Dave Rayner (cyclist)

David John Rayner (born 4 March 1967, Shipley, West Riding of Yorkshire[1][2] - 16 November 1994, Yorkshire) was an English professional racing cyclist who died aged 27 after an incident outside the Maestro nightclub, in Manningham Lane, Bradford. He was put on a life support machine at Bradford Royal Infirmary but died the next day.[3]

Dave Rayner
Personal information
Full nameDavid John Rayner
Born(1967-03-04)4 March 1967
Shipley, England, United Kingdom
Died16 November 1994(1994-11-16) (aged 27)
Team information
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Amateur teams
1979–1983East Bradford CC
1984Bradford Wheelers - Ellis Briggs - Saturne
1984–1986G.S.Porcari-Fanini-Berti
Professional teams
1987Internet-Yugo
1988–1989Raleigh-Banana
1990Banana-Falcon
1991–1992Buckler
1993I.M.E.-Health Share
1994Lex-Townsend

Cycling career

Rayner joined his first club, East Bradford CC, at 12 in 1979. He then joined the Bradford Wheelers - Ellis Briggs - Saturne in 1984, and won the national junior road race championships at Stoke on Trent. Early in 1984, he moved to Italy, joining the G.S.Porcari-Fanini-Berti Team, with which he stayed until 1986.[2]

Rayner competed in the junior world championship in 1985.

After winning the under-22 award in the Milk Race in 1987, he turned professional for Interent-Yugo in Britain. In 1988 he joined Raleigh-Banana, won the under-22 award again in the Milk Race, and came eighth overall. Next year he won the under-22 award for a record third year running. He joined Banana-Falcon in 1990 and in won the Scottish Provident Criterium Series .[2]

Rayner moved to the Netherlands in 1991 to ride for Buckler under former world champion Jan Raas. He joined I.M.E.-Health Share in 1993, moving to the United States. He returned to Britain in 1994 after an unsuccessful year and joined Lex-Townsend, coming second in the national criterium championships in Milford Haven.[2]

Death

Rayner was killed following an altercation with a bouncer, Steven Barry Johnson, at a nightclub in Bradford, in November 1994. Johnson was charged with manslaughter but, when the case came to court on 18 November 1995, the judge decided that there was not enough evidence to charge him with manslaughter and, having already pleaded guilty to a charge of common assault, Johnson was instead put on probation and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service.[4]

Memorial fund

The Dave Rayner Fund was set up in his memory on 12 January 1995,[5] to help riders make a career from racing on the continent. A plaque and seat in his memory were unveiled at Gargrave, North Yorkshire on 9 July the same year. The first Rayners Ride around the Yorkshire Dales was held on 10 September and the first Dave Rayner dinner was held at Norfolk Gardens, Bradford on 4 November. Guests at the dinner were the comedian Tony Capstick, journalist John Morgan and Keith Audas. This dinner has become an annual event with guests such as Miguel Indurain, Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish, and Eddy Merckx attending.

David Millar became the first beneficiary of the fund. He went on to turn professional with Cofidis.[5][6] More recent beneficiaries who have joined the professional peloton include Adam Yates and Dan McLay.[7]

Palmarès
1985
14th Junior World Road Race Championships
5th Junior World Team Time Trial Championships, Stuttgart
1987
1st Under 22 award, Milk Race
1988
8th Overall, Milk Race
1st Under 22 award, Milk Race
1989
8th Overall, Milk Race
1st Under 22 award, Milk Race
1990
1st Scottish Provident Criterium Series
1991
57th Overall, Vuelta a España
1994
2nd British National Circuit Race Championships

References
  1. England & Wales death register index, David John Rayner, Birth Date: 4 March 1967 Death Registration: Dec 1994, Registration district: Bradford, Register number: D54A, Entry Number: 49
  2. "Dave's Story". Dave Rayner Fund.
  3. Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 9 November 2000
  4. "Rayner Family Shocked At Verdict". 22 December 1995. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  5. "A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DAVE RAYNER FUND". Dave Rayner Fund.
  6. "Cyclist David's tour de force for charity". Telegraph & Argus (Bradford & District). 12 July 2001. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012.
  7. John, Timothy (10 November 2014). "David Millar: next generation of British pros will surpass my achievements". Rouleur. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
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