What he lacked in physique, George Owen made up for with great muscular power in his legs, which helped him to become one of the best sprinters in Britain in the 1920s. He started racing in 1913, but in the period up to the outset of World War I he had very little success. He served in the Army during the War, and in 1919 resumed his cycling career. Already showing signs of being a great sprinter, Owen’s breakthrough year was in 1921 when he beat the crack rider William Ormston to win the National Cyclists’ Union (NCU) 1-mile title. A second NCU title followed in 1922 when Owen won the quarter-mile title at Manchester. He also won the København Amateur Grand Prix, and then competed in his first World Championships at New Brighton. Although he failed to reach the final of the 1000 metres sprint, Owen won a one-lap scratch race for those riders who failed to make the final. He took part in his second Worlds in 1923, again without medalling and, despite losing his national quarter-mile title that year, he did win the NCU Manchester Centre quarter-mile title. Owen won the national 1-mile title for a second time in 1924, and in 1926 won the coveted Muratti Cup, a 10-mile invitation “Race of Champions”, hosted by Owen’s home club, Manchester Wheelers.
Great Britain