THE C A Rhodes Memorial for 1997 is to be made to Horsforth's Jonathan Clay as a special recognition of his racing achievements over many years and his administrative expertise.

The Memorial was instituted in 1961 as a tribute to the memory of Charles Arthur Rhodes (1895-1961), doyen of the Yorkshire Road Club, co-founder in 1932 of the Yorkshire Cycling Federation and a nationally recognised timekeeper and administrator. The award is regarded as the greatest distinction Yorkshire cycling can bestow.

Jon Clay was born in 1963 into a cycling family. When nine years old he completed his first 10-mile time trial in 32min 42sec.

Following years of improvement he successfully raced as an amateur in France in 1984 and 1985 and in 1986 took second place in the National Amateur Road Race Championship and was 21st in the World Championship Road Race.

He turned professional in 1987, eventually joining the Manchester Phoenix in 1997. His successes included seventh place in the 1988 Milk Race, winner of the 1991 Scottish Provident City Centre Races and overall winner of the 1992 four-day Tour of Lancashire.

Joining Team Orange in 1993 he turned some of his attention to mountain bike racing, achieving fourth place in the National Championship and in 1994 rode for Great Britain in the World Champonships.

In 1995 he became the National Pro Criterium Champion and won the National Open Track Championship Points Race and had placings in the Omnium and Pursuits.

In 1996 he was a member of the National Pursuit Team which took seventh place in the World Championships with a new British record time of 4min 12.558sec.

1997 brought further National and International honours including winning the sixth stage of the Tour of Sweden competing in the Pursuit Team which won a World Cup event in Athens and domonstrated his versatility by winning the RTTC National 10 miles Time Trial Championship.

His racing career has included 99 wins in road, circuit, mountain bike racing and time trials and he is now starting his second term of office as a member of the BCF Executive Board.

This award pays tribute to his determination and success in all types of racing and for his willingness to serve our sport in the administrative field.

Presentation of the award will take place on the occasion of the annual dinner of the Otley Cycle Club on January 31.

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