British Cycling celebrated an extraordinary year at the Annual Awards on Saturday 9th February.
Supported by legal partner Leigh Day, the event was an opportunity to recognise domestic achievement in competition and support of the sport, within the context of an historic year for cycling in Britain.
The 2012 award winners received their prizes during a special afternoon session, before re-convening for an evening dedicated to celebrating the domestic racing season and, in particular, the contribution of volunteers and event officials to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
British Cycling President, Brian Cookson OBE, opened the evening’s proceedings with an address in which he paid tribute to the work done by volunteers after looking back on 12 months in which Britain produced its first Tour de France winner and cycling again set the standard for British sport at the Olympics and Paralympics.
He said: “The likes of Sir Bradley Wiggins, Sir Chris Hoy, Dame Sarah Storey as well as the prize winners here today have earned all of their success but they have been helped on their way by people in this room and beyond.
“Recently, we have seen the reputation of international cycling traduced by people who put their own gain first.
“Tonight, I thank the people who do the opposite, who give up their time for the sport we continue love.”
The focus then switched to the work of the many Olympic and Paralympic officials cycling in Britain supplied to London 2012.
Highlights packages, interviews and a stage visit by Julia Gilbert culminated in Simon Lillistone, cycling competition manager at London 2012, receiving the David Saunders Memorial Trophy for services to the sport.
The second segment of the evening was a domestic racing review with stage visits by leading riders, who were interviewed by MC Hugh Porter MBE.
The final action of the evening centred on the awarding of British Cycling Badges of Honour to Great Britain Cycling Team logistics and coaching stalwart, Doug Dailey MBE, and Three Peaks organiser and long-time cyclo-cross advocate, John Rawnsley.
