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Timmy James Memorial Road Race returns to Bourne country lanes for Young Lives vs Cancer charity




A race to celebrate the life of a late cyclist has helped to raise more than £1,000 for a young people’s cancer charity.

An international field of riders gathered at Witham Hall Preparatory School, near Bourne, for the fifth edition of the Timmy James Memorial Road Race.

After racing on the continent as a junior and then signing for UK team SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling, Tim’s exciting cycling career was cut short when he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and died, aged 23, in May 2021.

Tim James in his early cycling days with Bourne Wheelers
Tim James in his early cycling days with Bourne Wheelers
Tim's mum, Janet James, presented the prizes to winner James McKay, runner-up Alex Peters and third-placed Toby Bush
Tim's mum, Janet James, presented the prizes to winner James McKay, runner-up Alex Peters and third-placed Toby Bush

The race is organised annually by Bourne Wheelers cycling club with whom the young rider first took up the sport.

Refreshments sold on the day at Barbers Hill raised £825, adding to the £200 Mark had raised from a previous race, all of which will go to the Young Lives vs Cancer charity.

Organisers thanked historic race car specialists Hall and Hall for sponsoring the prize money, Witham Hall Prep School for providing the race HQ, and Mike and Terri at Barbers Hill for providing parking.

The rolling terrain was made harder by a stiff wind
The rolling terrain was made harder by a stiff wind
The race is closely contested as they approach the start of the last lap
The race is closely contested as they approach the start of the last lap

A stacked field included the 2023 scratch world champion Will Tidball as well as Toby Tanfield, younger brother of Olympic rider Charlie, and riders who raced with Tim.

Taking on a 94-mile race over the lanes that Tim trained on as a youngster, it became a war of attrition.

The high pace eventually whittled the field down to a group sprint up Barber's Hill, with James McKay taking the win.

James McKay crosses the line in triumph
James McKay crosses the line in triumph

“The following weekend, James went on to win the Lincoln Grand Prix, arguably the UK's most prestigious one-day race, showing the calibre of the field for the race was incredibly high,” said organiser Mark Botteley.

Third place went to Toby Bush, a rider who, like Tim, began his cycling career with the Bourne Wheelers.

Tim’s sister Georgie is set to tackle the Berlin Marathon in September to raise funds for Children With Cancer UK.

She ran the London Marathon in April, completing the challenge in a personal best time of 3hr 16mins.



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