Fashion designer Jeff Banks brought a touch of glamour when he attended Catford Cycling Club's Annual Prize Presentation and Dinner/Dance.

Banks was a racing member of the club in the 1960s and although he has since moved away from the area, has retained his links with the club.

No slouch when it comes to long-distance riding, Banks cycles about 5,000 miles a year, including an epic ride from the top end of Italy to the bottom in the summer.

This year's annual prize presentation saw the highly-prestigious Gold Badge of Honour awarded to long-serving member John Goodrum.

He was one of the country's top amateur racing cyclists in the 1960s, once winning a stage of the now defunct Milk Race, which finished at Crystal Palace.

However, the club's top cyclist of the year was youngster Alastair Stoddart, who won the Sayer Trophy for most meritorious ride of the season.

Stoddart, from Bexley, wiped the floor with the international opposition when he took part in the Junior Tour of Achterveld, in Holland, in July.

His sister Jessica, 11, is also an accomplished member of the Catford Cycling Club.

Not only did he win the tour overall taking the yellow jersey, he did it in majestic style by winning every one of the nine stages!

Catford president Sherry Bevan, herself setting a precedent as the club's first-ever female president since it was formed in 1886, presented the awards.

If you want to know more about Catford Cycling Club, call Sherry Bevan on 020 8467 3009.

If you would like to join a club run, call club captain David Bettinson on 020 8681 3227.

The club goes out every Sunday morning at 9.30am, meeting at Green Street Green while once a month, the club ventures off-road with the next off-road run being on January 20.

December 20, 2001 14:30