1. Beryl Burton OBE was an English racing cyclist who dominated the women's sport, winning more than 90 domestic championships and seven world titles, and setting numerous national records.
18 Facts About Beryl Burton
1. 2.
Beryl Burton was introduced to cycling through her husband, Charlie Burton, whom she married in 1955.
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Beryl Burton described her development as a cyclist as follows:.
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Beryl Burton was world champion five times, silver-medallist three times, and winner of bronze in 1967,1970 and 1973.
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In domestic time trial competition, Beryl Burton was almost unbeatable.
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Beryl Burton won the Road Time Trials Council's British Best All-Rounder Competition for 25 consecutive years from 1959 to 1983.
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Beryl Burton won a further 24 national titles in road racing and on the track: 12 road race championships, and 12 pursuit titles.
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In 1963, Beryl Burton became the first woman to break the hour barrier for the 25-mile time trial, subsequently going below two hours for the 50-mile TT and four hours for 100 miles against the clock.
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Beryl Burton is reputed to have given him a liquorice allsort as she passed him.
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Beryl Burton set about 50 new national records at 10,15,25,30,50 and 100-mile distances; her final 10,25 and 50-mile records each lasted 20 years before being broken, her 100-mile record lasted 28 years, and her 12-hour record stood for 50 years until 2017.
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Beryl Burton's prowess led to the rare distinction, for a woman, of an invitation to compete in the Grand Prix des Nations in 1967.
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In 1982, with her daughter Denise, Beryl Burton set a British 10-mile record for women riding a tandem bicycle: 21 minutes, 25 seconds.
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Beryl Burton won UK cycling's top accolade, the Bidlake Memorial Prize, a record three times, in 1959,1960 and 1967.
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Beryl Burton's daughter, Denise Burton, was a top cyclist, winning a bronze in the 1975 world individual pursuit championship.
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In 1973 Beryl Burton won the national road title ahead of Denise.
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Beryl Burton, who had always had a somewhat odd heart arrhythmia, died of heart failure during a social ride, when she was out delivering birthday invitations for her 59th birthday party.
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Beryl Burton's daughter suggested that Burton's competitive spirit and drive eventually just wore her body out.
18.
The trading name of cycle hire service Beryl is partly named after Burton.