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Talking to the Hall of Fame's Dot Tilbury MBE

Story posted July 27,2010; by Belinda Sinclair | Related: Youth Championships Report

One of the people keenly watching the racing at Redbridge yesterday was Dot Tilbury, MBE. She was there with a youth team from the Isle of Man, Team Royal London 360 and when eventually tracked down, had one eye on the TV coverage of the Tour de France and in particular, the fastest Manxman around, Mark Cavendish.

Dot with the Isle of Man's newest champion, Owen Dudley.

"Well, he might have grown up, but he's still one of our boys!" Dot says. "He's such a great model for all the young riders here today because he's out there doing it with the best there are, but it wasn't that long ago that he was riding in youth championships like these. What better inspiration can there be for every rider here today?"

Recently inducted into the British Cycling Hall of Fame for her work in cycling, Dot maintains that her involvement only really started by accident. "I bought a bike to keep fit - that was the only reason and my husband told me to buy a bike with droppies, which I wasn't too keen on, but I did, and once I got used to the riding position, it wasn't too bad."

"A friend and I used to ride around the Island (Isle of Man) and we got hooked. We started doing tens and a few handicaps and then we got involved with clubs. It just sort of happened and here I am years later, left holding the baby! Not that I mind of course - I love it, and my house has turned into a sort of cyclist's open house as a result".

That was back in 1992 when Dot began organising children's rides.

Each week, 200 to nearly 400 young riders turn up to have a race on the Isle of Man, numbers which are unprecedented in Britain and perhaps around the world. Reports and results can be found here on the British Cycling website.

"There wasn't a lot organised for kids then, so we thought we'd  sort it out. We used to run sessions and play cycle games with them. Often we'd have to join in because there weren't enough kids, but very quickly more and more children came along and that was the beginning of something that is still very strong today."

"I think that's partly due to the island culture. It's very inclusive because we're contained and communities are linked. Word gets around very quickly but also we taught the kids to be organised right from the start. So if one week, the parents couldn't come with their child, the child still knew what to do when they got there so there was no time wasting or messing around and we all got riding."

Photo slideshow from the 2010 Youth Circuit Race Championships

This belt and braces approach has had a hug effect on the attitude to cycling on the Isle of Man. "It's now huge on the Island and the kids not only get involved from an early age, but they also get involved at all levels. It's become ingrained in family life and a whole social life has grown up with it, which involves the parents as well as the kids."

"But we also have the bike shop and cafe culture too and  that's where the kids tend to hang out when they're not riding - not street corners or parks. Some of that is of course due to the Cav effect and when he or Jonny (Bellis) or Peter (Kennaugh) are back on the Isle of Man, they go to the same places and the kids get to ride with them."

And this shows when it comes down to races and events. "At one time, when we first started organising the races, we'd have a small field and we could never get enough help from parents, let alone get marshals to come to the island. Now everybody wants to be involved and people come from all over, which means we can cater for the huge demand. The mountain bike race we hold every  year in September has a regular sign on of fifteen hundred, and that is massive. And championships like this today too - we have kids wanting to ride and do well and that itself breeds success and encourages others. Young Owen (Dudley) won his first National jersey today so we must be doing something right!"

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Report: 2010 Youth Circuit Championships

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