Back in April, we launched our Sportive Bloggers competition, in a quest to find three bloggers from a range of backgrounds and with differing levels of experience, who could blog their sportive season and share their experiences on www.britishcycling.org.uk.
We had a great response from our members, with male and female bloggers of all ages providing some very entertaining entries, some of which have been published on the website. It also provided a tough task for our judging panel, which had to pick just three entrants to continue blogging for us through the season. Every blog we received was worthy of publication in its own right but there could be only three...
So without further ado, let us reveal the identities of our winners!
Winner #1
Name: Chris Walker
Gender: Male
Age: 62
Location: Bedfordshire
Experience: Intermediate/Advanced
Chris is one of our sportive profilers and by his own admission represents “the later middle-aged sportive enthusiast”! Chris is a veteran of L’Etape and La Marmotte and has completed a host of UK sportives. Chris’ writing and experience impressed us greatly and we’re looking forward to hearing about his 2012 exploits.
Read Chris’ winning blog entry
Winner #2
Name: Lorna Johnston
Gender: Female
Age: 30
Location: Ayrshire
Experience: Begineer
Lorna is new to sportives and describes herself as ‘passionate about participation and sharing my experience with others.’ For someone who describes herself as a beginner, Lorna is taking on some serious rides this year, with the epic and infamous Bealach Mor sportive on her radar along with the new closed roads Etape Pennines later in the year. We think that Lorna’s beginner outlook, lively prose and ambitious calendar will provide some very entertaining reading as the season progresses.
Read Lorna’s winning blog entry
Winner #3
Name: Gavin Hughes
Gender: Male
Age: 44
Location: Surrey
Experience: Beginner
Gavin’s story is an inspirational and engaging one, getting a bike a few years ago through the government’s Cycle to Work scheme, putting in a stonking 150 miles commuting to work into London and dropping a whopping three stone in the process. An unhealthy interest in Lycra, chainsets and sportive calendars followed, resulting in Gavin tackling l’Etape du Tour among other UK sportives this year. Gavin’s lively, enthusiastic writing, together with his amazing back story makes us think his blogging will provide real inspiration for others who are sitting at their desks or behind the wheel of their cars, thinking, “I could never ride a Tour de France stage”. We’re sure that Gavin will convince them that they can. As Gavin said on his application, “Cycling saved my life.”
Read Gavin’s winning blog entry
What happens next?
Now that our bloggers have been selected, they will be supplied with a camera and let loose on their first assignments. We’re also planning to get them together at British Cycling HQ in Manchester so they can meet our team and take a tour of the Velodrome and BMX Arena – an exciting prospect I’m sure you’ll agree!
Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter our competition and remember, let us know how your sportive season is panning out by engaging with our Facebook and Twitter channels.
