of us will remember Paul’s dominance of the Newcastle track league; many said he was unbeatable on our track and for the most part, many were right.
