Midland Cycling & Athletic Club

[oldbrit]

Hi,

I just wanted to say I found this forum on a google search researching my family and it’s just been brilliant thank you! Frank Urry (Francis was his first name but known as Frank) was my great grandfathers brother and John Urry ( first name Albion) was my great great grandfather ) my father David was more into motorbikes however my son who is 14 is bike mad road bikes mountain bikes and bmx he has spent the whole of lockdown cycling and living his best life! How fantastic to find out that we had brilliant cyclists in the family
Thank you

Where do you live? Maybe you could contact the Midland C&AC direct,Message BisBong John Bishop he is a big cheese in the club, they are still an active club, I am sure they would love to hear from you I know John has lots of older club news that include the URRY members

 

[Aurry]

Where do you live? Maybe you could contact the Midland C&AC direct,Message BisBong John Bishop he is a big cheese in the club, they are still an active club, I am sure they would love to hear from you I know John has lots of older club news that include the URRY members

thank you I will do I live in Devon UK My father his mother and her father ( Johns son and Frank’s brother) moved to Porlock in West Somerset in the 1960s

 

[Bish Bong]

thank you I will do I live in Devon UK My father his mother and her father ( Johns son and Frank’s brother) moved to Porlock in West Somerset in the 1960s

Hi, I am John Bishop, General Secretary of the MC&AC.
I do indeed have all the historical records of the club. If I can be of any help please let me know.
Just remembered, I did some carpentry work for a member of the Urry clan many years ago, in a cottage at Dickens Heath, Solihull area.

 

[Aurry]

Hi, I am John Bishop, General Secretary of the MC&AC.
I do indeed have all the historical records of the club. If I can be of any help please let me know.
Just remembered, I did some carpentry work for a member of the Urry clan many years ago, in a cottage at Dickens Heath, Solihull area.

That was probably Sidney Urry or Wavell Urry my fathers uncle and cousin they all lived in Solihill/ Shirley areas

 

[oldbrit]

Amazing the contact that can be made through this BHF. It has completely changed my life. As we used to say "REAL CHUFFED" to say the least THANKS BHF

 

[Aurry]

We found this book dedicated to Frank Urry in the Loft

That was probably Sidney Urry or Wavell Urry my fathers uncle and cousin they all lived in Solihill/ Shirley areas

Hi
We found this in the loft dedicated to Frank Urry

 

[devonjim]

Many years ago I knew a WW1 veteran who lived in Lozells. He would speak fondly of his time out riding with his local cycling club, the Anglesey Wheelers. Anyone have knowledge of this organisation?

 

[Looking for someone]

Morning everyone. I joined because I used to collect watch fobs and picked one up years ago that was won by A Trafford. Whilst trying to find out about him his name came up in one of your posts. I would like to know more about the man if anyone knows of him or has a photo to share it would be appreciated.

 

[Bish Bong]

Sorry but our records do not give any more information other than what you see in the piece about the MC&AC. You may find out more from athletic records.
John Bishop.

 

[Pedrocut]

A Trafford from Birmingham won the 120 and 440 yards hurdles at the Northern Counties AAA in May 1899. In 1893 he was a member of Birmingham AC.

 

[Pedrocut]

Walter B Goodwin died in May 1916, and he was President of the MC and AC which was in its 26th year. Although it does not actually say it looks like it may be the Midlands and a combination of Athletics and Cycling.

 

[oldbrit]

I know a while back, several members of the club did a lot of walking hiking, etc, I have often wondered just where the Athletic part came from. Was the club involved with football or cricket at one time? Huh John B?

 

[oldbrit]

John B Found this photo of I think Brian Butterworth do you remember him and know if he is still around he must be my age 87 or so now he was a good friend good TT racer also

 

[Bish Bong]

The faltering Birmingham Athletics Club was absorbed into the cycling club on April 3rd 1890, at a meting at the Holte Hotel Aston, on the official start up of the cycling club, hence Midland Cycling & Athletic Club to this day, officials were elected also at this meeting. This meeting followed two previous meetings to explore the possibilities of forming the said organisation. On April 15th, 47 people were elected to membership of the club.
Apart from Trafford, J W Morton was the British 100 yards champion in 1900, he also beat the American champion Duffy, several times. 1902 Syd Holloway was the quarter mile British Empire Champion. 1908 and Reg Noakes won the 2 miles Steeplechase Champion, a feat that he repeated in 1909 & 1911. Ralph Youster also represented the club in UK championships.
Athletics took a back seat after these success's & cycling became the main thing with much success on track, road & record breaking, touring, etc.
A little known fact is that the Aston Villa football club started a cycling club also, as they had a track around the football pitch, but this also was absorbed into the MC&AC after twelve months.

 

[Bish Bong]

In reply to Old Brit (Crumpy), The above article gives the information regarding the athletic side of the club.
Also the club has over its existence had many members that have been walkers, mountaineers, etc.
In my time we used to have a break from cycling occasionally during the winter months, camping at Capel Curig in Snowdonia & walking the hills & mountains around that area. Remember on one occasion doing the Snowden Horseshoe on a icy morning, Grib Goch ridge was not to be advised in those conditions, really terrifying. Also got lost in a whiteout once travelling back to Capel from the Ledr Valley, ah well we were young & adventurous. Brian Butterworth was just before my time, have never met him & I do not know any more about him, but I know that he was a very promising rider in the fifties.
Before the First World War & after the club had a very good football team, also they played cricket, and on one occasion they had a guest player in the team that also played for Warwickshire & England, they were determined to beat the Enfield team from Redditch.

 

[oldbrit]

In reply to Old Brit (Crumpy), The above article gives the information regarding the athletic side of the club.
Also the club has over its existence had many members that have been walkers, mountaineers, etc.
In my time we used to have a break from cycling occasionally during the winter months, camping at Capel Curig in Snowdonia & walking the hills & mountains around that area. Remember on one occasion doing the Snowden Horseshoe on a icy morning, Grib Goch ridge was not to be advised in those conditions, really terrifying. Also got lost in a whiteout once travelling back to Capel from the Ledr Valley, ah well we were young & adventurous. Brian Butterworth was just before my time, have never met him & I do not know any more about him, but I know that he was a very promising rider in the fifties.
Before the First World War & after the club had a very good football team, also they played cricket, and on one occasion they had a guest player in the team that also played for Warwickshire & England, they were determined to beat the Enfield team from Redditch.

Thanks for the info John I remember that some of you did do a lot of walking

 

[Bish Bong]

Walter B Goodwin died in May 1916, and he was President of the MC and AC which was in its 26th year. Although it does not actually say it looks like it may be the Midlands and a combination of Athletics and Cycling.

Thanks for the info John I remember that some of you did do a lot of walking

In reply to the query by Pedrocut in regard to Walter B Goodwin.
He died Suddenly & un-expected on May 27th 1916. At the time of his death he was President of the club and also Editor of the clubs magazine Roll-Call and had just days before sent the proofs in for the June edition. He had produced a special edition of Roll-Call for May which was to celebrate the magazines 21st birthday. The magazine had been mentioned as the the 'Punch' of the cycling world. A memorial fund was set up & realised over £400.00, a tidy sum of money at that time.
John Urry (father of the club) took on the Presidency of the club & Frank Urry the Roll-Call Editors job
I am proud to say that The Roll-Call is still being produced monthly, as it has continually since 1895 without a break, a fitting tribute to the men of that time.

 

[roger ralph]

The faltering Birmingham Athletics Club was absorbed into the cycling club on April 3rd 1890, at a meting at the Holte Hotel Aston, on the official start up of the cycling club, hence Midland Cycling & Athletic Club to this day, officials were elected also at this meeting. This meeting followed two previous meetings to explore the possibilities of forming the said organisation. On April 15th, 47 people were elected to membership of the club.
Apart from Trafford, J W Morton was the British 100 yards champion in 1900, he also beat the American champion Duffy, several times. 1902 Syd Holloway was the quarter mile British Empire Champion. 1908 and Reg Noakes won the 2 miles Steeplechase Champion, a feat that he repeated in 1909 & 1911. Ralph Youster also represented the club in UK championships.
Athletics took a back seat after these success's & cycling became the main thing with much success on track, road & record breaking, touring, etc.
A little known fact is that the Aston Villa football club started a cycling club also, as they had a track around the football pitch, but this also was absorbed into the MC&AC after twelve months.

Ralph Youster was my grandfather, I have some of his Cycling records if you would be interested I could send you copies

 

[Bish Bong]

Ralph Youster was my grandfather, I have some of his Cycling records if you would be interested I could send you copies

If you still have the records I would be interested in receiving copies, thanks John Bishop. General Secretary, Midland Cycling & Athletic Club.

 

[roger ralph]

Yes if you let me know how you want me to send them, I can attach photos if thats ok?

 

[oldbrit]

The club Midland C&AC is one of the oldest cycling clubs still in existence I understand?

 

[Bish Bong]

The club Midland C&AC is one of the oldest cycling clubs still in existence I understand?

I believe that we are the 3rd or 4th oldest cycling club still in existence, but we may be better than that as an active club.
Others may exist by name only, as we have club runs, organise club time trials & have social events each year, plus a monthly club magazine called the 'Roll-Call'.

 

[Bish Bong]

Yes if you let me know how you want me to send them, I can attach photos if thats ok?

Thanks Ralph, Am interested in receiving any information to add to our records. Can you e-mail any info to me at [email protected]
Many thanks,
John B.

 

[Morturn]

Hi John B.

Thank you for post on the forum. We strongly advise members not to post their personal email addresses on the thread. Your email address and data could be harvested and used for scams, fraud, and identity theft. If you wish other members to contact you, then its best if you advise them to use the “Start Conversation” facility we provide. This then protects you and your privacy.

 

[Bindel]

Hello from Australia. I have come across this thread while I was researching the history of my husbands great grandfather’s medal he received as the winner of a ‘24 mile bicycle race’ in August 1885. John Henry Crisp was living in Sutton Coalfield, Warwickshire and would have been around 16 or 17 years old at the time. I thought people following this thread might find the medal interesting and also hoped someone might know what the race might have been or have some more information?

 

[Richard Dye]

Hello from Australia. I have come across this thread while I was researching the history of my husbands great grandfather’s medal he received as the winner of a ‘24 mile bicycle race’ in August 1885. John Henry Crisp was living in Sutton Coalfield, Warwickshire and would have been around 16 or 17 years old at the time. I thought people following this thread might find the medal interesting and also hoped someone might know what the race might have been or have some more information?

Binder, welcome to the Forum, a great place enjoy!

What a wonderful piece of cycling history you have provided. We have members with a history of cycling and some that still are at it.

 

[oldbrit]

Not sure I have posted this before, but this is the report of the Midland C&AC club dinner 1951 I think? I found this looking through some old Cycling mags

 

[Bish Bong]

Hello from Australia. I have come across this thread while I was researching the history of my husbands great grandfather’s medal he received as the winner of a ‘24 mile bicycle race’ in August 1885. John Henry Crisp was living in Sutton Coalfield, Warwickshire and would have been around 16 or 17 years old at the time. I thought people following this thread might find the medal interesting and also hoped someone might know what the race might have been or have some more information?

Sorry I am unable to help you on this one, as the records that I have start in 1895 & my club began in 1890.

 

[Richard Dye]

Not sure I have posted this before, but this is the report of the Midland C&AC club dinner 1951 I think? I found this looking through some old Cycling mags

Great work John!