Cyclists riding in to Much Wenlock to honour sporting hero

Cyclists from across the UK will descend on the birthplace of the modern Olympic games in Shropshire to commemorate a Victorian sporting hero.

Tom Sabin struck gold at the Wenlock Olympian Games and now a ride will take place in his honour. Sabin raced Penny Farthings and won gold three years running at the games which were the inspiration for the modern Olympics.

A commemorative ride organised by Coventry Transport Museum was held from the city to Much Wenlock in 2011 and is being repeated this year. Cyclists will be setting off on June 9 for the two-day ride.

They will take about seven or eight hours to get to Much Wenlock and stop overnight before returning the next day.

Clive Parker-Skelhon, spokesman for the transport museum, said they currently had about 25 people taking part but would like to get about 50 riders. He said people from Shropshire were welcome to take part.

Mr Parker-Skelhon said those taking part did not have to complete both legs of the journey. He said the outgoing route was about 100 miles long but the return was about 85 miles to avoid Clee Hill.

He added if people wanted to raise money for a particular cause they could do so.

Sabin won races all around Britain but the high points of his career came when he triumphed in Much Wenlock in 1875, 1876 and 1877, riding on grass at the games which were the brainchild of Dr William Penny Brookes.

The Penny Farthing star, a farmer from Allesley, in Coventry, was 25 when he first won and his career on his 'iron horse' was recorded at the time in the Bicycling Times.

It read: "On his farm he takes a lot of walking and riding exercise so he does not require much work to get into condition."

For more information ring Lesley Robertson on 02476 234281 or e-mail lesley.robertson@transport-museum.co.uk