Following 18 years of racing, Percy Stallard, Wolverhampton's famous international cyclist, has decided to retire.

Percy has many times secured international honours, riding six times for England on the continent. He finished sixth in the world championship in 1934, and had the honour of being chosen to captain the English team which should have competed in the world championship in Italy in 1939, but unfortunately the war intervened and the race was cancelled.

He was founder of the British League of Racing Cyclists, which body broke away from the National Cyclists Union in 1942 and has since revolutionised road cycle racing throughout Great Britain.

At present he holds the National Road Racing Championship, which he wrested from Ernie Clements, Wrekin R.C.C., in August this year.

He won the third road race (Craven Dales) to be organised by the national movement.

Among those who have gained valuable experience from Percy are the internationals Roy Fletcher, Ray Jones and Ernie Clements.

For quite a time Stallard was manager to the Wolverhampton Racing Cycle Club, and in this capacity trained Harold Binfield, club champion and winner of several notable events this season; Geoff hill, national time trial champion and runner-up in several junior races; Ron Clements, national hill climb champion; Horace Poole winner of the Forest Glen Race and Wolverhampton Wheelers junior 25; and Ben Flavell, who, for two years, held the club championship.

In pre-war days Percy gained premier honours in many races at Donington and Brooklands.

He has never been known to retire in a race except with mechanical trouble.