COVID has got in the way of a lot of things since it reared its ugly head over three years ago, and one of them was paying a proper tribute to John Rawnsley, aka ‘Mr Three Peaks’.

Yes, there was his funeral in January 2020 – he died aged 82 on Christmas Day 2019 – but his legacy was remembered again at the recent Yorkshire Cyclo-Cross Association annual awards and presentation night at Shipley Golf Club.

Chris Young, noted cyclo-cross rider and now notable coach, was the man who stepped forward to honour Rawnsley, who was the founder of cyclo-cross’ toughest test – the ascents of Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-Ghent, with the Three Peaks first being held in 1961, which John won.

Young, for whom Rawnsley was a mentor and father figure, said: “John organised it for 50 years (alongside his wife Brigitte), rode in it for 50 years and set up the Yorkshire Cyclo-Cross Association in 1959, which is why we are all here.

“He was on their committee for 40 years and for 35 years was their president.”

Young added: “I went to Cottingley Manor School, and John’s son Patrick was in my class, and he went up in my assessment when he won a gold medal (at cyclo-cross), so I took up cyclo-cross and enjoyed it.

“Then I took it up more seriously and John would tell me about the best races. We would go out on rides, and I would get back at 10pm, and it was always hard cycling.

“That led to competing in the National Trophy, National Championships and World Championships, and John would be there to encourage me.

“Coaching courses were set up at Marley, and John even managed to get David van der Poel to come over and ride at Peel Park.

“Yorkshire also dominated the Inter-Area Championships.”

Rawnsley was among the first 50 inductees into British Cycling’s Hall of Fame in 2009, and British Cycling later awarded him their Gold Badge of Honour, while in 1992 he was named Sportsman of the Year by the Sports Council for Yorkshire and Humberside.

In 2013 he was only the second person to be given a lifetime achievement award by the Yorkshire Cycling Federation and was instrumental in bringing the National Championships and National Trophy races to Bradford’s iconic venue of Peel Park.,

Young added: “John passed away three years ago but is still helping riders through the John Rawnsley Fund, and they are not small grants either.”

John’s widow Brigitte was presented with flowers on the night at Shipley Golf Club.