The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
British Cycling Federation National Road Race Championship
Blazing saddles on the 140-mile Blaydon route of the 1960 British National Road Race with one of the greatest amateur road cyclists of all time.
From the collection of:
Overview
During a great era of British cycling champions, Bill Bradley of Southport RCC blazes to a win on the 140 mile route of the amateur British National Road Race in July 1960. He joins local Tyne Velo cyclist Bill Baty (winner in 1959) at Blaydon on Tyneside for the start of the race. Newcastle United footballer Frank Brennan, on the FA Cup winning team in the 1950s, presents the champion’s trophy. And there’s an odd array of cycling props for all the unlucky competitors.
This record of the race was shot by an amateur filmmaker and cycling fan, Milton Newton, who was also a friend of Bill Baty, a top rider who won the Beaumont Trophy in 1958, the amateur British National Road Race in 1959, and was in the British team for the 1955 Peace Race behind the Iron Curtain. Baty and his younger brother Norman made 4th and 5th place in the 1960 event.