We were all very sad to hear the new that Mick Ives had passed away last week at the age of 84 and our thoughts are with Mick’s family and friends as they go through this very difficult time.

There have been many fine words recorded in tribute to Mick already on various media outlets, and an obituary written by Rory Hitchens can be found on the British Cycling website. These comments are written to record and acknowledge Mick’s immense and literally invaluable contribution to BMCR (formally the LVRC).

Mick was involved from the very start of the LVRC in 1986 as a fledging cycling organization dedicated to all riders over 40 years. He remained on the National Executive Committee for over 30 years. Those early years were characterized by slow but steady development in terms of number of members and numbers of races. Some very strong characters were involved, of which Mick was one, strong and discordant views expressed but Mick always took a non-personal approach and remained committed and focused on the development of the sport for the over 40s known at the time as ‘Veterans’.

In the early days heavy handed resistance materialized from other cycling organisations but Mick, and many others at the time, remained committed to LVRC / BMCR objectives with the result we now have the strong organisation, accepted by all, that it is. 

LVRC / BMCR has evolved through a huge period of diverse change which Mick embraced and actively supported. This included the move away from a paper-based organisation to one run on IT, the inclusion of Time trials, Cyclocross, the encouragement of the participation of women and latterly the name change to BMCR.  

LVRC Region 7 was always one of the more successful Regions, and still is, influenced heavily by the races that Mick and his team in MI Racing organised.  MI Racing events set a standard for others to learn from and invariably were tough, demanding and attritional ensuring that the best rider usually won.

The hugely successful BMCR Percy Stallard Race Series for Masters racers was created and driven forward by Mick and MI Racing in the very early days of its existence with the consequence we now have probably the most popular national series for Masters racing in the UK.

Mick and friends travelled throughout the UK to support races where he always had time to chat and speak with others enthusiastically promoting BMCR and its objectives.

Latterly Mick, with great insight, stood down from the NEC but remained highly active with MI Racing continuing to organise races.  Even during his final days he was planning 2024 races. 

All racers, past and present, have so much for which to thank Mick Ives.

RIP Mick

After a long slowly debilitating illness Barrie Mitchell passed away peacefully at home in the early hours on 12 October 2023. Barrie made a huge contribution to the development of the British Masters Cycle Racing organisation (formerly known as LVRC) and without his invaluable and often unrecognised work in the early days BMCR would not be in the strong position it is today.

For over fifteen years Barrie organised the Racing Calendar, completely on paper, before we could deploy technology to assist. Without him owning this work the organisation would have failed in its fundamental objective of providing a racing calendar for all the members.

As a member of MI Racing, he organised innumerable races over the years, often including National Championships. Many were based on new ideas to BMCR which he fought hard to get accepted and yet they are taken for granted now. The Time Trial Championships and the Omloop – a mixed gravel and tarmac race are two examples.

Barrie and his colleagues were at the forefront of including women in our sport and those early efforts have provided a strong foundation for increasing numbers of female members and racers today.

In his younger days Barrie was a formidable junior representing Coventry CC in Road Racing, Cyclocross and Time Trials twice winning the prestigious Coventry to Nottingham junior race in the mid 1960’s following lone breakaways, he was also given dispensation as a junior to ride the seven day senior Tour of Ireland international where as the youngest rider he was second on two of the sprint stages racing against seasoned international riders who had just completed the Tour of Britain Milk Race.

It was felt that Barrie’s best years were missed because of his decision to retire from the sport around the time he became a senior. He then focused his efforts on car rally driving and fishing at which he competed at a high level, at the same time concentrating on his career which developed into him becoming the Managing Director of a local Stratford Engineering company.

Barrie returned to cycling at age 40 where he continued his winning ways with multiple national championship wins on and off the road including a veterans world championship downhill Mountain bike title in the 1990’s.

A time served engineer Barrie was a perfectionist in all his endeavours whether it was tasks he took on for the LVRC, his bikes and equipment, business activities, building projects and his final retirement gardening business.

Barrie leaves behind a wife Christine and sons Edward and James and grandchildren from a previous marriage.

Barrie’s wish is for his funeral to be a private family affair.