Herbert Lee

Herbert Lee’s first major triumph was in 1909 when he won the City of Ely Cup. He was in contention to retain the trophy the following year, but fell and dislocated his shoulder on the last lap of the 10-lap race. However, in 1910, he did win the NCU London Centre 10-mile Championship at Canning Tow, and was second, with fellow Kentish Wheelers rider W. R. Pitts, in the London Centre 2-mile Tandem Championship.

Lee’s greatest successes came after World War I when he teamed up with William Ormston and beat the crack Polytechnic pair of Harry Ryan and Thomas Lance, in a three lap tandem challenge at Herne Hill in 1919. Ryan and Lance would go on to become the 1920 Olympic champions, where Lee and Ormston failed to medal despite being the NCU 1-mile champions. They lost their NCU title to Ryan and Thomas Harvey in 1921, and finished second to the same duo when they attempted to regain the title in 1922. In 1923 Lee was one of just four finishers (in third place), out of a starting field of 27, in the NCU 25-mile Championship, won by Albert White. However, a month later, Lee beat White to capture the NCU 5-mile title at Herne Hill. At the 1924 Olympics, Lee competed in the team pursuit and, with Cyril Alden, was a reserve for the tandem race.