WKRC

John Smith

JOHN W. SMITH

A TRIBUTE BY THE WEST KENT ROAD CLUB – May 2017

27.6.1929 – 7.5.2017

 

 

 

Outwardly, John was best known as a very successful long-distance Time Trialist. However, he also applied the same level of commitment, determination and endurance in his loyal service to the club.

 

His racing achievements are well documented. He was a ‘stayer’, who came into his own as race distances increased, most notably in 12 and 24 hour events.

 

He joined the WKRC in 1954, making an immediate impression by recording 222+ miles in his 1st ever 12hr. There followed 3 years of significant achievements. In 1955/56/57 he competed in a total of 15-100mile, 11-12hr and 3-24hr events. This brought him the club 12hr Championship in 1955 (with a record distance of 248+ miles that stood for 7 years) and 1956, along with the 24hr Championship in the same years with club records on both occasions. In fact, his 1955 12hr distance still stands today as the leading rider in the Club Team record.  Although he began to ease back a bit thereafter, in the following years until he retired from the long distances in 1961, he still competed in a total of 14-100miles and 9-12hr events.

 

Although endurance events were his forte, he did mix them with shorter distances, records showing that, during those 8 years, he rode over 100 time trials at 25, 30 and 50 miles. Add regular club and training runs and it can be seen what a prodigious ‘mile eater’ he was. His meticulously kept mileage charts for 1954/55/56 total almost 50,000 miles (recording 18,220 in 1956)!

 

Time trialling, though, was only one side of John. He also gave consummate service to the running of the club over many years. Within a year of joining he was on the Club Committee. Thereafter he served at various times as Club Captain, Vice-Captain, Club Magazine Editor, Club Room Steward, Press Secretary and Club Events Timekeeper. His greatest contribution, however, was in the most onerous of offices, that of General Secretary, a position he held very efficiently from 1963 to 1972 and for which he was honoured with the well-deserved, but rarely given, award of Life Membership.

 

John slipped into the background during the next decade but reappeared in the 90s and a certificate from a non-competitive Reliability Trial in 1999 records that he was still capable of completing the challenging 50 miles in under 4 hours.

 

There are still some around who rode alongside John in his prime years. He is remembered with much affection and respect and not just within the club. As someone who was still showing up as recently as 2013 to represent the club as a marshal at the Kent Cycling Association 12hr Championship, 58 years after he won the event himself, he is remembered much more widely.

 

Club Runs More

  • Club rides to return soon

    We have received guidance from British Cycling that from the 29th March grass roots sport activities can resume.  This means that groups of no more than 15 riders will be allowed on the road. Given that there will still be a restriction on the size of groups meeting socially we will not be able to stop at […]

    More...

  • Latest Advice form BC

    https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/about/article/20210309-about-bc-news-British-Cycling-update–The-Way-Forward-0 In summary: From March 29 British Cycling-affiliated Club rides or recreation programme rides for up to 15 participants (or limited to relevant leader/rider ratios), on highways, trails and tracks. Outdoor coach-led club training and coaching for all ages. Numbers to be determined by a coach’s qualification. Indoor coaching for under-18s and disabled people, subject […]

    More...

  • Latest Advice from CyclingUK

    Latest advice is to avoid cycling in groups, however individual riding is still possible. By Rob Kingston Friday, 17 April 2020 Coronavirus Q&A: is it safe to cycle? How does the coronavirus outbreak affect cycling, and how can you minimise your risk as an individual? *** This is a live document and was last updated […]

    More...

  • Corona Virus Update

    Based on the Government’s latest advice and guidance on the developing situation around Coronavirus/COVID19, British Cycling has suspended all of its sanctioned cycling activities, initially until April 30.   They also advise that local clubs follow this guidance.   The committee has therefore made the following decisions:   The 10 mile TT on 4th April […]

    More...

Latest News More

  • Club rides to return soon

    We have received guidance from British Cycling that from the 29th March grass roots sport activities can resume.  This means that groups of no more than 15 riders will be allowed on the road. Given that there will still be a restriction on the size of groups meeting socially we will not be able to stop at […]

    More...

  • Latest Advice form BC

    https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/about/article/20210309-about-bc-news-British-Cycling-update–The-Way-Forward-0 In summary: From March 29 British Cycling-affiliated Club rides or recreation programme rides for up to 15 participants (or limited to relevant leader/rider ratios), on highways, trails and tracks. Outdoor coach-led club training and coaching for all ages. Numbers to be determined by a coach’s qualification. Indoor coaching for under-18s and disabled people, subject […]

    More...

  • Latest Advice from CyclingUK

    Latest advice is to avoid cycling in groups, however individual riding is still possible. By Rob Kingston Friday, 17 April 2020 Coronavirus Q&A: is it safe to cycle? How does the coronavirus outbreak affect cycling, and how can you minimise your risk as an individual? *** This is a live document and was last updated […]

    More...

  • Corona Virus Update

    Based on the Government’s latest advice and guidance on the developing situation around Coronavirus/COVID19, British Cycling has suspended all of its sanctioned cycling activities, initially until April 30.   They also advise that local clubs follow this guidance.   The committee has therefore made the following decisions:   The 10 mile TT on 4th April […]

    More...

Events CalendarMore

There are no upcoming events.

market place more