The Greatest: the Times and Life of Beryl Burton

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A journalist’s search for Britain’s greatest-ever athlete is crowned the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2022 Expected Goals: The Story of how Data Conquered Football and Changed the Game Forever by Rory Smith She was practically invincible in time trials, finishing as Best All-Rounder for 25 consecutive years and setting a world record in 1967 for the distance covered in 12 hours that beat the men. She won multiple world titles, even when the distances didn't play to her strengths. But her achievements were limited by discrimination from the cycling authorities, and by her strictly amateur status against state-sponsored rivals from Eastern Bloc nations. Jeremy Wilson’s book, Beryl: In Search of Britain’s Greatest Athlete, Beryl Burton, has been crowned the 2022 winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award at an official ceremony today (1 December), at BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, in London.

This was a tough year for the judges, having had a record 158 entries. We had five incredible books on the shortlist, and selecting a winner was no mean feat. Congratulations to our other shortlisted authors and everyone who entered.” From the 50s to the 80s, Beryl dominated women’s cycling racing in the UK, winning over 90 domestic championships and seven world titles, setting numerous national records. Yet she carried on winning, beating men and - infamously - competing against her own daughter, while working on a farm and running a household. Her motivation, sparked by appalling childhood illness, is as fascinating as her achievements are stunning. William Hill is operated by WHG (International) Limited, a company registered in Gibraltar. WHG (International) Limited is licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission under account number 39225for customers in Great Britain and further licensed by the Government of Gibraltar and regulated by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner. The registered office of William Hill is at 6/1 Waterport Place, Gibraltar, with registered company number 99191. William Hill is a registered I.B.A.Sbookmaker. Entry to the 35th William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award is now open. For more information about the Award and to enter, please visit: https://news.williamhill.com/sport/sports-book-of-the-year/

Perfect for a trivia night or a long trip, #TrainTeasers will both test your knowledge of this country`s rail system and enlighten you on the most colourful aspects of its long history. Meet trunk murderers, trainspotters, haters of railways, railway writers, Ministers for Transport good and bad, railway cats, dogs and a railway penguin. This is NOT a book for number-crunching nerds. Many of the answers are guessable by the intelligent reader. It is a quiz, yes, but also a cavalcade of historical incident and colour relating to a system that was the making of modern Britain.

Beryl Burton dominated women’s racing in the UK during the 1960s and 1970s, taking almost 100 national titles, often competing on equal terms with men. One of her main achievements was setting a women’s record for the 12-hour time-trial which exceeded the men’s record for two years. Beryl still holds the women’s record which was set in 1967 (over 40 years ago). On receiving the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award, Jeremy Wilson said: “I followed this award in the 1980s and 90s and must have half the previous winners on my book shelves. It’s inspired me to read sports books and write one. I felt such a responsibility to tell this story, Beryl made history and delivered this incredible story and I was fortunate to tell it. I share this award with her.”Jeremy Wilson’s Book About Cycling Great Beryl Burton Scoops World’s Most Valuable Literary Sports-Writing Prize The Award, which first took place in 1989 and is now the longest-established competition in the industry, is dedicated to rewarding excellence in sports writing, providing authors and publishers with a platform to showcase and promote their books. Beryl broke numerous records throughout her career. She was the first woman to go under the hour for 25 miles and subsequently broke the two and four-hour barriers for the 50 and 100’ mile durations.

A panel of judges from the world of sports and journalism, chaired by author and journalist, Alyson Rudd, concluded a four-month judging process, whittling a record 158 entries down to the winning book. Yorkshire-born Burton was invincible in time trials, finishing as Best All-Rounder for 25 consecutive years

Alyson Rudd, Chair of the Judging Panel for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award, said: “Too few biographies focus on sports women, but this book helps to alter the balance. It is quite simply a tour de force and leaves the reader emotionally drained but also uplifted. Beryl deserved for her story to be told in style and Jeremy Wilson achieves that while also charting the more controversial elements of her extraordinary life.”