Herbert Crowther won more than 100 cycling races but, before he turned his attention to racing to two wheels, he was an excellent swimmer, and also won more than 50 trophies in that sport, including a North of England under-18s title. He started cycling in 1903, and 10 days after his first race at Burnley, won his first race at Heywood, near Rochdale. Having finished fourth in the NCU 25-mile championship in his first year, Crowther was runner up to Ernie Payne in 1905, and the following year was the champion. That same year he competed in the Intercalated Olympics at Athens and won two silver medals. However, on home soil two years later, he failed to medal.
After his racing days, Crowther took to motor-cycle riding, but just for pleasure. Whilst on holiday in northern Lancashire in August 1914, his vehicle was involved in an accident with a horse-drawn coach (landau) near Morecambe. He suffered a fractured skull and, as the hole in his skull would not clear up, he was forced to wear a metal plate to protect the skull for the rest of his life. Crowther died just over two years later, never fully recovering from the injuries sustained in the accident. At the time of the accident he was the manager of the Fleece Hotel in Leeds, which was previously managed by Crowther’s father. Herbert’s younger brother John was also a very good cyclist.
Great Britain