Trophy that has cycled the globe
A TROPHY awarded for a velocipede race in Hunsworth 140 years ago has turned up on the other side of the world.
The Guardian has been contacted by Canadian Lorne Shields, who bought the 9in trophy at an auction about six years ago – and he would love to know more about its provenance.
The wording on the trophy shows that it was won by Lionel Smith in a race which was run on October 15, 1870.
"I acquired the trophy at a specialist bicyclist memorabilia auction in England some years ago," Lorne explained.
"Notwithstanding the historical and cycling importance of the object, there is an interesting anomaly. The actual spelling on the trophy is 'velosepede' though the word then, as now, was correctly spelled velocipede.
"Placement of pedals on the front wheel of a two wheeled cycle was invented by a Frenchman about 1866. At the time, and for decades previously, various forms of lever driven (generally three and four wheel) vehicles existed.
"Two wheeled velocipedes were being imported into England by 1868. The sport of velocipede (cycle) racing was not long in following.
"The spread of the velocipede seems to have covered England with rural areas being penetrated at a lesser speed than within the cities. This was only to be expected.
"So now we have a trophy of a race which is identified, which leads my onto my goal – to attempt to locate any further information on the race, the people involved, photographs, location, report and any other ephemera or memorabilia related to this race or other early cycling."
The wording on one side of the trophy says: "1st prize, Velosepede, Race – Spen, 1870" while the other says: "Won by Lionel Smith, Hunsworth, Oct 15th 1870".
Lorne who lives in Thornhill, Ontario, has collected and researched early cycling/bicycling for over 40 years.
He belongs to The Veteran Cycling Club of England which is a group of "antique and vintage" bicycle enthusiasts.
Anyone with information about this or other local races or about Lionel Smith himself can contact Lorne via email at lorne-shields@rogers.com or by writing to him at 7825 BAYVIEW AVE, #1507, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 7N2, Canada
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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