TIM JAMES MEMORIAL 
GRAND PRIX

The Tim James memorial race is back for its second year this weekend, in honour of a well loved Bourne Wheeler. Promoted by Bourne Wheelers and organised by Mark Botteley the National series level races have attracted riders from across the East Midlands and beyond. The headquarters is at Witham school and the course runs from Witham to Little Bytham, to Ryhall, up to the Witham cross roads and back to Witham. It is an 11 mile circuit which the women will complete 6 times in the morning and the men 10 times in the afternoon.
Tim James who was tipped to compete alongside the worlds elite, died from a rare cancer in 2021. He was aged only 23. It should not be underestimated the respect that many riders still have for Tim and the significance of this race becoming an established part of the British Cycling road race calendar.
It is all on the doorstep for Bourne and surrounding areas and is free to spectate and with the race lapping every 20 minutes it makes following the race entertaining right up to the finish line at Barbers hill near Careby.
Both races include many local riders, most of whom knew Tim and his journey in cycling from Bourne Wheelers Go ride to the Junior Giro d'Italia. Tim was always positive and had a smile for everyone, even during his difficult final months. He is missed every day and remembered with love by everyone that knew him. We at Bourne Wheelers are thrilled to have a quality, full field for this race in Tim’s honour and we know that it will produce a very worthy winner. 
The event will be raising money for the Young Lives versus Cancer charity again. £900 was raised last year at the opening event so it would be marvellous to get near that again. Thank you to Hall & Hall for supporting the event this year.