19/09/12……Championship medal for Thame cycling veteran

A THAME cyclist did his club and his town proud recently when he won a Bronze medal at the British Time Trial Championships in Nottingham.

John Francis, 63, who lives on Lea Park in Thame, is a member of the High Wycombe Cycling Club which includes several members from Thame, including the club’s President. John came third in his class in the BTCC Masters G category, covering a course of over 25k, including a very steep hill finish up to Belvoir Castle, in 53 ins 54 secs.

John was beaten into third place by Robert Wilson of
Glasgow Couriers, who beat him by just six seconds with a time of 52:48. The Gold medalist was Peter Greenwood of Clayton Velo club, with a winning time of 50:43.

John will receive his engraved medal at the Champions Gala Dinner event later in the year, when the Guest of Honour will be cycling hero, Stephen Roche, who is one of only two cyclists ever to win the Triple Crown of victories in the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia stage races, plus the World road race championship.

John’s success at National level has been mirrored at Club level, where he was this year’s top points scorer in the club’s Time Trials Evening League.

PHOTO: John receives his medal from Sheila Hardy, who is the current Chair of Cycling Time Trials