It is with great sadness that Cycling Ireland has learned of the death of Morris (Big Mo) Foster MBE Born in Maghera, Morris moved to Randalstown at an early age and soon became interested in cycling as a result of his father’s involvement in racing.
Morris came to prominance on the Irish cycling scene in the 1960’s. winning the Bath Road 100 Mile Time Trial, in a time of 3-59-38 to become the fourth ever rider and first Irishman, to break the 4 hour barrierand on a fixed wheel bike . Throughout the decade he represented Ireland at the Olympic Games in Mexico and competed in the World Championships in Belgium and Holland and the Commonwealth Games in 1966 and 1970. Retiring from competition in 1972, he moved in to administration and has managed many Northern Ireland and Ireland teams and the Commonwealth Games cycling team from 1978, being promoted to assistant team manager for the whole Northern Ireland squad in 1998, a position he held for many years.
Upon retiring from competition Morris applied the same vigour to his role as an administrator being involved in both the Irish Cycling Tripartite Committee and the first Board of Cycling Ireland and also acting as National Team Director for a period. He was rewarded MBE from Queen Elizabeth in 2006 for a lifetime’s dedication to the sport. Morris was a Cycling Ireand Honorary Life member and Hall of Fame recipient.
On behalf of all in Cycling Ireland, we offer our sincere condolences to Morris’s wider family and friend's.
