History of Isle of Man International Cycling Week...here Some old photos here
"A small club from a small Island, but we have riders who are current World, European, Commonwealth and National Champions !"
| In
October 1938, Harold Boyde and some of the Douglas
resident members of the Laxey C.C. decided as that there were no longer
any residents in that Club they should re-form and set up in Douglas. A
meeting was called at the Ridgway Hotel, Douglas, and the Manx Road Club
was born. Hardly fledged, the Club went into 'mothballs' during the Second World War before Harold Boyde, his brother Ray and Percy Sharpe re-formed the Club later in 1948, notable first time members were John Scott, Dougie McKnight, Ray Howard, Terry Sharpe, Roy Kennaugh (father of Peter and grandfather of Peter jnr. and Tim) and Lennie Osborne, who in 1949 were the leading competitors, John Walls (Pictured below) won his first Hill Climb that year. Pictured opposite are( L to R top ) Victor 'Dutchie' Holland, John Kelly, Ron Killey, Harold Boyde, Phyllis Quirk (nee Teare), Kenny Quirk(L to R bottom) Brian Nelson, Malcolm Cockburn, Roy Kennaugh and Derek Cregeen. In the early fifties many more joined the Club, Ron Killey, Reg Quayle, Dougie Wright, Frank Christian, Dot Bridson (now Kennaugh), Malcolm Cockburn, Brian Nelson (father of Colin), Derek Cregeen (grandfather of Jonathan), Howard Kneen, Charlie Gordon, Geoff Wiggins (grand father of Tom Black), Ray Purvis (father of John) and Gordon Richards to name just a few. National Service had caught up with a number of riders with a few returning to cycling. |
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| In
the sixties riders like Peter Callow, Rod Comish, and Mike O'Hare had joined
the Club along with a certain thirteen year old called Nigel Dean who had
a great future in cycling, nobody will forget the great Peter Buckley
who went on to win a gold at the Commonwealth Games in Jamaica.
The Club went through a lean period after that but was helped back by Fred Kelly who introduced his son Mike Kelly to cycling. Brian Roche (father of Andrew) joined the Club in 1969 winning many races, sadly, Peter Buckley died the same year after an accident. Another name came to prominence in the shape of Nigel Dean a frequent winner on both road and track In the seventies we saw Steve Joughin, who turned out as one of the top British professional riders in the eighties, take up cycling along with other riders like Mark Gage, John Purvis and another pro rider Mike Doyle to mention a few. These riders and others like Steve Porter won many races both in the UK and on the Continent throughout the eighties. During the nineties we saw Mark Kelly take many titles in the Schoolboy and Junior categories and a milti medal winner on the road and track and represent GB |
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Today we have a small but strong squad of young cyclists, Great Britain team regulars Mark Cavendish, Jonathon Bellis and Peter Kennaugh jnr.plus Talent Team member Chris Whorrall then there's the ever improving Tim Kennaugh making the Manx Road Club one of the most successful junior cycling clubs in Great Britain. Mark is now a full time professional with the T-Mobile Team, a fantastic achievment, Jonathan is now on the Under 23 squad and Peter, now a World Champion, is on the Olympic Development Program. Recent U23 signing Ashley Whipp has already shown a marked improvment and may develop into Commonwealth potential Hopefully, some of these riders will progress onto bigger teams in the future and become future Olympic and World, Commonwealth and European champions! And some of these riders did progress!! Mark Cavendish achieved one of the above goals by becoming World Madison Champion at the 2005 World Championships in Los Angeles partnered with Rob Hayles plus winning Gold at the 2005 European Track Champs then going on to take Gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games Mark Kelly won the 2005 National Omnium Championship Chris Whorrall won the 2005 U14 National Circuit Championship, both on 2005 And it didn't stop there either |
Some of the youngest and oldest club members, left to right, Timmy Kennaugh (age 11), Jonny Walls (age ???) and 14 year old Peter Kennaugh (photo taken June 2003) |
Peter Kennaugh achieved a lifetime dream by becoming World Junior Scratch Race Champion in Gent in 2006, Jonathan Bellis rode to a brilliant silver in the Points Race and both riders formed half of the Great Britain Team Pursuit team that won bronze
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Mark
Cavendish |
Peter
Kennaugh |
Jonathan
Bellis |
Learn more about our champions here
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