High honour for Sherburn’s cycle stalwart Keith
A COMMITTED cycling enthusiast will be added to a prestigious list of names which includes silver medallist Lizzie Armitstead after receiving the Charles Arthur Rhodes Memorial award, writes Hayley Paterson.
Lifelong cyclist, long-serving timekeeper and course measurer stalwart Keith Lawton has been instrumental in transforming the sport of time trialling regionally and nationally.
The Sherburn-in-Elmet resident has been involved in the sport since the age of 14 and was a member of Leeds Wellington Cycling Club taking part in longer tours, grass track and road racing.
However, Keith’s obvious strength came in time trialling where he progressed to some outstanding performances at all distances.
Now the 53-year-old is national secretary in the competitions and development division for the National Governing Body for Cycling Time Trials in England and Wales.
Announcing the winner of the Charles Arthur Rhodes Memorial award for 2012, the court of trustees said the Elmet Cycle Racing Club member deserved it “in recognition of his massive contribution to the administration of the sport of time trailling in the county of Yorkshire and nationally.”
Humble Keith, of Pinfold Court, said: “It is quite an honour after what has been a fantastic year for the sport of cycling.
“To be recognised alongside the likes of Lizzie Armitstead is an honour, it was quite a shock to be told about the award, I didn’t expect it.
“I’ve been involved in cycling for over 30 years, it’s a huge passion of mine and has given me the chance to be able to travel all over the world doing something I love, I’m privileged in that sense.
“All I want for the sport of cycling is to see it grow and you can tell that it has already. It has seen one of its best ever times following the success in the Olympics and makes me proud to see people of all ages out on their bikes and enjoying themselves, that is what cycling is all about.”
Leeds-born Keith, who sat on the Yorkshire district committee of the Road Time Trials Council (RTTC) between 1981 and 2001, has held a variety of roles including treasurer, secretary and chairman.
The hard-working administrator was elected to the RTTC national committee in 1996 before becoming national competitions secretary in 2000.
He later became RTTC assistant secretary in 2001, has been joint national secretary since 2009, and was also instrumental in the transformation of RTTC into Cycling Time Trials Ltd in 2002 which has provided a firm foundation for the sport in the 21st century.
The memorial award is held as a tribute to Charles Arthur Rhodes, doyen of the Yorkshire Road Club, co-founder in 1932 of the Yorkshire Cycling Federation and a nationally recognised timekeeper and administrator.
It is an award that is regarded as the greatest distinction Yorkshire cycling can bestow.
Keith, who is gearing up for another entertaining cycling season from March, will be presented with the memorial award at the annual Yorkshire Veterans Time Trials Association luncheon on January 27.
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Weather for Goole
Sunday 26 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 6 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: West
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Light showers
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