Beryl: In Search of Britain's Greatest Athlete

by Jeremy Wilson

Cyclist Beryl Burton - also known as BB - dominated her sport much as her male contemporary Eddy Merckx, but with a longevity that surpasses even sporting legends like Muhammad Ali, Serena Williams and Sir Steve Redgrave.

She was practically invincible in time trials, finishing as Best All-Rounder for 25 consecutive years and setting a world record in 1967 for the distance covered in 12 hours that beat the men. She won multiple world titles, even when the distances didn't play to her strengths. But her achievements were limited by discrimination from the cycling authorities, and by her strictly amateur status against state-sponsored rivals from Eastern Bloc nations.

Yet she carried on winning, beating men and - infamously - competing against her own daughter, while working on a farm and running a household. Her motivation, sparked by appalling childhood illness, is as fascinating as her achievements are stunning.

With access to previously unseen correspondence and photographs, and through extensive interviews with family, friends, rivals and fellow giants from across sport, acclaimed journalist Jeremy Wilson peels back the layers to reveal one of the most complex, enigmatic and compelling characters in cycling history.

For the first time, he also provides the jaw-dropping answer to how fast she would still be on modern cycling technology. Long ignored by sporting history, Burton's life story - recently told by Maxine Peake in a stage and radio play - is finally getting the recognition she deserves.

Genres: Cycling, Biography, History

352 pages, Hardcover

Published July 7, 2022

Reviews

[Joe Maggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awe-inspiring account of, in my mind now, Britain’s greatest ever cyclist. Essential reading for any fan of British cycling, this biography of Beryl Burton is a rip-roaring and superbly compelling account of an absolutely incredible human being. A testament to amateurism, and an absolutely fascinating insight into a truly unique individual whose slightly idiosyncratic ways of working led to peerless success throughout the mid-to-late 20th Century. Even those with no interest in cycling, but even a passing one in sport or competition, should read this, as I’m sure you’ll be as astounded as I. What pleases me so much in this story as a fan of bike racing is how there is no doubt in my mind that Beryl competed clean to achieve her insurmountable feats. The same cannot be said, even today, as past events cast doubt on so many achievements in the sport. As I say, essential reading for any bike racing fan, as sadly now the name is seldom mentioned during coverage. Moreover, a great read for anyone just interested in getting an insight into how British cycling operates in Beryl’s era - I particularly took interest in learning about the dominance of club time-trialling over fixed distances as the main events as opposed to road racing, and the rivalry between the BCF and RTTF as a result. I also enjoyed the author co-opting some research on the impact of traumatic events in childhood on those who become elite athletes - which I feel can be extrapolated elsewhere too; very interesting.

[Sophie Baddeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

jaw on the floor the entire time !!!! phenomenal and i don’t have words but i think it changed me

[Jonny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d never heard of Beryl Burton before getting this for Christmas. Which isn’t a surprise (the entire premise of the book is that she’s one of the UK’s most unknown sporting legends), but is at least a bit weird given my general interest in arcane sporting history. That fact isn’t a barrier to enjoying the book if you like any form of sport and/or are interested in what makes some people push themselves so hard even when there’s clearly no gain to be had.

What comes through from the book is that Beryl Burton was *extraordinary*. Her longevity in winning national and world titles in women’s cycling, the totally entrenched sexism she had to combat in doing so (she never got to compete in an Olympics, and her world races were squeezed in around the men), and the fact that she was breaking men’s records while doing it are basically without parallel in any other sport. The book doesn’t gloss over (in fact it highlights) just how challenging she inevitably was as a person in doing that - I can’t even imagine what it was like for her daughter competing against her, especially as Burton was totally unable to stop cycling competitively even into her 50s.

More than anything, this book really makes you think about just how many other women (or anyone from a group that didn’t have the opportunities that the dominant group did) we’ve never heard of even though we should have done. At the very least Beryl Burton should be talked about like pre-TV era male footballers who hold records that will never be broken (Dixie Dean etc). But without this book - which is niche even by the standards of British sporting books - I doubt I’d ever have heard of her and imagine that’s true for many others.

[Helen Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read.

[Debby Binns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly I had never heard of Beryl Burton (I'm ashamed to say). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and if I was a cyclist I would undoubtedly give this book 5 stars. As a non cyclist I still found the book fascinating. Beryl was clearly one of Britain's finest athlete's at a time when women's cycling was not recognised and the industry full of misogyny. Without this unsung hero, women wouldn’t have half the opportunities they have in sports today. She was a pioneer and a trailblazer.

[Jo Clemmet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't believe I'd never heard of her. Fascinating character and extraordinary achievements. I found myself telling other people about Beryl - always a sign of a good book.

[Nick Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really vivid telling of the story of this great athlete. Even though I thought I knew the broad strokes of her story I learned a lot from reading it. Nice pace to the writing as well.

[Andrew Macfarlane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm perhaps doing a slight disservice to the author only giving the book 3 rather than 4 stars but I became a bit irritated by the attempts to excuse or in one sense miss any hint of a failing in the subject. The achievements for an astonishing period of time of Beryl Burton deserve a great audience. She was a phenomenal athlete. You will also feel absolute anger at the misogyny of many of the cycling federations and governing bodies of the late 50s to the present day. Having said that the lack of publicity which this great athlete received is largely also the tale of the failure of cycling to project itself above other sports. Although I knew about the likes of Burton, Hugh porter, Barry Hoban or the like in the 70s there was never a chance I would be able to see them on the telly as cycling as a sport simply wasn't covered (broadcasting not being really capable of covering anything other than track racing and other sports having wider appeal. It's only when we get to tony Doyle or the 1984 tour de france that anyone became household names. That didn't stop beryl getting as much recognition as other cyclists, with appearances on question of sport, record breakers and judging from the sources used in the book a commensurately large number of newspaper interviews. The author makes excuses for the instances of Beryl being basically a sporting bully. Most road races or distance trials that she loses she blames other riders for not taking their turn riding at the head of a race. Then when another rider describes trying to take her turn she is met with Burton speeding up to try to wear her out. She seems to insist that races should be ridden to suit her, to suit her tactics rather than to be genuinely competitive. The impression is of someone who rode with strength and stamina and had no head for tactics or finesse. The same sort of bullying that led the Williams sisters yo ruin tennis to a baseline struggle to simply wear out your opponent, that means cricket is reduced to a 20 over thrash in which the biggest kid in the playground with the largest bat can get away with mistakes or the sort of rugby league bore that certain teams bring to the way they play rugby union. Sporting people with a such a dumb sense of selfishness are not the product of "that's the way they are". They are maladjusted individuals with the ethos of a bully and no excuses should be made for them no matter how amazing are their sporting records as in the case here

[Rachele Deans · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is absolutely no denying that Beryl Burton was an incredible athlete who, had there not been a culture of misogyny whilst she was at her prime, would have likely excelled even further than her brilliant legacy. The book explains her upbringing, her home life while riding, her athletic feats and her sad premature death. It detailed very succinctly her achievements and her determined ability. But to truly enjoy this book I think you need to have an interest in cycling. Which sadly, I really don't. As well as cycling not being an interest/hobby of mine, the book also describes Beryl as an, at times, ruthless and rude competitor. The sacrifices she decided to make in order to succeed in her sport are ones that personally, as someone without that desire to prove everyone else wrong, I don't understand and makes me feel less warmth towards her as a person. There was a quote - "I had dedicated every waking hour to cycling... then Denise came along." Now in the context of this quote, Denise is Beryl's daughter who also started participating in amateur races. However, this follows an instance when Denise actually beat Beryl and her mother refused to shake her hand or even congratulate her. So I felt, when reading, no Denise didn't come along. Denise was born (with no choice) and then was essentially abandoned so Beryl could pursue her own dreams. I don't know, maybe I took it entirely the wrong way. But I just felt so detached from Beryl as a person that I couldn't get into what I was reading. There's no denying her achievements and how she was a trailblazer, so if you enjoy cycling i'm sure this book is for you.

[Ella Scott]

I am ashamed to not have known of Beryl Burton before 2023. However, everything comes to us at the right time — and Jeremy Wilson’s biography on British cycling legend Beryl did just that. Considered to be one of the greats, Beryl has had her achievements downplayed her entire life. However, without this unsung hero, women wouldn’t have half the opportunities they have in sports today. She was a pioneer. A trailblazer.

Wilson does a fantastic job of documenting Beryl’s childhood, and her cycling achievements. He also manages to tap into the nitty gritty of her home life and her unexpected death. He brings her to life on the paper through interviews and extensive research. By the end? You really feel like you had a slice of Beryl all to yourself.

I believe you don’t have to be interested in cycling or sport to enjoy this biography. Beryl is for everyone. That’s what makes her special.

[Bryan Kirtley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think you have to be a cyclist, even a bad one, to appreciate this book. It helps if you are, but let’s face it, no-one will ever match her achievements. I doubt anyone will ever be as driven to succeed as her, nor have the longevity Beryl had. What a woman.
Seems she was a relentless competitor, but once off the bike a much nicer person (except when coming second to her daughter), but that’s just part of her desire to succeed. I have to say I am full of admiration and greatly impressed by Beryls attitude and achievements.

[Tom Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a woman.
Ashamed to say I’d never heard of her. Not as ashamed as I am about British treatment of women through out the 20th century.
Fascinating read about her never ending endurance and accomplishments.
Utterly inspiring tale about a woman who very complicated and challenging to all around her.
The way female athletes are to this day treated as second class citizens is shameful. If there is another Beryl, Britain should ensure they are elevated to the god like status above the hoards of mediocre male footballers worshiped for minimal achievement.

[David Portas · Rating 3 out of 5]

BB is arguably the greatest athlete the world has ever known, beating male counterparts and winning 100s of national and world titles. Yet she is little- known outside of the cycling world. She comea across as a brutally selfish person but i guess thats what it takes to be the best. So the story is hard, tough but astonishing and has to be told, but as a piece of writing i found it a bit jumbled and far too long. But i would strongly recommend people read about the astonishing Beryl Burton. 7/10

[Andrew Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating biography of a pioneering champion of cycling. The book elicits a range of emotions from awe at her achievements to being disturbed by some of her eccentricities and inevitability bewildered and saddened by the actions of cycling’s governing bodies and many of those who ran them at the time.

As a cyclist I’d have liked more details of her training and kit but given Beryl Burton’s personality (very Yorkshire!) this book is an interesting insight into the life a great athlete.

[Huw Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like to think I know more about cycling than the average person, but I'd never heard of Beryl Burton before hearing about this book and I feel ashamed to say that. Beryl had an incredible career and to call her Britain's greatest athlete isn't as absurd as it originally sounds. She was clearly a complicated character too and the book does a good job of praising such an incredible sports person without avoiding her flaws too. Fantastic book!

[Peter Dray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful biography of one of Britain's least known but most highly decorated sports stars, Yorkshire cyclist Beryl Burton. Wilson's account doesn't airbrush away Burton's weaknesses and eccentricities, yet he honours her achievements carefully and in a way that helps readers see how extraordinary they were. Ultimately this is a book about obsession - and the destinations, heroic and horrible, that obsession leads us.

[Zoe Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a sports fan I am embarrassed to say that I did not know who Beryl Burton was before a friend mentioned this book to me. A cyclist and amazing athlete who broke records on a bike over years, cycled faster than men in her day and is not widely known or celebrated as doing so.
Would recommend for the history, the story of her amazing cycling prowess and also for the speed she could endure keeping up on a bicycle.
Well Written and good pace to this story of Beryl’s life

[Mat Greener · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew the liquorice all sort story but the achievements she did over such a long period as an amateur is outstanding. If this was today she would many gold medals & a damehood & much for recognition. For any sports fan who hasn't heard of her this is a must read. For those who know about her it is still essential reading

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the first book to list and describe the incredible achievements of Beryl Burton, one of the greatest athletes the world has ever known. But compared to e.g. Bill Fotheringham's book, it more thoroughly examines the motivations behind Beryl's phenomenal willpower and the effect it had on her personality and relations with friends, family and other cyclists. Awe inspiring.

[Bill McFadyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beryl Burton may be the UK s greatest ever athlete. How many of us recognise the name - what did she do - when did she do it.
Go find out - this is an amazing story of an ultra super performer who was both super and ultra before the words became part of our common lexicon.
Find this book and enjoy the read.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book, I didn’t know of Beryl before reading this, and wow, what a life! Absolute dedication to a sport, results to be astounded by, and then, the dark side. Shockingly neglected daughter and some bizarrely cruel parenting and sportsmanship, all for the results.
A must read!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most outstanding, exceptional sportsperson this country ever produced. In truth, Beryl and hubbie Charlie had to do everything themselves. Feted the world over, ignored in the UK. Shameful. Great book.

[Kieran Atter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really well written biography about an outstanding sportsperson. It is to my dismay I had not heard of her before staying in Harrogate and buying this book. She seemed like a fascinating person and, as Wilson points out, was doing what she loved right up until her untimely end.

[Sarah Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating reading about such an impressive sports woman I had never heard about. She was a machine and achieved so much both in her sporting career but also as a family woman. Very driven hard working woman

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a couple of quibbles about the writing style, but otherwise, this is an excellent biography. An honest, thorough assessment of her life and career. It is also a condemnation of the prejudice female sportswomen faced then and continue to face.

[Martyn Richard Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant - but I am the author's father - and he is still alive - he is the Sports Reporter for the Telegraph, not the author listed who, sadly, is no longer with us.

[Paddy Brice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astonishing. The author has produced a wonderfully balanced portrayal of Beryl. A story that has been long overdue. Chapeau Jeremy!

[sillypunk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beryl was amazing, but I think a difficult person to be friends with: https://blogendorff.com/2023/07/01/be...

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come…

[BARRY FOOTE · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's an interesting book well written well researched but a bit backwards and forwards with the dates, how times have changed.