The Vegetarian Cycling & Athletic Club
(Established 1888)
History
The Vegetarian Cycling & Athletic Club can trace its origins back to 1887,
the year of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.
In September of that year, Leslie Large of Lewisham, an enthusiastic worker
in the Vegetarian movement and a keen cyclist, placed notices in a number
of periodicals inviting other Vegetarian cyclists to contact him with a view
to forming a Vegetarian Cyclist's Club.
Their objective was to provide a means of contact between Vegetarian cycling
enthusiasts and to seek to prove, by the yardstick of athletic competition
that Vegetarians could easily hold their own against their meat eating counterparts.
Through the Spring and Summer of 1888 a series of Club runs and social events
were held and the membership built up steadily until over 100 names were on
the roll.
The first formal meeting was held on October 9th, 1888 at the Central Vegetarian
Restaurant, St. Bride Street, London and this was followed by a meeting on
February 9th, 1889 at the Appletree Vegetarian Restaurant, 34 London Wall,
when Leslie Large was elected as the first Secretary and Arnold F. Hills,
a wealthy industrialist became the first President. The name of the Club was
confirmed as the Vegetarian Cycling Club. Reports from those early days are
few but it is evident that VCC racing cyclists performed competently if not
outstandingly.
Henry Light, a founder member who was elected Captain in 1890 soon became
the main driving force behind the Club and under his direction standards of
performance of the VCC men improved steadily.
1896 saw the VCC achieve its first outstanding success when Jim Parsley of
Peckham won the prestigious Catford Hill Climb, the country's top event, in
record time. The VCC were cock-a-hoop at this major breakthrough and held
a dinner in Parsley's honour.
Lion of the evening though was Henry Light who was presented with "an iron
framed pianoforte" in recognition of his work for the Club.
In 1896 the green and gold triangular badge was introduced. Sadly, the same
year, Leslie Large while on a visit to Edinburgh died of diptheria just as
his dreams were becoming a reality.
In the mid-to-late 1890s the VCC cyclists really began to make their mark
on both road and path, the riders such as the Nickel brothers, Wherlow, Sharp,
Bryning, Wyatt, Parker, Walker, Newman and the Pfleiderer family achieved
performances well beyond previous Club standards.
John Berclay, the first Secretary of the Scottish Vegetarian Society won
many prizes in the running events in the West of Scotland.
George Antony Olley, the VCC's first superstar, started his brilliant career
by setting up figures for the London-Portsmouth and back record in 1889 and
went on to break many records on road and path including the London-Edinburgh
and the Land's End to John O'Groats twice in 1907 and 1908 and the 1,000 mile
record in 1907.
In the early years of this century the club went from strength to strength
and was well organised socially. The Club won several best attendance awards
at Cyclists' Rallies; a flourishing ladies branch started its own active programme.
Cyclist's such as Ragan, Ratcliffe, Newman, Agnew, Paul, Newall, Pulman, Beurle,
Pearce, Gibben, Heath, Carpender, Jarratt and Briault ensured that the Club's
name figured prominently in the results list, whilst up in Scotland, the redoubtable
Jock Miller rallied his Vegetarian cronies to form an active Scottish branch.
As Olley's career came to a close, Fred Grubb, haled as "the fastest cyclist
in the world" emerged onto the Club scene and proved to be a prolific winner
and record breaker on the track and the road creating National records in
both spheres.
In 1910 Charlie Davey joined the Club and rapidly rose to prominence both
in his own right and as a team backer for Grubb. Davey broke 7 RRA records
between 1914 and 1926. He held the 24-hour tandem paced track record and won
open events from 50 miles to 24 hours.
During that period cycling was not VCC's only forte; athletes were becoming
prominent. The Bacon brothers, six of them, all good all round athletes of
splendid physique gained many boxing and wrestling successes; Eustace Miles
was ten times English tennis champion; Emil and Withers figured prominently
and George Allan, the little Leicester shoemaker walked from Lands End to
John O'Groats in 1904 and 1908. The Club even had a Ladies Swimming Section
Secretary, Miss L.Seal!
As a result of the increase in athletic activities, the Club's name was changed
in 1909 to the Vegetarian Cycling & Athletic Club. In 1910, our cyclists adopted
the white sleeve stripe to facilitate identification for feeding purposes.
The 1912 Olympic Road Race held at Stockholm saw six Club members selected
as representatives; three in the English team, two in the Scottish and one
in the Irish.
With the outbreak of the War in 1914 virtually every able bodied man was
either coerced or conscripted "to serve King and Country". The Club was kept
going on a social basis throughout the war years but no athletic activities
were carried out.
Following the armistice in 1918 the Club was slow to get into its stride
again. Charlie Davy carried the Vegetarian flag virtually alone, winning events
and breaking records and was selected twice as a World Championship representative.
Davey turned professional in 1923 and broke several RRA records but his main
goal Land's End to John O'Groats eluded him, beaten by adverse weather conditions.
In later years Charlie became much valued as manager and Mentor to a number
of successful professional and amateur riders when his experience was put
to good use.
By the late 20's the Club had quite a few promising racing cyclists coming
along. Charlie Marshall, H.T.G.Page, Len Cave, Harry and Sid Ferris, Ted and
Bert Brumell, George Philips, Alf Oxbrow and Sid Eaden were all capable of
national performances. Marshall, Cave, the Ferris's, Philips and Oxbrow all
held RRA records at one time.
Bill Ellis and E.J.Doubleday dominated the 24-hour scene. In 1930 the magazine
"Cycling" introduced the "Best All Rounder" competition based on the performances
at 50 miles, 100 miles and 12 hours which was to give road sport a tremendous
boost. It was fortuitous that the VC & AC had at that time half a dozen of
the best riders in the country at its disposal.
The Club won the Best All Rounder Shield in 1930, 31 and 32 and the Club's
name was rarely out of the prize list in all the major events. The impact
of these successes on the cycling world was tremendous and new members entered
our ranks in a steady stream. Branches were formed in Lancashire, Yorkshire,
the Midlands and later in Scotland.
In 1934, Henry light, the father of the Club, died leaving a gap that could
never be filled.
Sid Ferris, after an outstanding career as an amateur during which he won
the classic North Road "24" three times, turned professional in 1936 and in
1937 and 1938 broke a number of RRA records including the Edinburgh to London,
the Land's End to John O'Groats and the 1,000 miles. Sid also gained the 24-hour
record with 465.75 miles.
Pearl Wellington, that diminutive powerhouse saw to it that the fair sex
were not kept out of the picture and took track racing, time trialling and
record breaking in her stride. She broke 5 WRRA records between 1935 and 1938.
Walter Greaves a one-armed member of the Yorkshire Branch set up a year's
mileage record of 45,385.75 miles and Law Innes and Bill Thompson also of
the Yorkshire Branch broke a number of tandem RRA records culminating in the
Land's End to John O'Groats in 1938.
Welshman, Bert James joined the Club in 1934 and his winning ways soon stamped
him as our top rider. He scored many wins in top events and finished third
in the 1934 BBAR table, fifth in 1935 and second by a whisker in 1936. Joining
Ferris in the professional ranks, he broke several RRA records including the
100 miles in 3 hours 45 minutes 51 seconds, a record which was destined to
stand until after the war.
The 1930s can truly be said to have been the Vegetarian C. & A.C.'s heyday.
They dominated the Cycling scene in virtually every sphere. We were particularly
prominent in the 12-hour, 24-hour events and one correspondent felt compelled
to write to the Cycling press suggesting that Vegetarians should be banned
from long distance events since their diet gave them an unfair advantage!
The clouds of world war II gathered and riders like Henry Pickersgill, Frank
Hill, George Logan, Harry Rosenberg, Arthur Laston, Ted Valey, Geoff Guy,
Paul Rohr, Eric Wilkinson and B.F.C. Gough ensured that the Club's name was
rarely out of the headlines.
George Logan was leading the BAR table when war broke out in September 1939
and the competition was abandoned. Most of the Club's active membership were
called for military service.
Jack Seath in a reserved occupation was the only top club rider to keep the
Club's name in the headlines until his retirement from racing in 1944.
The end of the war in 1945 found the Club in a debilitated condition. We
had no top rider and no one of the calibre of Henry Light to stir the Club
into action. Around this time the Club was dealt a severe blow when the RTTC
felt compelled to impose the "first claim only in open events" rule. Second
claim members could, prior to this, have ridden in the Club's name were now
no longer allowed to do so.
Several members of the former Yorkshire Branch led by Walter Greaves threw
in their lot with the British League of Racing Cyclists - a dissident body
and were lost to the Club.
Things were at a low ebb until 1947 when Dave Keeler made his debut and the
Club had a new superstar. During that year Dave quickly established himself
as a top short distance rider and in a brilliant 20-year career he developed
into one of the greatest all rounders, taking titles from 4,000 metres on
the track to the End to End record.
In 1949 Dave represented his country in the World Student Games in Budapest
riding on the track and road. In 1951 he lowered the 25-mile trial record
twice. The same year he took the 30 mile record. He was the first rider to
beat the hour in Wales and was Scottish 25 mile champion breaking the competition
record at the same time. Along the way he took the Welsh 50 mile Championship.
In 1951 on the track he took the 4,000 metres pursuit title. In 1958, he broke
the SRRA London, Southampton, Dover, London record and the same year lowered
Sid Ferris's Land's End to John O'Groats record.
In recent years Keeler was named by a prominent Cycling correspondent as
the greatest ever all rounder. Backed by team mates Jim Hanning and Peter
Duncan (better known for his tricycle performances) the Club was a major force
in 12 and 24 hour events.
Subsequently no one has matched Keeler's efforts, though Malcolm Amey produced
many superb performances in the 1960s and took a top BBAR position. Graham
West, a second claim member was National 50 mile Champion and like Amey finished
in the top 10 of the BBAR Competition. Graham currently holds all the Club
single bicycle records with the exception of Keeler's 24-hour record which
came so near to being the first ever over 500 miles. Tom Smith was another
rider to achieve a top 10 BBAR placing.
In the 1980s, Kathy Akoslovski (nee Bellingham) established herself as the
Club's greatest woman time triallist and record breaker. She lowered the WRRA
Birmingham to London record, the first of Eileen Sheridan's records to fall.
She held 4 WRRA records, numerous Regional RRA records and currently holds
every woman's Club record on single, tricycle and mixed tandem.
On the veteran time trial front Ron Murgatroyd, Harvey Greenhalgh and Doug
Griffiths have figured prominently in national results.
On the athletic front Ron Franklin, whose athletic career dates back to the
1950s, won 10 Welsh Championship medals and his best times for all distances
have not been surpassed by another subsequent member. For the Marathon he
ran 2:25. Since turning a veteran in ther mid-70s, Ron has competed in all
World and European Veterans Track Championships.
Wally Keeler represented his country in several World Veteran Walking Championships.
In the 1990s, the athletics section became the Club's main area of activity
with a significant influx of new members following letters in national magazines
and increased publicity at events. In terms of success, the highlight was
the men's team prize at the 1996 Chingford Orion 10 miles, representing the
winning VC&AC team were David Armour, Richard Jordan and Pete Mann. Richard
Jordan continued to win many local events both as a senior and veteran for
many years and achieved a marathon best of 2:29 at London and 1:10 for the
half marathon. David Armour from Stirling had success in the Isle of Islay
half marathon and high positions in other events. With Anna & Nick Berrill
joining the Club in 1996 there was potential for further individual and team
success for several seasons. Their highlight for the Club was when they won
their respective races in the 2001Bedford 6 miles otherwise they were generally
in or close to the medal positions.
In 1995, Danielle Sanderson, an international joined as a second claim member
and continued to win races around the country for many years to come, holding
many course records and achieved selection for Great Britain. In 1997, Danielle
Sanderson competed in the World Marathon Championship in Athens finishing
in 35th place and 3rd GB and the 1998 Commonwealth Games Marathon finishing
6th. Danielle's best time for the Marathon was 2 hours 39 mins. Later Danielle
moved to ultra distance running where she continued to be successful, winning
the 2001 National 100K title at Moreton-in-Marsh and in the following World
Champs achieved 7th place.
Gert Cowling already a V50 when joining in 1995, concentrated on the marathon,
sometimes running the London and Shakespeare Marathons on successive weekends.
Gert Cowling always seemed to achieve automatic qualification for London,
her best time being 3:23. Over the ultra distance, Brian Bosher was successful,
winning medals on many occasions in the early to mid-90s.
In 1998, the Club had a record 23 members completing the London Marathon
with the Club's presence in this event bolstered for many years by the Stuttard
family: Vernon, Ros & their sons Ian & Chris. Another foursome, the King family
mainly represented by their son, Job came on the scene in 1999. Job was already
successful as a junior and was soon competing locally with the best. His highlight
for the Club was winning the tough Charnwood Hills 15 miles XC and running
a half marathon time of 1:10 in icy conditions to win the Pitsford event.
At a young age, Job ran the London marathon in 2:37.
Peter & Suzanne Benyon who joined in 2005, immediately made an impact by
continuing their high level of performance for their local clubs. Suzanne
in particular was amongst the medals in most events with her main distances
being 3K to 10K. Running in the same events on the road or country they even
won their respective races. Suzanne's best achievement for the Club was in
2006 when she won four road races but tragically her life was cut short in
October 2007. Peter is aiming to continue their winning ways.
In the triathlon, international Anna Berrill joined the Club in 1996 and
continued to represent GB in the World Triathlon Championships in 1997 & 98
as well as the UK National Championships before concentrating on her running.
Graham White joining as a veteran and second claim member has also achieved
success in many local triathlon and biathlon events as well as running - his
strongest discipline. Graham has also represented GB in the World Duathlon
Champs as did Dave Arnold who joined in 2002.
Lesley Cliff who joined in 1998 was a late starter to competitive sport but
it did not stop Lesley reaching the top of her age group. She was the World
Triathlon Champ in the V55 age category in both 2003 & 2004 and also won medals
in the National and European Triathlon & Duathlon Champs over several seasons.
Already a successful time trialler on the local scene, Steve Wigglesworth
switched to the Triathlon in 2005 and immediately made an impact. Even in
the running discipline, his weakest, Steve was competitive. He is improving
all the time with possibly his best yet to come.
In mountain bike racing and cyclo-cross Judith Shakeshaft competed for Wales
in the mid to late 1990s and won the Welsh Championships on a number of occasions.
In the 1997 World Masters Cyclo Cross Championships in Belgium Judith won
a silver medal and in the World Mountain Bike Championships - Master's Category
in Switzerland finished in 19th place. Judith has also created a lot of publicity
for the Club by her articles in newspapers, magazines as Press Secretary and
in the Vegan Society video Soundbites.
The Club organised annual open time trials in the 1990s thanks to Steve Oxbrow
and later Nick Guy. Nick himself was very competitive alongwith Tim Holmes,
Phil Packwood and later Steve Wigglesworth. Steve in particular led the way
into the millennium with some winning performances in local events for the
Club and not far behind was Matthew Smith. Steve & Nick also combined in the
tandem with notable success. Similarly Steve and Emma Smith were successful
as a mixed tandem team. Chris Stuttard was a competitive performer on the
track and road racing.
In body-building, Stuart Hamilton (joined in 1995) competed annually in the
Mr South-East Championships and was third on two occasions. In ice-hockey
Elizabeth Donnelly played for the Scottish team.
compiled by P Simpson