Wolverhampton's king of commentary lost for words over sports award
It's not often Hugh Porter is lost for words.
Wolverhampton's king of the commentary box has manned the microphone for 35 years, his familiar Black Country twang calling home cyclists and speed skaters at the world's biggest events.
But the 75-year-old said he became completely tongue-tied during his recent stint as host at the British Cycling annual awards dinner.
The former cycling world champion was stopped in his tracks when he was presented with the Dave Saunders Trophy – named after the doyen of cycling journalists – recognising his services to the sport.
"It blew me away," said Porter, who was handed the award by his former BBC producer John Graham. "As a commentator I'm used to talking all the time, but on this occasion I was lost for words.
"I knew I was going to have to say something but it took me a while to get myself together. I had to dig deep. I'm quite an emotional person anyway, believe it or not. It was a very moving experience and one that I'll certainly treasure."
During the ceremony at Birmingham's Hilton Metropole, double world cycling champion and Olympic medallist Rob Hayles paid tribute to Porter's glittering career in the saddle.
Porter started racing as a junior for Wolverhampton Wheelers cycling club when he was 16, and became a regular fixture in weekly track league meetings at the Aldersley Stadium cycle track.
He rose through the ranks and won a succession of road and track racing titles.
Porter competed in the 1964 Olympics where his chances of glory were wrecked by illness, before going on to land four gold medals in as many world championships and at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Jamaica. The former St Peter's Collegiate School student, who now lives in Tettenhall, said that being honoured by British Cycling was 'a great accolade' to sit alongside the many other high points of his decorated career.
"It's a different type of feeling than competing to win a medal," Porter said. "Sporting achievement is the culmination of a lot of hard work. There's elation mixed with relief. This is a prestigious award for me to get. It is nice to be recognised for giving something to the sport I have always loved."
Porter spoke briefly after receiving his award, and paid tribute to his wife of 49 years Anita Lonsbrough, who won swimming gold for Britain at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.
Other winners at the event were Manon Carpenter, who received the Cycle Industries Golden Jubilee Trophy for most meritorious performance for her victory at the UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Championships.
Since his retirement from the saddle Porter has carved out a successful second career as a commentator.
He started out in the early 1980s and has gone on to cover cycling at every summer Olympics since 1984 and speed skating the last four Winter Olympics.
And despite being in his seventh decade the evergreen race caller has no plans to slow down just yet – his summer diary is already crammed with events he will be gracing with his Black Country twang.
