Cycling: Barney follows in father's footsteps to clinch White Hope Trophy
BARNEY Swinnerton has won the biggest race of his fledgling career – 35 years after his dad won the same event.
Barney, from Freehay near Cheadle, showed why he's rated as one of the best young cyclists in the country by winning the White Hope Sprint Trophy in South London.
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FAMILY AFFAIR: Barney Swinnerton proudly shows off the White Hope Spring Trophy, which his dad, Paul, right, won 35 years ago. It is the first father and son success in the prestigious race. Picture: Mark Scott
The 21-year-old works for his dad, Paul, a former national sprint champion and Commonwealth Games rider, at the family cycle shop in Fenton.
It was opened by Barney's great-grandparents in 1915 and is still in the same location on Victoria Road – the home of the incredible Swinnerton cycling dynasty.
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Barney's grandad, Roy Swinnerton, was acknowledged as the fastest cyclist on grass in Britain in the 1950s and was national half-mile champion in 1956.
He was also British team manager at the world championships in Montreal in 1974 and took the team to the Commonwealth Games in New Zealand the same year.
His children, daughters Bernadette, Cathy and Margaret, and sons Paul and Mark, all rode at international level.
However, it is Barney who holds the current bragging rights after his superb performance in London.
He and his dad are the only father and son combination to have won the White Hope Trophy, which was staged at the iconic Herne Hill Velodrome, a venue for the 1948 London Olympics.
Riders from Germany, France, Belgium and Slovakia competed with home-grown stars at the world-renowned Good Friday meeting which has been held almost unbroken since 1903.
However, it was Barney who emerged triumphant on an excellent day for his family and the Lyme Racing/Swinnerton Cycles Club.
He was joined in the medals by his 17-year-old cousin and team-mate Sean Mayer, who produced a tremendous ride to claim bronze.
Sean's mum, Frances, is Paul's sister and was also an accomplished cyclist. His father, Tony Mayer, is a former Commonwealth Games cyclist and a national champion.
Barney was the 2011 National Sprinters' League champion after finishing in the top five of all eight rounds of the series bar one. That put him on 117 points – 15 clear in top spot.
He aims to be a future British champion, and is certainly on course as this is only his third season of competitive racing.
He was overwhelmed to win the event. "I was absolutely gobsmacked when I crossed the line. I'm never usually lost for words, but it was fantastic to win such a prestigious event, especially as my dad won it in 1977, said Barney.
"My dad's also my coach and helps me with everything, including giving me the odd kick up the backside.
"I went to see my grandad, Roy, the day after the race and he was made up.
"It's just a shame he didn't compete in this race, otherwise it could have been a family triple."
Comments
by johnwhite18
Saturday, April 14 2012, 9:09PM
“BARNEY Swinnerton has won the biggest race of his fledgling career – 35 years after his dad won the same event well done hope the bike was more update then that one in the photo ever 1970s”