Paul Barnard Challenge Cup

The Paul Barnard Challenge Cup is awarded to the winner of the Club Events competition. The trophy was given to the Club by Paul’s parents in 2004 and is awarded to the rider with the most points from Club events, 10 points for each first place, 9 for second etc. All Club events in the season count.The calendar of Club events is to be agreed with the Committee of the Club prior to the start of the season.

Paul started cycling as a tourist going out on Sunday club runs after joining the club in 1989. When he found his way into racing he was a very strong rider. In 2001 he suffered a brain haemorrhage but fought his way back to health and in July he did a sponsored ride across the Pyrenees with some other club members. By the end of the year he had recorded a new personal best of 1hr 0mins 33secs in the October 25 mile time trial. The following year he had a go at cyclo cross but concentrated on time trials, interspersed with club runs. He could also turn in good performances in road races, taking fifth place in the South Division Road Race Championship in May 2002. In the same year he was 20^th overall and 3^rd placed vet in the National Hillclimb Championship on the Cat and Fiddle in Cheshire.

Paul was killed on 22^nd July 2003 while cycling on the Northleach bypass at 7.30am. He had ridden from his home in Tredworth heading to Witney where he worked for his father. He was 42. The week before his death he had set a new club record on the hilly Maisemore course with 59mins 49secs and he was training to ride a 12 hour race with a view to the Club BAR.