WINNING the Bathurst Cycling Club’s Buttsworth Memorial Wheelrace is always a cherished moment, but when Darryl Thorncraft claimed the 2014-15 honours last week the occasion carried even more emotion.

Thorncraft’s memorial victory looks like being the last to come at the Bathurst Sportsground, with the club poised to move to the new velodrome next season.

“The iconic venue has held major cycling events ever since bicycle racing was first contested in the colony. The first formal wheelrace, which is the format used for the Buttsworth race, was held in 1884 making it one of the first sanctioned cycling events in Australia,” long-time Bathurst Cycling Club member Mark Windsor said.

“It brings to an end over 130 years of top quality racing on the Bathurst Sportsground venue.”

Buttsworth was both a talented cyclist and long-serving administrator with the club, his passion and skill highlighted by the fact he was still a back marker in his early 60s.

He won three club championships in the 1940s , while in the early 1950s he contested the 17th Australian Grand Prix and was selected in a professional team that raced in New Zealand.

“Harold Buttsworth would be very pleased by all the smiling faces for his memorial race meeting on the weekend at the Sportsground,” Windsor said.

“With a quick wit and rouge charm he always encouraged riders to enjoy their cycling. He was quick to see an opportunity, in fact as club secretary in the 1950s Harold changed the name of the club to the Bathurst Continental Cycle Club to make a connection to the many immigrants located in Bathurst at the Limekilns Migrant Camp. 

“The friendly gesture was a great success with cyclists of many origins – Swiss, Italian, Polish – joining the club and become active members of the Bathurst community.”

First staged in season 2011-12, the Buttsworth Memorial Wheelrace has become one of the highlights on the Bathurst Cycling Club’s calendar and uses a handicap format.

Michael Robinson took out the inaugural edition, with Renee Covington successful in 2012-13.

Last season the race was washed-out, making those who contested the 2014-15 edition even more eager to succeed.

Thorncraft started behind Richard Hobson and Windsor in the handicap event and was quick to get going.

His early aggression put Gus McClelland and recent Western Division medallists Drew Carter and Harry Jones under extreme pressure.

Ahead of Thorncraft, front markers Danielle and Luke Pattison led the way on the final lap, but in the final 100 metres he found something extra.

Darryl Thorncraft powered to victory with a strong finish to take the honours over Hobson and 2012-13 runner-up Stephen Thorncraft. Luke and Danielle Pattison rounded out the top five.

Harold’s wife Cleo presented the Harold Buttsworth Trophy to a very happy Darryl Thorncraft.