London 1908 Olympic Games gold prize winner's medal for the 100 kilometres cycling event won by Great Britain's Charles Bartlett, designed by Bertram

London 1908 Olympic Games gold prize winner's medal for the 100 kilometres cycling event won by Great Britain's Charles Bartlett, designed by Bertram Mackennal, manufactured by Vaughton of Birmingham in hallmarked gold, two young maidens are crowning a winning athlete, the reverse with St George slaying the dragon, the rim inscribed 100 KILOMETRES. WON BY C.H. BARTLETT. WORLD RECORD, PRINCE OF WALES CUP Charles Henry Bartlett was born in Southwark, London, 6th February 1885. He was affiliated to Polytechnic Cycling Club in London when he won the 100km track race at the White City during the London 1908 Olympic Games. A remarkable achievement not only because he was the youngest competitor in the race, aged 23. As the cyclists set off it was raining very heavily which left parts of the track under water. The weather began to clear after 30 minutes or so but the track remained in a hazardous state and there were many falls and also punctures. One significant retirement from the race was the reigning 100km world champion, Britain's Leon Meredith. The eventual winner Bartlett himself suffered a fall with 30km to go and by the time the judges allowed him to remount with a new machine he was nearly a lap behind the leaders. He somehow found reserves of energy to chase down the field and then maintain a full sprint in the last mile to claim a memorable victory by two lengths from fellow Brit Charles Denny, with Octave Lapize of France claiming bronze. Bartlett's brave and determined performance lasted long in the memory of all who were there. Charles Bartlett took up cycling at the age of 16 in 1901 with the Prince Alfred CC and won several club championship titles before moving to Polytechnic. Away from the Games, he won the NCU 50 miles tandem-paced title in 1908 and again in 1909 and broke several tandem-paced and motor-paced records. After his retirement, Bartlett built up a successful packing business but maintained an active interest in cycling and served as President of the Pickwick BC, England's premier bicycling club. He died in Enfield aged 83 30th November 1968.