Gallery: Hundreds turn out to cheer East Lancashire's Olympic heroes

5:30pm Sunday 26th August 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

Steven Burke waves to onlookers in Colne Steven Burke waves to onlookers in Colne

HUNDREDS of people lined the streets of Colne yesterday to welcome home Olympic gold medal winning cyclist Steven Burke.

Steven, part of the men’s team pursuit track cycling team who took gold in a world record time, took a tour of the town in an open top BMW, before being interviewed on the balcony of Colne Town Hall. Thunder, lightning and heavy rain threatened to disrupt the parade minutes before it was due to begin at 2pm.

But as Steven appeared with the gold medal around his neck, the storm passed and the rain abated for an hour.

Steven, 24, said: “I have been back in Colne for most of the time since the Olympics ended and it is great to be home and seeing friends and family. “We went to the Olympics as a team and for us it was gold or nothing, so to have achieved that and to be bringing the medal home is great. “It is a great chance to say thank you to everyone in my home town.”

The BMW parade was followed by around 40 cyclists from the Pendle Forest Cycling Club and youngsters from Cycle Sport Pendle. It was a day of Olympic celebrations in East Lancashire, as later in the day Ribble Valley welcomed home its medal winning heroes.

Silver medal Modern Pentathlete Sam Murray and bronze medalist Jon Schofield, from the kayak sprint event, were honoured at a civic reception at the town hall in Clitheroe in the evening. After the formalities the two stars then lead a torchlight procession through the town in front of hundreds of cheering and rain-soaked fans.

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Sam, 22, from Clitheroe, who won her silver medal in the last event of the games, said: “I’ve been receiving a grant from the council since I was 12 so it is great to be back and thanking everyone for all their support. It is a dream really, it is what all sportsmen and women hope for.”

Jon, 27, from Sawley, said: “To be able to come back to your fairly small home town and show these medals off sends out a great message, that if people believe in themselves then they can achieve their dreams as well.”

Comments (10)

8:33am Mon 27 Aug 12

BritainfortheBritish says...

I do wish people would stop using the words heroes so easily in Britain today.

He rode a bike which is what he is paid to do. Did he save a life or two in Afghanistan or done something truly heroic ?
The answer is no! He rode a bike a bit quicker than someone else . The same goes for the rest of the so called " heroes ."
I do wish people would stop using the words heroes so easily in Britain today. He rode a bike which is what he is paid to do. Did he save a life or two in Afghanistan or done something truly heroic ? The answer is no! He rode a bike a bit quicker than someone else . The same goes for the rest of the so called " heroes ." BritainfortheBritish

11:42am Mon 27 Aug 12

Chris P Bacon says...

I do wish people who know nothing about stuff would spare the world of their ignorance.

The headline refers to 'Olympic Heroes- and whether you like it or not, that's what they are. They're not seeking to be compared to soldiers and they're not paid to do it like you think they are. They don't just hop on a bike and 'ride a bit quicker than someone else' as you fantasise they do. They invest thousands of hours of selfless effort and personal sacrifices and in Steven's case, beat all the very best riders the world can send to ride against them and break the world record. Several times.

But I suppose you've achieved FAR more than this, haven't you BftB? And I wonder what your opinion will be on the limbless soldiers who win gold medals in the forthcoming Paralympics will be. Will they just happen to have ran or cycled faster than someone else and don't deserve it?
I do wish people who know nothing about stuff would spare the world of their ignorance. The headline refers to 'Olympic Heroes- and whether you like it or not, that's what they are. They're not seeking to be compared to soldiers and they're not paid to do it like you think they are. They don't just hop on a bike and 'ride a bit quicker than someone else' as you fantasise they do. They invest thousands of hours of selfless effort and personal sacrifices and in Steven's case, beat all the very best riders the world can send to ride against them and break the world record. Several times. But I suppose you've achieved FAR more than this, haven't you BftB? And I wonder what your opinion will be on the limbless soldiers who win gold medals in the forthcoming Paralympics will be. Will they just happen to have ran or cycled faster than someone else and don't deserve it? Chris P Bacon

4:33pm Mon 27 Aug 12

Izanears says...

Did anyone try to get through Colne last Saturday afternoon; it was terrible. Every street was blocked off. The police just stood about chatting. Tailbacks from the M65, North valleyand Albert Road went on for miles. All this was so a Gold winning cyclist could ride through the town. The chaos it caused was totaly out of order
Did anyone try to get through Colne last Saturday afternoon; it was terrible. Every street was blocked off. The police just stood about chatting. Tailbacks from the M65, North valleyand Albert Road went on for miles. All this was so a Gold winning cyclist could ride through the town. The chaos it caused was totaly out of order Izanears

4:38pm Mon 27 Aug 12

Chris P Bacon says...

Izanears wrote:
Did anyone try to get through Colne last Saturday afternoon; it was terrible. Every street was blocked off. The police just stood about chatting. Tailbacks from the M65, North valleyand Albert Road went on for miles. All this was so a Gold winning cyclist could ride through the town. The chaos it caused was totaly out of order
I did and it was fine. The traffic delays were mainly due to the Blues Festival, or had you forgotten that was on? 'Every street' was not blocked off and the whole Steven Burke thing took less than 15 minutes. There was no 'chaos' unless your interpretation of chaos is completely different to most people's.

What I'm getting is that you're a curmudgeonly auld gimmer frustrated at a temporary holdup and determined to find a scapegoat for it.
[quote][p][bold]Izanears[/bold] wrote: Did anyone try to get through Colne last Saturday afternoon; it was terrible. Every street was blocked off. The police just stood about chatting. Tailbacks from the M65, North valleyand Albert Road went on for miles. All this was so a Gold winning cyclist could ride through the town. The chaos it caused was totaly out of order[/p][/quote]I did and it was fine. The traffic delays were mainly due to the Blues Festival, or had you forgotten that was on? 'Every street' was not blocked off and the whole Steven Burke thing took less than 15 minutes. There was no 'chaos' unless your interpretation of chaos is completely different to most people's. What I'm getting is that you're a curmudgeonly auld gimmer frustrated at a temporary holdup and determined to find a scapegoat for it. Chris P Bacon

5:14pm Mon 27 Aug 12

Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...

BritainfortheBritish wrote:
I do wish people would stop using the words heroes so easily in Britain today.

He rode a bike which is what he is paid to do. Did he save a life or two in Afghanistan or done something truly heroic ?
The answer is no! He rode a bike a bit quicker than someone else . The same goes for the rest of the so called " heroes ."
You Win this weeks Richard Head Award!
[quote][p][bold]BritainfortheBritish[/bold] wrote: I do wish people would stop using the words heroes so easily in Britain today. He rode a bike which is what he is paid to do. Did he save a life or two in Afghanistan or done something truly heroic ? The answer is no! He rode a bike a bit quicker than someone else . The same goes for the rest of the so called " heroes ."[/p][/quote]You Win this weeks Richard Head Award! Michael@ClitheroeSince58

6:51pm Mon 27 Aug 12

Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...

Michael@ClitheroeSin
ce58 wrote:
BritainfortheBritish wrote:
I do wish people would stop using the words heroes so easily in Britain today.

He rode a bike which is what he is paid to do. Did he save a life or two in Afghanistan or done something truly heroic ?
The answer is no! He rode a bike a bit quicker than someone else . The same goes for the rest of the so called " heroes ."
You Win this weeks Richard Head Award!
Please see the Clitheroe Olympic Heroes Story for how to claim your prize.
[quote][p][bold]Michael@ClitheroeSin ce58[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]BritainfortheBritish[/bold] wrote: I do wish people would stop using the words heroes so easily in Britain today. He rode a bike which is what he is paid to do. Did he save a life or two in Afghanistan or done something truly heroic ? The answer is no! He rode a bike a bit quicker than someone else . The same goes for the rest of the so called " heroes ."[/p][/quote]You Win this weeks Richard Head Award![/p][/quote]Please see the Clitheroe Olympic Heroes Story for how to claim your prize. Michael@ClitheroeSince58

6:24pm Wed 29 Aug 12

BritainfortheBritish says...

Michael@ClitheroeSin
ce58 wrote:
BritainfortheBritish wrote:
I do wish people would stop using the words heroes so easily in Britain today.

He rode a bike which is what he is paid to do. Did he save a life or two in Afghanistan or done something truly heroic ?
The answer is no! He rode a bike a bit quicker than someone else . The same goes for the rest of the so called " heroes ."
You Win this weeks Richard Head Award!
Thanks but i really do not know how when your entry is so much better .
Someone that thinks winning a bike race is heroic !!!!
Best get back on your antipsychotics no brain .
[quote][p][bold]Michael@ClitheroeSin ce58[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]BritainfortheBritish[/bold] wrote: I do wish people would stop using the words heroes so easily in Britain today. He rode a bike which is what he is paid to do. Did he save a life or two in Afghanistan or done something truly heroic ? The answer is no! He rode a bike a bit quicker than someone else . The same goes for the rest of the so called " heroes ."[/p][/quote]You Win this weeks Richard Head Award![/p][/quote]Thanks but i really do not know how when your entry is so much better . Someone that thinks winning a bike race is heroic !!!! Best get back on your antipsychotics no brain . BritainfortheBritish

6:28pm Wed 29 Aug 12

BritainfortheBritish says...

Chris P Bacon wrote:
I do wish people who know nothing about stuff would spare the world of their ignorance.

The headline refers to 'Olympic Heroes- and whether you like it or not, that's what they are. They're not seeking to be compared to soldiers and they're not paid to do it like you think they are. They don't just hop on a bike and 'ride a bit quicker than someone else' as you fantasise they do. They invest thousands of hours of selfless effort and personal sacrifices and in Steven's case, beat all the very best riders the world can send to ride against them and break the world record. Several times.

But I suppose you've achieved FAR more than this, haven't you BftB? And I wonder what your opinion will be on the limbless soldiers who win gold medals in the forthcoming Paralympics will be. Will they just happen to have ran or cycled faster than someone else and don't deserve it?
I do not care whether it says olympic or not ! It is a misuse of the word .
As for the soldiers in the para olympics . I feel sorry for them . But ! it does not take a hero to step on a mine.
And if we had never have gone in countries we should not have done our teams would have been much shorter in number i would be pleased to say .
Am i a hero ? No but i am not proclaiming to be and no one is calling me one either .That is the difference . !
[quote][p][bold]Chris P Bacon[/bold] wrote: I do wish people who know nothing about stuff would spare the world of their ignorance. The headline refers to 'Olympic Heroes- and whether you like it or not, that's what they are. They're not seeking to be compared to soldiers and they're not paid to do it like you think they are. They don't just hop on a bike and 'ride a bit quicker than someone else' as you fantasise they do. They invest thousands of hours of selfless effort and personal sacrifices and in Steven's case, beat all the very best riders the world can send to ride against them and break the world record. Several times. But I suppose you've achieved FAR more than this, haven't you BftB? And I wonder what your opinion will be on the limbless soldiers who win gold medals in the forthcoming Paralympics will be. Will they just happen to have ran or cycled faster than someone else and don't deserve it?[/p][/quote]I do not care whether it says olympic or not ! It is a misuse of the word . As for the soldiers in the para olympics . I feel sorry for them . But ! it does not take a hero to step on a mine. And if we had never have gone in countries we should not have done our teams would have been much shorter in number i would be pleased to say . Am i a hero ? No but i am not proclaiming to be and no one is calling me one either .That is the difference . ! BritainfortheBritish

6:37pm Wed 5 Sep 12

dom jolly says...

Chris P Bacon wrote:
I do wish people who know nothing about stuff would spare the world of their ignorance.

The headline refers to 'Olympic Heroes- and whether you like it or not, that's what they are. They're not seeking to be compared to soldiers and they're not paid to do it like you think they are. They don't just hop on a bike and 'ride a bit quicker than someone else' as you fantasise they do. They invest thousands of hours of selfless effort and personal sacrifices and in Steven's case, beat all the very best riders the world can send to ride against them and break the world record. Several times.

But I suppose you've achieved FAR more than this, haven't you BftB? And I wonder what your opinion will be on the limbless soldiers who win gold medals in the forthcoming Paralympics will be. Will they just happen to have ran or cycled faster than someone else and don't deserve it?
I suppose you swallowed the BBC's hype over the olympics too?

Did you miss the story on your 'hero's' bleated about missing out in the honour's list?

I can only guess you worship these 'hero's' and support them in, let's say ......... avoiding taxes?

Here's a question for you? where's the high level of coverage for the Paraolympics? these people deserve it more than the 'true hero's' of Britain
[quote][p][bold]Chris P Bacon[/bold] wrote: I do wish people who know nothing about stuff would spare the world of their ignorance. The headline refers to 'Olympic Heroes- and whether you like it or not, that's what they are. They're not seeking to be compared to soldiers and they're not paid to do it like you think they are. They don't just hop on a bike and 'ride a bit quicker than someone else' as you fantasise they do. They invest thousands of hours of selfless effort and personal sacrifices and in Steven's case, beat all the very best riders the world can send to ride against them and break the world record. Several times. But I suppose you've achieved FAR more than this, haven't you BftB? And I wonder what your opinion will be on the limbless soldiers who win gold medals in the forthcoming Paralympics will be. Will they just happen to have ran or cycled faster than someone else and don't deserve it?[/p][/quote]I suppose you swallowed the BBC's hype over the olympics too? Did you miss the story on your 'hero's' bleated about missing out in the honour's list? I can only guess you worship these 'hero's' and support them in, let's say ......... avoiding taxes? Here's a question for you? where's the high level of coverage for the Paraolympics? these people deserve it more than the 'true hero's' of Britain dom jolly

6:48pm Wed 5 Sep 12

dom jolly says...

dom jolly wrote:
Chris P Bacon wrote:
I do wish people who know nothing about stuff would spare the world of their ignorance.

The headline refers to 'Olympic Heroes- and whether you like it or not, that's what they are. They're not seeking to be compared to soldiers and they're not paid to do it like you think they are. They don't just hop on a bike and 'ride a bit quicker than someone else' as you fantasise they do. They invest thousands of hours of selfless effort and personal sacrifices and in Steven's case, beat all the very best riders the world can send to ride against them and break the world record. Several times.

But I suppose you've achieved FAR more than this, haven't you BftB? And I wonder what your opinion will be on the limbless soldiers who win gold medals in the forthcoming Paralympics will be. Will they just happen to have ran or cycled faster than someone else and don't deserve it?
I suppose you swallowed the BBC's hype over the olympics too?

Did you miss the story on your 'hero's' bleated about missing out in the honour's list?

I can only guess you worship these 'hero's' and support them in, let's say ......... avoiding taxes?

Here's a question for you? where's the high level of coverage for the Paraolympics? these people deserve it more than the 'true hero's' of Britain
On a spell of personal reflection involving a strange technique using a bush to whack myself......... i do mean they are 'heroes'
[quote][p][bold]dom jolly[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Chris P Bacon[/bold] wrote: I do wish people who know nothing about stuff would spare the world of their ignorance. The headline refers to 'Olympic Heroes- and whether you like it or not, that's what they are. They're not seeking to be compared to soldiers and they're not paid to do it like you think they are. They don't just hop on a bike and 'ride a bit quicker than someone else' as you fantasise they do. They invest thousands of hours of selfless effort and personal sacrifices and in Steven's case, beat all the very best riders the world can send to ride against them and break the world record. Several times. But I suppose you've achieved FAR more than this, haven't you BftB? And I wonder what your opinion will be on the limbless soldiers who win gold medals in the forthcoming Paralympics will be. Will they just happen to have ran or cycled faster than someone else and don't deserve it?[/p][/quote]I suppose you swallowed the BBC's hype over the olympics too? Did you miss the story on your 'hero's' bleated about missing out in the honour's list? I can only guess you worship these 'hero's' and support them in, let's say ......... avoiding taxes? Here's a question for you? where's the high level of coverage for the Paraolympics? these people deserve it more than the 'true hero's' of Britain[/p][/quote]On a spell of personal reflection involving a strange technique using a bush to whack myself......... i do mean they are 'heroes' dom jolly

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