Arthur Markham

Arthur Matthew Markham (1845 – 19 June 1917) was an English cyclist who won the first formal cycle race held in Britain

Biography Markham won what is said to be the first formal cycle race held in Britain. It was in a meadow at Brent Reservoir, known locally as the Welsh Harp, in north-west London on Whitsun Monday, 1 June 1868. Markham received a silver cup from the licensee of the Old Welsh Harp Hotel, William Perkins Warner, who had sponsored the race. In another source, Warner is named as Jack.

Markham opened a bicycle shop at nearby 345 Edgware Road in 1872. He had another in Station Approach, Shepherd's Bush, London. Markham listed his occupation as an engineer in the 1881 census; his sister, Helen D. Markham was aged 23 and listed as a "bicycle maker".

Markham used his winnings to take a coach to Bath where on 27 June 1868 he took part in another race and beat a rider called Abrahams, considered the favourite. In his summing up of a complex and entertaining case, the Lord Chief Justice said:

Markham has also been described as a professional runner. His son, A. G. Markham, broke the Road Records Association unpaced tricycle record for 100 miles with 5h 57m 22s in 1903. He was captain of the Bath Road Club in west London.