Ernie Clements
Encyclopedia
Ernest J "Ernie" Clements was an English
road racing cyclist, frame builder and cycle shop owner (28 February 1922 – 3 February 2006).
, Telford
, Shropshire
, Clements was one of the leaders in the introduction of massed start road races to Britain, initially as a rider and later as a sponsor.
He won the BLRC
British national road race championship in 1943 and 1945, and came second in 1944. Riders who competed in BLRC races were banned from competing in NCU
races, but Clements managed to circumvent the ban; he won the NCU
national road championship in 1946 and come second in 1948. If Clements had not been a member of the NCU, he would not have been considered to ride the world amateur road championship in 1946, nor the 1948 Summer Olympics
in London
. At the latter event, he won a silver medal as part of the team in the road race - alongside team mates Bob Maitland
, Gordon Thomas and Ian Scott.
Clements also won the first stage of the Brighton
-Glasgow
race in 1951. Note - possible inaccuracies: The 1946 Brighton
-Glasgow
race programme states that E A (Ernie) Clements won the first stage of the 1945 Brighton
-Glasgow
race. This also indicates that Ernie Clements was Ernest A rather than Ernest J Clements. This is supported by the Register of Births for England and Wales which lists an Ernest A Clements as being registered in the March quarter of 1922 in the Wellington District of Shropshire.
In 1947, there was a proposal that he turn professional should Britain send a team to the Tour de France
. Clements declined and in the event no team was sent anyway. Clements said he turned down the chance because he did not wish to relinquish his amateur status in Britain. At the time, cyclists in Britain were unable to return to amateur status once they had been professionals. This proved restrictive for many professional cyclists, who at the end of their careers were unable to return to competing at a lower level purely for enjoyment.
Clements was born in Hadley
, Shropshire
but spent the majority of his early years at Old Park where he later opened a cycle shop. He became a frame builder and managed Falcon Cycles
in the 1950s, and up to the 1970s.
His last address was in Ledbury
, Herefordshire
where, aged 67 in 1990, he opened Clements Cycles to keep in touch with cycling. He died in Malvern Community Hospital, Malvern, Worcestershire
, aged 83 on 5 February 2006, having suffered from Parkinsons Disease for several years.
magazine through a paid small-ad. It said:
(1.36 miles in 2007) and a criterium
(27 miles in 2007), the third stage, on the second day, is a Road race
(64/48 miles in 2007).
1944
1945
1946
1951
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
road racing cyclist, frame builder and cycle shop owner (28 February 1922 – 3 February 2006).
Biography
Born in HadleyHadley
- People :Surname* Arthur Twining Hadley , American economist* George Hadley, meteorologist, hence also:** Hadley cell** Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research...
, Telford
Telford
Telford is a large new town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, approximately east of Shrewsbury, and west of Birmingham...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, Clements was one of the leaders in the introduction of massed start road races to Britain, initially as a rider and later as a sponsor.
He won the BLRC
British League of Racing Cyclists
The British League of Racing Cyclists was an association formed in 1942 to promote road bicycle racing in Great Britain. It operated in competition with the National Cyclists' Union, a rivalry which lasted until the two merged in 1959 to form the British Cycling Federation.-Background:The National...
British national road race championship in 1943 and 1945, and came second in 1944. Riders who competed in BLRC races were banned from competing in NCU
National Cyclists' Union
The National Cyclists' Union was an association established in the Guildhall Tavern, London, on 16 February 1878 as the Bicycle Union. Its purpose was to defend cyclists and to organise and regulate bicycle racing in Great Britain...
races, but Clements managed to circumvent the ban; he won the NCU
National Cyclists' Union
The National Cyclists' Union was an association established in the Guildhall Tavern, London, on 16 February 1878 as the Bicycle Union. Its purpose was to defend cyclists and to organise and regulate bicycle racing in Great Britain...
national road championship in 1946 and come second in 1948. If Clements had not been a member of the NCU, he would not have been considered to ride the world amateur road championship in 1946, nor the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. At the latter event, he won a silver medal as part of the team in the road race - alongside team mates Bob Maitland
Bob Maitland
Robert "Bob" John Maitland was a British racing cyclist. He won national championships in Britain, tackled long-distance records, was the best-placed British rider in the 1948 Olympic road race, and rode for Britain in the Tour de France...
, Gordon Thomas and Ian Scott.
Clements also won the first stage of the Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
-Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
race in 1951. Note - possible inaccuracies: The 1946 Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
-Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
race programme states that E A (Ernie) Clements won the first stage of the 1945 Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
-Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
race. This also indicates that Ernie Clements was Ernest A rather than Ernest J Clements. This is supported by the Register of Births for England and Wales which lists an Ernest A Clements as being registered in the March quarter of 1922 in the Wellington District of Shropshire.
In 1947, there was a proposal that he turn professional should Britain send a team to the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
. Clements declined and in the event no team was sent anyway. Clements said he turned down the chance because he did not wish to relinquish his amateur status in Britain. At the time, cyclists in Britain were unable to return to amateur status once they had been professionals. This proved restrictive for many professional cyclists, who at the end of their careers were unable to return to competing at a lower level purely for enjoyment.
Clements was born in Hadley
Hadley
- People :Surname* Arthur Twining Hadley , American economist* George Hadley, meteorologist, hence also:** Hadley cell** Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
but spent the majority of his early years at Old Park where he later opened a cycle shop. He became a frame builder and managed Falcon Cycles
Falcon Cycles
Falcon Cycles is an English bicycle manufacturer based in Brigg, North Lincolnshire. The company can trace its history back over 125 years.In addition to producing bikes under its own name, Falcon produces bicycles under several brand names including Falcon, British Eagle, Coventry Eagle, Townsend,...
in the 1950s, and up to the 1970s.
His last address was in Ledbury
Ledbury
Ledbury is a town in Herefordshire, England, lying east of Hereford, and south of the Malvern Hills.Today, Ledbury is a thriving market town in rural England. The town has a large number of timber framed buildings, in particular along Church Lane and High Street. One of Ledbury's most outstanding...
, Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
where, aged 67 in 1990, he opened Clements Cycles to keep in touch with cycling. He died in Malvern Community Hospital, Malvern, Worcestershire
Malvern, Worcestershire
Malvern is a town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, governed by Malvern Town Council. As of the 2001 census it has a population of 28,749, and includes the historical settlement and commercial centre of Great Malvern on the steep eastern flank of the Malvern Hills, and the former...
, aged 83 on 5 February 2006, having suffered from Parkinsons Disease for several years.
In memorium
His death was announced in the Cycling WeeklyCycling Weekly
Cycling Weekly is a British cycling magazine. It is published by IPC Media and is devoted to the sport and past-time of cycling. It is affectionately referred to by British club cyclists as "The Comic".-History:...
magazine through a paid small-ad. It said:
- CLEMENTS - ERNEST. (cycle trader and former road racing champion) died peacefully on February 3rd 2006. Aged 83 years. Husband of Rosemary and father of Edward. A quiet family funeral will take place. Details of a memorial service to follow.
Memorial race
In his memory, the annual Ernie Clements Memorial two-day stage race is organised by the League of Veteran Racing Cyclists, with separate races for riders aged 40–54 and 55 and over. There are two stages in the first day of racing, a short prologuePrologue
A prologue is an opening to a story that establishes the setting and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information. The Greek prologos included the modern meaning of prologue, but was of wider significance...
(1.36 miles in 2007) and a criterium
Criterium
A criterium, or crit, is a bike race held on a short course , often run on closed-off city center streets....
(27 miles in 2007), the third stage, on the second day, is a Road race
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
(64/48 miles in 2007).
Palmarès
1943- 1st
BLRCBritish League of Racing CyclistsThe British League of Racing Cyclists was an association formed in 1942 to promote road bicycle racing in Great Britain. It operated in competition with the National Cyclists' Union, a rivalry which lasted until the two merged in 1959 to form the British Cycling Federation.-Background:The National...
British National Road Race Championship - 1st Tour of the Peak (1st edition)
1944
- 1st 2nd Tour of the Peak
- 2nd BLRCBritish League of Racing CyclistsThe British League of Racing Cyclists was an association formed in 1942 to promote road bicycle racing in Great Britain. It operated in competition with the National Cyclists' Union, a rivalry which lasted until the two merged in 1959 to form the British Cycling Federation.-Background:The National...
national road race championship
1945
- 1st BLRCBritish League of Racing CyclistsThe British League of Racing Cyclists was an association formed in 1942 to promote road bicycle racing in Great Britain. It operated in competition with the National Cyclists' Union, a rivalry which lasted until the two merged in 1959 to form the British Cycling Federation.-Background:The National...
national road race championship
1946
- 1st NCUNational Cyclists' UnionThe National Cyclists' Union was an association established in the Guildhall Tavern, London, on 16 February 1878 as the Bicycle Union. Its purpose was to defend cyclists and to organise and regulate bicycle racing in Great Britain...
national road race championship - 1948
- 2nd
Team Road Race, Olympic Games1948 Summer OlympicsThe 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin... - 2nd NCUNational Cyclists' UnionThe National Cyclists' Union was an association established in the Guildhall Tavern, London, on 16 February 1878 as the Bicycle Union. Its purpose was to defend cyclists and to organise and regulate bicycle racing in Great Britain...
national road race championship
1951
- 1as Stage 1, from BrightonBrightonBrighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
to LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, BrightonBrightonBrighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
-GlasgowGlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
stage race