PHOTOS BY LARRY HICKMOTT
British Cycling Awards Dinner, 2008
Story posted 17 February 2008
Photos by Larry Hickmott & Eve Wernham
Left: Brian Cookson was busy on the night, giving the opening speech and then posing for photos with award winners. Right, Penny Knight (Leigh Day & Co Solicitors) was kept equally busy presenting awards.
The 2008 British Cycling awards dinner was held at the Reebok Stadium near Bolton. Guests included UCI President Pat McQuaid and during the night nearly 100 awards were presented to cyclists and volunteers from around Britain. The evening, supported by Leigh Day & Co Solicitors who help members all year round with their legal services, began with a welcome message from British Cycling President, Mr Brian Cookson OBE. Brian said:
"This is the night when we can all relax and celebrate the successes of our 2007 national champions and national series winners" the hard working figure head for British Cycling said. "It is a night when we recognise the clubs, coaches, officials and volunteers who make the sport we all love a reality."
"We hear a lot about the challenges faced by sport today, but I feel both confident and proud to say that, thanks to our hard-working volunteers who collaborate so effectively with our professional staff on our race official, coaching, club development and volunteer programmes, the basis of our sport is healthier than it has ever been. We can never take this for granted, so tonight we also say thank you to some of those people who have contributed so much."
Six Disciplines Of Winners
During the night, prize winners in national competitions from all six disciplines: BMX, Cycle Speedway, Cyclo-Cross, Mountain Biking, Road and Track Racing, were presented with awards of all shapes and sizes and in some cases, some so big the winners had trouble carrying them away!
A huge stack of trophies and other awards awaits!
Bidlake Plaque for Peter King
One of the most significant moments of the night came when British Cycling's Peter King was presented with the The Bidlake Plaque For Services to Cycling. After being roundly applauded for the work he has done for cycling, Peter then came on stage to receive the trophy and then promptly returned the favour by dedicating the award to everyone in the sport, from the British Cycling members to the staff at British Cycling for making the sport the success it is today. A standing ovation followed -- not for Peter -- but for the sport itself -- the riders, volunteers and people who work passionately to make it the success it is these days.
Left: British Cycling's Peter King gives a speech after being given the Bidlake Plaque for Services to Cycling. Right: Pat McQuaid presents an award to Lizzie Armitstead.
Guest of Honour, Pat McQuaid
Another key moment of the evening was an interview by BBC's Hugh Porter with Pat McQuaid, president of the UCI, the World governing body of the sport. Pat was there to present prizes to the award winners in the final presentations of the evening but he also took the time to give a frank and honest appraisal of the challenges the UCI face this year, especially on the Roads of Europe and the organisers looking to take control away from the UCI.
Volunteers - The Lifeblood of the Sport
The Volunteer awards have become an integral and much appreciated part of the evening. It's the sport's chance to thank the numerous people who selflessly give up their time in a wide range of roles to ensure that the sport happens. British Cycling's Rob Jefferies co-ordinates the volunteer awards and he has put together five compilations, each dedicated to a branch of volunteering, and each outlining some of the reasons why people have been nominated for awards. It's a fascinating insight into the world of volunteering:
Event Officials | Commissions | Club Officials | Young People | Coaches
Away from the stage, Award winners were photographed with VIPS from the world of cycling. Left, John McClelland with the prestigious Leon Meredith Trophy and Brian Cookson. Right, Double World Junior champion Christian Lyte with just one of his many trophies and Barry Broadbent.
Recycling.co.uk boss and British Cycling board member Charlie Jackson with a young winner and right, British champion Nikki Harris and Brian Cookson.
It was a wonderful evening and social occasion to put a great seal on the achievements in 2007. Congratulations to all the award winners.