Tour of the Kingdom

	Tour of the Kingdom
History	Race Format	Profiles
Winners	Memorials	Statistics
		Last Update 10/2/02

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History

In 1977 the very first Tour of the Kingdom took tentatively to the roads of Fife. It was a mainly local event but with a sprinkling of English riders. Indeed the first winner was Yorkshireman Peter Fryer.
Barely had Peter and the other cyclists crossed the finish line than race organiser Dennis Speight started to plan the second Tour. From the beginning his idea had been to bring top class competitive cycle racing to Fife. By the time Glasgow cyclist Jamie McGahan had won the fifth Tour, the race was firmly established.
Not content with that the event broke new ground in 1982. In a welcome return to cycle racing the Scottish Milk Marketing Board joined Fife Region and the District Councils in supporting the Tour. And in 1983 was the first event of its kind with a maximum field of 84 riders.
By 1992 the field was extended to 100 and from 1995 - 1999 there were 120 on the start sheet. The top UK professional teams were participating and local riders were able to test themselves against the best in the country.

Race Format (ToK Index)

Day 1 - 2 Stages

Stage 1 (Road Race) approx 100km Dunfermline to St Andrews.
             Early editions started in Glenrothes.
Stage 2 (Road Race) approx 60km St Andrews to E Lomond Summit.
             Every 3rd edition finished in Falkland village.
             Variations included Kermesse's and a Time Trial.

Day 2 - Final Stage

Stage 3 (Road Race) approx 140km Leven to Leven.
Included the steep climbs of Stirton Chimney and Glen Tarkie.

Profiles (ToK Index)

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Winners (ToK Index)

TOUR OF THE KINGDOM WINNERS
YEAR	GEN CLASS	POINTS	TEAM	PETER FRYER MEMORIAL
1977	PETER FRYER	Jeff STENHOUSE	GLASGOW CENTRE	-----
1978	Drew BRUNTON	Drew BRUNTON	DUNDEE CENTRE	-----
1979	George KERMODE	Alan ANDERSON	EAST SCOTLAND C.A.	David McCALLUM
1980	Steve DOUGLAS	Steve DOUGLAS	LIVERPOOL CENTURY	Alistair ADAMS
1981	Jamie McGAHAN	David GRINDLEY	LIVERPOOL CENTURY	David GRINDLEY
1982	Bobby MELROSE	Bobby MELROSE	JOHNSTONE WHEELERS	David GRINDLEY
1983	Phil RAYNER	Chris WALKER	NORTH MIDLANDS BCF	Ken CLARK
1984	Bobby MELROSE	Peter STEVENSON	CLEVELAND BCF	Patrick SECOND
1985	Adrian RUDD	Chris MARSHALL	COVENTRY CC	Roy CHAMBERLAIN
1986	David RICHARDS	Nigel SMITH	LAKELAND BCF	Jamie McGAHAN
1987	Peter HALLIGAN	Andy CRAWSHAW	BOWLAND CC	Ian NORRIS
1988	Wayne RANDLE	John HUGHES	N.E.C.of EXCELLENCE	Bill HART
1989	John TANNER	Jeff WRIGHT	PARAGON RT	Norman DUNN
1990	Martin MALTBY	Paul BARRETT	CHESTERFIELD	Paul BARRETT
1991	Gary SPEIGHT	Steve CALLAND	MANCHESTER	Neil HEYES
1992	Matthew ILLINGWORTH	Keith MAILER	G.S. STRADA	Andrew MOSS
1993	Andrew YOUNG	Keith MAILER	SCOTLAND	Mike MILEN
1994	John TANNER	Keith MAILER	CHOICE ACCOUNTANCY	Mark LOVATT
1995	Mark WALSHAM	John TANNER	AMBROSIA/DYNATECH	Gary SPEIGHT
1996	Brian SMITH	Graham McGARRITY	OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE	Neil CAMERON
1997	Andy LYONS	Peter SWETTENHAM	CANNONS PRO TEAM	Peter SWETTENHAM
1998	Ian GILKES	Darren BARCLAY	SOUTHERN SELECT	Matt ANAND
1999	Gregg IMLAH	Anthony MALARCYZK	PLANET X SELECT	Barry CLARK
2000	Rod ELLINGWORTH	Andy LYONS	TERRY WRIGHT CRT	Peter MURDOCH

Memorials (ToK Index)

The TOUR of the KINGDOM was dedicated to the winner of the first Tour in 1977, Peter Fryer of LEEDS MERCURY Road Club. Peter's achievements were remarkable, as was the man himself.
With his right arm crippled by childhood polio, Peter nevertheless became one of Britain's top racing cyclists, overcoming his disability by dedication, courage and determination.
His was an example to young and old alike and in his home Yorkshire he was almost a god. Peter's qualities were such that in 1979 the Peter Fryer Memorial Competition was launched in his memory. It is a competition over six road races to find Britain's best Veteran Roadman (over 40), whilst throughout Britain other races - like this event - were being dedicated to his memory. A man of very few words, Peter believed in action, and it was this part of him that brought him to Fife in 1977 to take part in the first Tour of the Kingdom, and at the organisers request, to encourage the young Fife cyclists.
The way he won that TOUR on June 24th 1977 is history. With 12 miles to go he broke clear on his own, stayed away and won by 1 min 30 seconds. One year later to the day, he died, tragically the result of a road accident on his way to work. His last race had been the 1978 Tour of the Kingdom which he typically insisted on riding despite having only just recovered from another accident in which he broke pelvis and collar bone.
His was an example indeed.
On each year's list of competitors Peter appeared as No 1. A selected rider (the winner of the previous year's Peter Fryer Memorial Trophy) carried his number throughout the Tour and once again Peter Fryer finished. Following the weekend's racing the Peter Fryer Memorial Trophy (a merit award) was presented to the rider who contributed most to that year's race; to the man who gave his all as Peter always did.

The TOUR of the KINGDOM Sprints Competition was dedicated to Alec 'Eck' Mackie. Former club member of Eden and Fife Century, Eck was a respected cyclist and gentleman. His 'ToK' duties included Senior Timekeeper, Senior Judge and machine examiner, and he was also promenant at club and district level events as organiser and official.

Statistics (ToK Index)

**Comparative Average Speeds (mph)**
Stage	Reference	MAX	2000	1999	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994	1993	1992	1991	1990	1989	1988	1987	1986	1985
S 1	StAndrews	27.67	24.61	22.28	26.33	27.29	27.09	24.94	25.79	25.79	23.98	26.23	25.52	25.54	22.85	23.46	26.83	27.67
S 2	Leven	19.62																19.62
S 2a	TT	38.57															38.57
S 2	G/rothes	24.41											23.84	24.41			21.36
S 2	E.Lomond	28.48	21.17	23.00		21.20	20.51		22.76	23.76		24.85			27.71	28.48
S 2	Falkland	24.31			23.00			24.05			24.31
S 3	Leven	27.41	26.31	26.02	27.41	25.45	25.77	26.01	27.02	25.42	24.74	25.99	25.38	25.54	24.32	24.56	23.22	24.32
	Overall	28.68	28.41	28.68	26.20	25.25	25.21	25.28	25.82	25.23	24.41	25.89	25.15	25.33	24.48	24.95	24.11	24.80

**Comparative Stage Distances (km)**
Stage	Reference	2000	1999	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994	1993	1992	1991	1990	1989	1988	1987	1986	1985	1984	1983
S 1	StAndrews	101	101	101	101	101	101	101	101	101	102	102	100	95	95	95	95	100	114
S 2	Leven																40	54
S 2a	TT															1
S 2	G/rothes											55	55			55		24
S 2	E.Lomond	48	58		58	58		58	58		48			55	55
S 2	Falkland			61			61			60
S 3	Leven	135	135	150	150	150	150	150	150	150	145	145	137	137	137	137	137	137	137
	TOTAL	284	294	312	309	309	312	309	309	311	295	302	292	287	287	288	272	291	275

ToK Index

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