Formby’s Glynn Stockton finishes 10th in the world in incredible Penny Farthing Championship

A Formby man has achieved an extraordinary top-ten finish on the world stage after taking on one of cycling’s most unusual and spectacular challenges – racing a penny-farthing up Beachy Head.

Glynn Stockton, from #Formby, finished an impressive 10th overall in the Beachy Head World Championship Penny Farthing Hill Climb Time Trial on Sunday 9 August, competing against 40 riders from around the world.

And this was certainly no ordinary Sunday bike ride.

Riders mounted their towering penny-farthings on Eastbourne seafront before tackling the gruelling climb towards Beachy Head, one of the most famous coastal landmarks in Britain. It was 510 feet of elevation, around the same height as Blackpool Tower.

The event, presented by Eastbourne Bicycle Club 1877, began beside the Grand Hotel before taking competitors along Upper Duke’s Drive and Beachy Head Road, climbing towards the spectacular cliffs above the English Channel.

Glynn completed the course in an excellent 16 minutes and 50 seconds, earning him 10th place overall in the World Championship.

It was an international field and the competition at the front was exceptionally strong.

French rider Alexandre Voisine claimed the World Championship title and smashed the course record with an astonishing time of 11 minutes 35 seconds.

Paolo Togni took second place in 13 minutes 42 seconds, while Roger Davies finished third in 13 minutes 56 seconds.

Glynn’s performance placed the Formby rider firmly among the leading competitors, with just ten seconds separating him from ninth position.

Not your average bicycle

Anyone who has ever seen a penny-farthing will appreciate just how remarkable racing one uphill really is.

With its enormous front wheel, tiny rear wheel and riding position high above the ground, the penny-farthing became one of the most recognisable symbols of Victorian cycling.

There are no modern gears to make the climb easier and riders need an impressive combination of strength, stamina, balance and courage to tackle a course like Beachy Head.

Simply mounting and riding one is an achievement for most people.

Racing one up a major hill against some of the best penny-farthing riders in the world is something else entirely.

Formby represented on the world stage

The Beachy Head event has become an extraordinary spectacle, bringing together penny-farthing enthusiasts and competitors against the dramatic backdrop of the East Sussex coastline.

For Glynn, Sunday’s result means he returned home to Formby having secured a place inside the world’s top ten.

His official finishing time of 16:50 put him comfortably into the upper quarter of the 40-strong field – an impressive result in a competition attracting riders from around the world.

And there is much more to Glynn’s story than simply Sunday’s result.

We are hoping to speak to Glynn about how he first became involved in penny-farthing riding, the machine he competed on, how he trained for the gruelling Beachy Head climb and what it felt like to discover he had finished tenth in a World Championship.

We also want to know something many Formby residents may now be wondering…

Does Glynn train on his penny-farthing around Formby – and have you ever spotted him?

Whatever the answer, one thing is certain.

From Formby to Beachy Head, Glynn Stockton has just taken one of Britain’s most iconic bicycles up one of Britain’s most famous climbs – and finished 10th in the world.

A fantastic achievement and one Formby can certainly be proud of.

Congratulations, Glynn!