A Celebration of the Condor Mackeson professional team
~September Lunch 2025
The Pedal Club
September Lunch 2025
In spite of rain, great age and the tube strike, Alan Jacob arrived in good spirits as guest of
honour, for the club’s September meeting. He was accompanied by his sons, David and
Robert.
This meeting was a celebration of the Condor Mackeson professional team which existed
from 1961 to 1970. Alan was the team’s most successful rider in its early years with
victories including the epic London-Holyhead race in 1963 and it was something of a coup
to welcome him as guest speaker.
The Condor Mackeson team was the brain child of the late Monty Young (founder of
Condor), and represented a step change in cycling sponsorship in Britain as the first
example here of financial backing from a business outside the cycle trade. It was Monty’s
shrewd networking and enthusiasm which got Whitbread (the brewing company) on board with the rather thin claim that Mackeson Stout was good for athletes. Whatever the truth, the money was real and the sponsorship lasted for ten seasons, from 1961 to 1970.
It is interesting to note that Mackeson is now a ‘ghost’ brand – that is to say the brand still
exists in the market but it is no longer advertised. Condor, by contrast, is still a market
leader in its own sphere; probably not the outcome Whitbread expected. Monty was a
prominent Pedal Club member, as is his son Grant who runs the business today and
maintains a strong link with the club.
Alan Jacob gave an account of his cycling career, which started with the now forgotten
West Twickenham Road Club in 1952 at the age of sixteen. Like most aspirants of that
time he began with time trialling and won his club’s junior BAR in 1953. The next year he
moved to the more illustrious Clarence Wheelers, making further progress including
recording 4.31.10 for a 100 mile TT, still as a junior!
By 1956 he was doing National Service, which took him out of racing for two years but,
through his West Twickenham connection, he came to know Ken and Eileen Sheridan.
Alan believes he gained significantly from Ken’s coaching which took place in the
Sheridan’s ‘garage gym’ and this, at least by 1950s standards, seems to have been
forward looking.
Staying with the Clarence he won their 1958 championship and the Hounslow road race,
his first major road victory. In 1960 he had ten victories including a Tour of Britain stage
and the Olympic Trial road race. This win did not bring Olympic selection, which naturally
created feelings of some bitterness towards the amateur selectors, and this was a factor
which pushed him into turning independent for the ‘61 season for the newly formed Condor Mackeson team.
For the next three seasons he was the most successful member of the team, a notable
victory being that epic 1963 London to Holyhead race. A final pro season in 1964 for Ryall
Raxar proved to be enough for him and he decided it was time to get on with the rest of his
life.
Alan Jacob was not the only speaker; he was supported by his sons Robert and David.
They also spoke of their father’s career and presented their project bike – a replica of the
Condor which their Dad used during the successful 1963 season. (photo). David described
the difficulties involved in collecting the equipment which was originally entirely British
made and intended to promote those products. Whatever the merits of the British kit may
have been and however successful the pros were using it, the sad fact is that these
component makers were near the end of the road and were soon to be overwhelmed by
European and Japanese suppliers. Their demise was a serious blow to the British pro
scene which, up to that time, had been mainly supported by the bike manufacturing and
component trade. The outcome certainly shows Monty Young’s foresight in finding an
‘extra sportif’ sponsor in the Whitbread Brewery.
There was a second member of that early Condor Mackeson team present at this meeting:
Doug Collins, who supported Alan in that famous London-Holyhead victory, taking the third place on the day.
Two other features of the meeting were the presentation of a certificate of achievement to
Chris Lovibond for his Eighty Miles in a Day at Eighty ride. This is the first new addition to
the register since its original formulation, but it is hoped many more will follow (see Pedal
Club website for details). More significant for the future of the club was the enrolment as a
Pedal Club member of the distinguished cycling photographer, Phil O’Connor. We are
confident that his work will bring a much improved standard to the recording of the club’s
events.
The meeting attracted 53 members and guests and was held at the Civil Service Club in
Whitehall.
Chris Lovibond
September 2025.
