Bob Howden has said he is “more excited than ever about where British Cycling is going” after being re-elected for a third year as president of British Cycling following the annual meeting of the federation’s governing National Council in Crewe on Saturday. 

Mr Howden – who also serves as chairman – was joined on the British Cycling board by Tony Barry and Richard Kennedy who were re-elected.

Mr Howden said: "I am honoured and delighted to be given the chance to serve for a third year as president. At the end of my second term, I feel pride for how far we have come – and more excited than ever about where we are going.

“I’m relishing the challenges and opportunities ahead in 2016 – securing a new title sponsor to succeed Sky, making more big strides in our journey to get one million more women cycling by 2020, a home world championships and of course the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

“National Council is a highlight of the year for me – not because I like meetings but because it’s the moment this wonderful sport, with all its different elements and passions, comes together. Cycling in Britain has never been in better health.

“The delegates to National Council love the sport, have played a big role its successes, and care about building for the future. The whole occasion is energising and puts us on a really positive footing going into 2016.”

Brian Cookson

UCI president Brian Cookson OBE, a former president of British Cycling, addressed the meeting as a guest.

Mr Cookson said: “I’d like to pay tribute to president Bob Howden for all the work he has done over many years to develop the sport.”

“I owe particular thanks to British Cycling for all the assistance it provided during my UCI election campaign back in 2013. Your support was, and still is, key to what we are doing at the UCI.”

National Council approved British Cycling’s accounts and annual report, and upheld reforms of the youth competition structure across all disciplines, introduced by the Board under their revision of technical regulations.

In addition, National Council requested that the Board review the engagement of British Cycling members who are not members of clubs in the organisation’s governance structure. The Gold Badge of Honour was awarded to Tom Greep of North West Region and the Sunday Mirror Trophy for membership growth was given to Welsh Cycling president Anne Adams-King.