Terry West

Cyclist Terry West started with the Balham Cycling Club where he was the club´s overall road and track champion five years in succession from 1957-61. He later joined the recently formed Morden Cycle Racing Club and became more of a road race specialist.

Despite a relatively short competitive cycling career, Terry West enjoyed a successful three-year period between 1963-65. During that time he rode at the Tokyo Olympics and finished with the same time as the bronze medallist Walter Godefroot of Belgium. West was classified 26th after a bunch finish for third place, which included Eddy Mercyk, who was placed 12th.

West´s first result of note was in finishing third in the coveted Manx International on the Isle of Man in 1963. The following year, apart from competing at the Olympics and World Championships, he won the prestigious Vaux Gold Tankard and was third overall in the Tour of Britain Milk Race.

An office clerk by profession, West´s best performance abroad was in finishing sixth on the 11th stage of the 1965 Tour de l’Avenir, which was regarded as the amateurs´ Tour de France. West also took part in the 1965 World Championships. He retired soon after the 1965 season and turned to squash, where he performed to a county standard.