Scottish Cycling is delighted to update you on the membership of our Women’s Development Group, our national advisory and support forum supporting the development of women and girls cycling in Scotland.
Three new members have joined seven existing members, and the group is now supported by three Scottish Cycling staff members. These brilliant women bring a wealth of experience and skills, covering leisure cycling and commuting, racing, sportives, coaching, club cycling and officiating. All Scottish Cycling regions are represented, with members coming from the north, north east, east and central, west and south west regions.
The group aims to grow the number of women and girls involved, celebrate women and girls cycling, provide advice and support, co-ordinate and facilitate the delivery of women and girls cycling opportunities and create a lasting and sustainable impact. With women and girls still under-represented across the many different areas of the cycling landscape, there is plenty work to be done and we expect the group will be kept busy!
The Scottish Cycling Women's Development Group
Fiona Walker
I have been racing for 30 years - road, time-trial, cyclocross, track and cross-country mountain biking and organising races for nearly as long. I was on the Scottish Cycling board for four years, on the first ever SC Women’s Development Group and previously worked for SC as a Regional Development Officer, setting up a new WDG. I am Level 2 coach with the Level 2 Track Award, and I’ve organised and coached several women’s coaching sessions. I am also a qualified ride leader and mountain biking commissaire.
Kirsteen Durkin
Fife’s Cycling Development Officer, founding member of the Women’s Development Group. I and an experienced coach of 28 years. I deliver Fillesavelo women’s coaching, workshops and events, as well as a range of facilities, trail and unique projects in Fife. I have recently qualified as a commissaire and must finish that level 3 DSU. Coaching women is great fun! Everyone gets loads out of it and watching where people go next is really exciting.
Amy Hickman
I took up mountain biking about 15 years ago and I have dipped my toe into racing including long distance multi lap mountain bike races, the SXC series, Enduro’s and gravel events. I am also a cycle commuter and regularly ride my bike from Fife to Edinburgh. I work at Breast Cancer Now, raising awareness and advising on lifestyle changes that can reduce the risk breast cancer.
Leanne Whitehead
I am a Radiographer at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. I love spending time outdoors, my hobbies include cycling, triathlon, hill-walking and surfing. This year I gained my Mountain Bike Leader level 2 qualification and began leading on and off-road Breeze rides. I enjoy introducing beginners to cycling and seeing others build their confidence and tackling bigger obstacles or more mileage.
Kris Kumari
I was born in Africa, raised in London, spent time in Dubai and now in Scotland with my two children. I fell into the world of cycling after being persuaded to enter a three-day women’s charity cycle challenge London- Paris (2018). I participate in cycling events/sportives and volunteered as a ‘Ride Angel’ for the first Night Ride Edinburgh in 2019. I’m a registered Performance Nutritionist, a school PE coach and trained in Bikeability.
Pauline Capaldi
Based in Edinburgh I work for a private healthcare provider. I have cycled on and off for years and I am passionate about the health benefits of cycling and sharing my passion with women cyclists. I am a Breeze Champion and have led 85 Breeze rides to date (still rising) and am proud of how I believe I have played a part in inspiring women.
Leanne Farmer
I have been a PE teacher for over 20 years; teaching in England, New Zealand, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Now in Edindurgh I’ve used my passion for cycling to become a Breeze Champion, a Mountain Bike Leader (L2), a Velotech Gold mechanic, Play on Pedals instructor, volunteer at Bridgend Farm and set up my own cycle tour company called ‘A wee pedal’.
Introducing our three new members:
Katie May
Hello, I’m Katie, a little biker, runner and all round lover of the outdoors. Mountain biking has rapidly taken over my life after throwing myself, very unprepared, into the deep-end of enduro racing. I spend most races terrified and holding on for dear life but love the camaraderie, atmosphere and reward. I run Deeside MTB, a mountain bike guiding company based in Aberdeenshire, an exciting emerging destination for mountain biking. I am passionate about increasing female representation in cycling and building the female community; united through a love of bikes! Being part of the Scottish Cycling women’s development group is incredibly exciting and I can’t wait to give back!
Diane Maciver
Hi. I'm Diane. I'm a regular road and gravel cyclist and love local group rides, rides with friends and longer distance challenges. I'm passionate about helping more women discover the joy and benefits of cycling. I'm one of four local Elgin Breeze ride leaders, and a committee member of the very vibrant, active and growing Elgin Cycling Club where I help with strategy, and the planning and leading of club events and rides. In real life I'm an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, a mum, and married to a longer distance Audax rider. I love the community of cycling and the chats we all have about routes, experiences, progress, especially during the mid ride coffee stops, and the online communities we have developed since lockdown.
Ashley Armstrong
Hey, I’m Ash and for as long as I can remember I’ve loved riding bikes!
I took up BMX when I was turning 20 and now been involved with the sport for over 10 years. I have learnt a lot from my experiences through different perspectives; as a new rider, a coach, and an occasional competitor. I am pleased how female participation is constantly growing in this area of cycling but painfully aware through experience that there is still a lot of negative bias towards our participation in sports like this.
I now coach cycling to the juniors at Ythan CC and I am also involved with a local project aiming to build cycling/wheeled sports facility for the community of Ellon and surrounding areas.
The group is supported by three members of Scottish Cycling staff:
Melanie Toner
I am the Participation Programmes Manager at Scottish Cycling, managing our Breeze initiative to get more women cycling and leading on the coordination of the Women’s Development Group. I cycle to work and for fun, enjoying weekend road rides and sportive challenges. I have dipped my toes into cycle touring and racing, completing the Hebridean and Caledonian Ways, raced cyclocross and fallen in love with Zwift races.
Angie Sword
I am a Club Development Coordinator for Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Shetland. I volunteer with a local e-bike scheme and I am also a Breeze Champion. I love my bike whether it is cycling to the shops, touring, bike packing or just seeing what is around the next corner (especially if it is a coffee shop with great cake!)
Maddy Watson
I fill two roles here at Scottish Cycling; Club Development Coordinator in the South-West and Coach Education Coordinator. My main responsibilities are developing the sport through our club network and facilitating coach education courses. Personally, I’m very new to cycling with a background in long distance and hill running but I’m enjoying trying it out with a little bit of mountain biking and road riding. My passion for inclusion and women’s sport is overarching and thus I feel very lucky to be able to sit on this group.
For more information please email: melanie.toner@scottishcycling.org.uk
