Tom Bartlett

Thomas William Bartlett was born in London on 10th June 1951 and lived his early life in the Highbury area of North London. At the age of ten he was invited by a neighbour, George Smith (who later married international skater and British Champion, Kathy Brown) if he would like to go roller skating at the Alexandra Palace. George had recently joined the club and had started racing. Young Tom went along and immediately loved the atmosphere and skating around the rink but it would be another four years before he started racing himself.

Bartlett’s first race was the Albert Lamb Memorial Trophy on 4th December 1965 at the Alexandra Palace, his home track. He would romp home 3rd behind top juniors of the day, Patrick Feetham and Peter Fiorentini. A month later and he would take part in his first Junior British Championship at the Birmingham Embassy. Again, he would cross the line 3rd but would get disqualified and lose out on his first championship medal.

Junior racing was pretty sparse in the 1960’s with only a handful of races, but Bartlett had a keen interest and still followed his club around the country watching the senior skaters do their thing.

Coached by former Broadway skater, Cyril Cooper, Bartlett started to improve, but by his own admission he always felt that he could have trained harder. In his own words, he was lazy. That didn’t stop him becoming the number one junior skater when he eventually took over from Feetham and Fiorentini, who had now turned senior. In November 1966 Bartlett would win his first race, the Stafford Cup at the Birmingham Embassy, just inches ahead of a fast finishing Steve Dowle (North London). Other juniors at that time included talented youngsters such as Bobby Smith, Steve Mayhew and Alan Cornish, but Bartlett was now the one to beat.

The Junior British Half Mile Championship was held in March 1967 at Herne Bay and Bartlett was firm favourite. He didn’t disappoint and came home with the Charles Julian Davis Trophy having beaten local brothers, Paul and Colin Underdown, on their home track. Being a half mile Bartlett easily won his heat and semi-final and was very confident going into the final. The gun went and Bartlett led from start to finish to win his first and only junior British title.

By the summer of 1967 Bartlett had now turned senior, his first senior race being the Harwich Cup at Dovercourt on 26th August. He would not progress through his heat but it wasn’t a huge setback. Harwich was always seen as being more of a social event being held near the coast and a race usually held well after the season had ended. Not since the early 60’s had any midland or northern clubs ventured to take part in racing on the small outdoor rink.

Racing proper resumed in November 1967 and after a few non-eventful competitions for Bartlett he managed to find himself in the quarter final of the Half Mile Championship at the Mecca Olympic rink, Birmingham. Alongside him on the start line was current holder, John Fry (senior), international John Folley and former World Champion, Leo Eason. Needless to say, Bartlett would finish last, but the feeling of standing on the line with such talent was not lost on the 16 year old.

Bartlett would continue to race and put up some decent performances throughout the rest of the season, but a medal still eluded him. Then on 16th April 1968 at Herne Bay he helped secure the Chambers Trophy for the Alexandra Palace club. A month later followed his first individual senior medal, a bronze in the Lee Cup handicap and still to reach his seventeenth birthday.

As the 1968/69 season unfolded Bartlett would win his first individual gold medal in the Clore Cup handicap on his home track. This was soon followed up by a medal in the Jesson Cup handicap at Birmingham. Bartlett was starting to find progression in the sport and was now starting to be seen as someone to watch. The same season he helped Alexandra Palace retain the Chambers Trophy and come home second in the British Relay Championships. Not only were his individual performances starting to evolve but still only eighteen he was starting to be recognised as a stable and reliable team skater.

Whilst Bartlett was now seen as a good skater his real breakthrough came on 21st March 1970. The One Mile Championship was held on the Olympic Rolarena rink in Leeds. Bartlett qualified from his heat and went into the semi-final up against Bill Sharman, fresh from his world medal winning performance in Argentina, former World Champion Leo Eason and local talent, James Fawcett. This time, undaunted, Bartlett would progress to the final. It was so close that both he and Sharman posted the same time, but it was Bartlett that got the nod. In the final he was up against team-mate Mick McGeough along with Fry Senior and Steve Collins of the Midland Olympic club. Fry went from the gun and came home almost 30 yards ahead of his nearest rival with McGeough next across the line. Bartlett followed but after the race it was announced that McGeough was disqualified for an infringement on Collins which meant that Bartlett was now elevated to second.

A week later and Bartlett would help his club retain the Chambers Trophy for a second time, but more importantly the club would also win the British Relay Championship for the first time since 1967.

Bartlett would start and race on the continent throughout 1970 and 1971. Back home, barring a few individual medals, most of his best performances would still centre around team events. He was now seen as being able to hold his own but breaking into that elite group was proving difficult. When the British team for the 1971 European Championships was announced it was Geoff Mattock (Birmingham) who took the place of recently retired Bill Sharman. Bartlett wasn’t particularly phased by this, recognising that he still had some work to do.

There were no major international championships in 1972 but again Bartlett takes a silver medal in the British Championships when he finished behind Mick McGeough in the 8000 metres (the old Five Mile) again at Leeds. Bartlett continues to skate both at home and abroad, using trips to places like Gross Gerau (Germany) and Gistel (Belgium) to hone his racing skills. He even gets selected to race for a British ‘B’ team in Kiel in 1973, but that all elusive inclusion into the ‘A’ team still eludes him. At the 1973 European Championships John Mullane (Midland Olympic) gets his first shot at international stardom and Gerrard Bissett (Southern) makes his one and only appearance in a British shirt, but Bartlett remained sidelined. 1974 does not fare any better. Geoff Mattock again picks up the spare place for the European Championships in Italy, whilst Bartlett has to make do with ‘B’ trips to Darmstadt and such like. To be fair to Bartlett he always knew that selection was going to be a close run thing and was always accepting of the fact that on the day someone was deemed to be better than him, especially where a road circuit was involved. Then, in 1975, all that changed.

In May 1975 the British team of Fry, Mullane, Feetham and McGeough went to the Word Championships on the track in Mar del Plata, Argentina. It was the first World Championships since 1969. The team returned and the Roller Speed Committee extended the British Championship events for senior men from the usual three to the seven. Bartlett would take a couple of silver medals and was invited to take part in trials for the forthcoming World Championships on the road in Italy. Fry, McGeough and Feetham had their places assured but the fourth member was up for grabs between Bartlett and Mullane. Both will give you differing stories as to how and why the selection was made, but the bottom line was that Bartlett got his first call up to the British team.

Bartlett would race just two individual events, the 500 metres time trial (finishing 19th) and the 5000 metres (finishing 11th). The last event, the relay, was a two-man 10000 metres affair and Bartlett, together with Pat Feetham, would finish in third place. Bartlett’s first taste of international skating on a world scale had netted him a medal. Unfortunately, once again there were to be no European or World Championships in 1976 so Bartlett made preparations for 1977.

In May 1977 Bartlett again medals in the British Championships in both the 5000 metres and 500 metres time trial. Bartlett was sure that he would again be selected for the European Championships, especially on the track in Salerno where he felt his technical ability would shine. When the team was announced, however, Bartlett’s name was not on the team sheet. The team consisted of Fry, Mullane, Feetham, McGeough and Bobby Smith with Roy Lawrence and Peter Howe named as travelling reserves. Bartlett believed he was better and more deserving than at least one of those skaters but was led to believe by others that underhand tactics were used to keep him out. On all previous occasions when he had been overlooked, he had accepted the decision, despite his disappointment. This time, however, he felt his absence was unjustified. What was actually said and how the team was selected when the selectors met will always be up for debate, but for Bartlett the news he was dropped was a bitter blow.

During the 1978 season the core team of Fry, McGeough, Mullane and Feetham was again picked for the World Championships in Mar del Plata, Argentina. On their return the selection for the European Championships in La Roche, France, was again on Bartlett’s mind. With it just being on the track Britain opted to send just five skaters, all men. Effectively, one place was up for grabs. Whilst the British team was in Argentina, Bartlett travelled to La Roche with roller speed official, Ernie Matthews, and tried out some wheel combinations in anticipation of his selection and to aid the team on their return from South America. When the team was named, Bartlett’s name was once more amongst them.

The 1978 European Championships was arguably the most successful post war championships for the British team. Fry Senior would win the first event, the time trial, Mullane the 5000 metres and McGeough the 10000 metres. The team had also just missed out on gold for the 20000 metres which left just the knock-out event to contend. Feetham was injured and Bartlett was skating well. With the rest of the team having won a title Bartlett believed that his best shot at victory now rested in the knock-out event. It was more than feasible as Britain had four skaters in the last eight places, however, fortune was not to shine for a fourth time. In the latter stages of the competition Fry drew his great rival, Cantarella. Fry knew he had the beating of the Italian sprinter having already won the time trial. Coming out of the last bend the pair clashed and Fry was disqualified. Almost everybody agreed, officials and delegates included, that it should have been Cantarella who got the disqualification but the decision stood. The upshot was that the British Team Management of Tony Wordsworth (standing in for Bob Halford) and Henry Crystall withdrew the team in protest. Bartlett was distraught. He felt (as he still does today) that this course of action was unnecessary and he was robbed of his best chance of becoming a European Champion. Whether he would have won will never be known, but what is certain is that his greatest opportunity to stand on the top step had now gone begging. The team did go on to take a silver medal in the relay, but it was scant consolation for Bartlett.

The British team returned to the track in the 1979 European Championships and was again victorious, but Bartlett was once again absent. He did travel to the World Championships later that year in Italy, but only as a spectator. In fact, over the next two years Bartlett’s rewards within the sport would be few and far between with his only victories coming in team events and his non-selection for the British team reflected that.

In 1981 Bartlett was still winning medals but struggled to stand on the top step. Despite this he was again selected to race in the European track championships in Italy in Pineto. Whilst he felt good on the track, as with his British teammates, his individual performances were not particularly notable. He did, however, once again help Britain to a silver medal in the relay. The road championships were on a circuit in Montesilvano but recognising that Bartlett was struggling to adapt to the circuit the Team Manager, Pat Feetham, dropped him from the team. Bartlett understood and accepting the decision made his way home.

The following season was to be a defining year for Bartlett. He had not now won an individual domestic gold medal since 1978. Plenty of silver and bronze medals but not the one that really counted. In April and May 1982, he had secured bronze medals in the Hewitt Cup and Burditt Cup but on 20th June he shocked everyone when he won the 500m time trial British Championship on Tatem Park. It was Bartlett’s first and only senior British title, but having just celebrated his 31st birthday it was a crowning glory and an individual achievement that had been 20 years in the making. Not only that but his time of 46.98 seconds was a new British record and made him officially the fastest man in the country…ever! His relief and joy at having finally achieved his dream was there for all to see. (Incidentally, this would be the last time the 500m time trial was held as British Championship, so one could argue that Bartlett is still the reigning champion!). To cap it all he would also take a silver medal in the 10000m on the same day just behind teammate Mick McGeough, although Bartlett maintains that it was so close on the line that it was he and not McGeough who crossed the line first.

Bartlett’s preparations for the time trial had been supported by his neighbour and former skater, Dai Davis. Davis would have Bartlett run up and down the steps of the Alexandra Palace, a la Rocky Balboa, and put him through his paces to hone his sprinting. Another trick was to use an exercise bike without a saddle so he had to ride it standing only on the pedals. These training methods obviously worked. Bartlett’s victory cemented his place on the British team once again for the forthcoming European Championships in Jesi (road) and Santa Maria Nuova (track).

His road performances were again unremarkable but the track suited Bartlett and he felt he could put in a decent performance, but an unfortunate fall in the knock-out put paid to that. Despite this, Bartlett was again part of the British relay team and took home yet another European silver medal. It was the last event of the Championships and it would be Bartlett’s last outing in a GB shirt.

The following year saw some upheaval in Bartlett’s working life when the company he had worked for since he was nineteen moved their operations to Switzerland. Opting not to move with the company he took redundancy and embarked on a new role in London. Shortly afterwards his new company also relocated, this time to Peterborough. Seeing it as a fresh start Bartlett and his family decided to leave London. This change meant that getting to training was going to be difficult and so decided that 1983 would be his last year of competition. He also knew that his best years were behind him and a new generation of skaters were emerging. For Bartlett he knew the time to call it a day was fast approaching.

In May 1983 he would take a silver medal in the Seagrave Cup behind Darren Cobley, one of the up and coming youngsters who a little over a year later would win a European relay gold medal. It would be Bartlett’s last individual medal. On 10th July he would again help the Alexandra Palace team place second in the British Championship relay, with victory going to Herne Bay, a team made up of even more young talent.

As Bartlett stepped onto Tatem Park for the British Championships on 24th July 1983, he knew he had made the correct decision to retire from skating. The last event of the day, the 10000 metres, would also be Bartlett’s last race. After almost two decades of racing he stepped off the track never to return.

Bartlett will tell you that he doesn’t consider himself a ‘legend’, but whilst his career may not have reached the dizzy heights of some of those that he, himself, considers great British roller speed skaters, his achievements are nothing to be sniffed at. His own career spanned multiple generations of elite skaters - Folley, Eason, Sharman, Fry Senior, McGeough, Mullane, Feetham, Cobley, Rohan Harlow to name but a few. And in  that time he would become British Champion and a multiple European relay medallist.

Trying to break into the national team in the mid/late 1970’s was a feat in itself. The nucleus of Fry, Feetham, Mullane and McGeough seemed at times to be impenetrable, but Bartlett managed to do it on more than one occasion. Whilst an individual European or World medal may well have eluded him his rake of relay medals, both domestic and international, showed that as part of a team Tom Bartlett could always be relied upon to play an important part in their successes.