Club History
The Norwood Cycling Club - the oldest cycling club in the Southern Hemisphere and the largest in South Australia
The Norwood Cycling Club has a proud tradition as the oldest cycling club in the Southern Hemisphere. The club was formed in 1883 by a group of penny farthing enthusiasts who enjoyed a mutual interest in cycling and racing. In 1918 the club was incorporated and members enjoyed competitive cycling as well as cricket and football. The club continued to grow through the war years and beyond producing many great national and international cyclists.
Our club boasts many former and current Australian and International champions including Jack Bobridge, Luke Roberts, Tim Roe, Alexis Rhodes, Tiffany Cromwell, Patrick Jonker, Michael & Chris Turtur, Nino & David Solari, Wayne McCarney, Pat Marcucci, Charlie Walsh and Jay & Corey Sweet . We have a growing junior, female and masters membership (including UCI World Track Gold medallist Dave Gomer) to complement our elite riders and look forward to consolidating and increasing services for these groups.
The 2009 Australian Team at the World Championships in Mendrisio Switzerland contained four Norwood Cycling Club members, Jack Bobridge (World U23 ITT Champion) Tim Roe, Alexis Rhodes (Women’s Team Leader) and Tiffany Cromwell.
In 1995 Professional Clubs throughout the World affiliated with their Countries Amateur Body. NCC ultimately affiliated with the South Australian Amateur Cycling Federation who then changed its name to Cycling SA. All Cycling Clubs worldwide are now controlled by the Union Cyclist International (UCI) Cycling Australia is the Parent body of all Australian State bodies.
We are currently the largest cycling club in South Australia with over 380 members.
Some of the NORWOOD CYCLING CLUB’s History over the years
1883 The Norwood Cycle and Motor Club was founded October 23rd
Foundation members: Patron, Sir E T Smith, President RK Threlfall,,
1884 The club celebrated its official opening on Feb 4th at the Kensington Oval,
1918 And became an incorporated body,
1893 the Club uniform was introduced, And from the Archives: The uniform shall be navy blue serge, single breasted sack coat with short turned down collar, Knickerbockers with cardinal stripe half inch wide down sides, and navy blue stockings, all buttons white pearl, the hat is soft felt grey with cardial and blue cord, members must wear uniform within I month of joining and wear uniform at all club functions.,
In the early years the club had over 70 non cycling social members,
1913 Land was purchased at Pt Noarlunga on the hill overlooking the river,
1914 Members built clubrooms at Pt Noarlunga,
1919 The first Noarlunga Road race was introduced,
1928 Land adjoining the clubroom was purchased and made into a putting green,
1936 A first for the NCC when they organised the first official event to use variable gears in SA, The Centenary 60 mile road race.
1948 Delegates from NCC and League of South Australian Wheelmen met Norwood Councillors to seek ways and means of laying a banked track in the Norwood Area.
1951 The Jubilee Cycling Arena was built on Osmond Terrace Norwood. It opened in February 1951. It was a steeply banked 6 laps to the mile concrete Velodrome designed by League of SA Wheelmen Life Member Mr Eddie Smith. Racing was held every Friday night during the summer. For a few years it was managed by a Victorian promoter Mr Ted Waterford who brought many World and Olympic Champions (mostly Italian) to Australia to compete on Norwood’s concrete track and Victoria’s Essendon board track.
1965 Cyclists raised over $11000 to concrete the Norwood Velodrome Track,
1972 The Clubrooms at Pt Noarlunga were disposed of,
1973 permission was granted for the NCC to use its recently purchased George St Norwood Premises as Club Rooms.,
1975 The refurbished Clubrooms officially opened.
1981 Sadly Norwood Council sold the Jubilee Velodrome and surrounding land to developers.
1985 NCC introduced Criterium racing to South Australia. Racing commenced on a newly developed Industrial site at Regency Park when we are unable to use the Victoria Park Clipsal 500 circuit
2009 Criterium racing commences at Victoria Park motor racing circuit
2009 Norwood Cycling Club has four members in the Australian Team for the World Championships in Mendrisio Switzerland
2009 Norwood Cycling Club U23 rider Jack Bobridge becomes World U23 ITT Champion
2011 Jack Bobridge becomes Australian National Road Champion
2015 Jack Bobridge takes the King of the Mountain Jersey in the Tour Down Under
2016 Jack Bobridge takes the Australian National Road Championship for a second time
2016 Tiffany Cromwell takes 3rd in the Australian National Time Trial Championships
2018 Chris Harper takes 3rd in the Australian National Road Race