Steeton-based Sid Barras is among 50 cycling heroes who have been selected for induction into British Cycling’s new Hall of Fame as part of the organisation’s 50-year anniversary celebrations.

The sprint legend, who was national champion three times during an 18-year professional career, was picked from a list of more than 300 nominations.

Bingley’s John Rawnsley – organiser of the Three Peaks cyclo-cross race who has competed in every event since it started in 1961 – was also selected, along with Wibsey’s Yvonne McGregor, who won British, Common-wealth and World titles.

The local trio will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame at British Cycling’s Gala Dinner at Manchester Central on February 20.

Middlesbrough-born Barras was one of Britain’s foremost racing cyclists during the 1970s and 1980s, clocking up 380 wins. He won the 1973 Tour of Switzerland and a stage on the Tour of Majorca.

Barras, aged 61, has gone on to manage within the sport but has remained competitive in the saddle, winning the national over-50 championship in 2008.

His son Tom is also a successful cyclist and defended his Bermuda Grand Prix title earlier this year.

The Hall of Fame selection panel, consisting of cycling journalists and British Cycling representatives, decided to focus on past cycling achievements rather than contemporary successes and to make the first Hall of Fame a tribute to the past five decades.

Panel member Victoria Pendleton, who won gold in the Beijing Olympics, said: “We made a conscious decision not to select elite riders who are still competing at an international level or coaches and managers at the top of their game.

“We also agreed we should recognise administrators and volunteers who have been active in the sport over many years and have made a significant contribution to it during that time.”

British Cycling president Brian Cookson added: “With such a fantastic number of nominations this year we have decided to make the Hall of Fame an annual event to enable us to recognise more recent and current cycling successes.”

British Cycling Hall of Fame: Pat Adams, Caroline Alexander, Brian Annable, David Baker, Sid Barras, Stuart Benstead, Chris Boardman MBE, Bill Bradley, Beryl Burton, Keith Butler, Arthur Campbell, Brian Cossavella, Doug Dailey, Tony Doyle, Ian Emmerson, Malcolm Elliott, Benny Foster, Tim Gould, Eileen Gray, Dave Hemsley, Barry Hoban, Dale Holmes, Mandy Jones, Peter Keen, Peter King, Stan Kite, Phil Liggett, Craig MacLean, Paul Manning, John & Doreen Mallinson, Yvonne McGregor, Gerry McDaid, Jason McRoy, Chas Messenger, George Miller, Robert Millar, Graeme Obree, Hugh Porter MBE, Jason Queally, John Rawnsley, Brian Robinson, Alan Rushton, Tom Simpson, Eddie Soens, Colin Sturgess, Dot Tilbury, Graham Webb, Les West, Sean Yates, Tony Yorke.