Welsh Cycling confirms a panel of five judges for the 2016 Welsh Cycling Awards, taking place on Saturday 29 October.
The 2016 panel brings together a wealth of experience from the world of cycling and sport. The judging panel will review the nominations in September, with the shortlist being announced by Welsh Cycling on Wednesday 14 September and overall winners awarded on Saturday 29 October at the Mercure Holland House Hotel, Cardiff.
Nominations are open until Friday 2 September, and tickets are on sale now.
Meet the panel
Mark Adams
British Cycling
Mark joined British Cycling in 1994, working as a Development Officer. He was part of the team behind the indoor track at Calshot Activities Centre, and the development of an early track and off road cycling qualification.
Mark then joined Welsh Cycling in 1996 as National Development Officer, working with youth and junior riders and supporting the development of the Wales National Velodrome. Following this, Mark joined the British Cycling World Class Department to develop the Talent Team and managed the South and South West programme.
In 2006, Mark returned to the Development Department within British Cycling managing the South and South West Region. He is also a Coach Educator and lead coach for a junior development racing team.
Ann Bevan
Sport Wales
A former teacher, Ann Bevan has worked at Sport Wales for the past ten years, and has been in her role as a High Performance Advisor since 2011.
Working with performance directors and coaches from the ten identified elite sports, including cycling, Ann ensures that successful performance plans are put in place that will ultimately deliver medals for Wales at Commonwealth Games.
Chris Sidwells
Cycling Journalist
Chris is a freelance journalist who specialises in cycling. Chris is a regular contributor to Cycling Weekly, and also writes for Cycle Sport, Cycling Active and many more publications.
Chris has covered numerous cycle races over the years, including the Tour de France and the Olympic Games.
As well as contributing to magazines, Chris has written 15 books, including a number of best-sellers, on everything from cycle maintenance to biographies and is currently working on three more titles. During 2015-2016 Chris also edited a series of bookazines for Time Inc called Cycling Legends.
Gordon Thornton
The Thornton Family
Gordon Thornton is the brother of Colin Thornton, whom our award for Welsh Junior Performance is named after and supported by the Thornton family.
Both Gordon and his brother Colin were members of Newport Phoenix and raced across the UK. Colin represented Wales in three Commonwealth Games, showing determination and a positive attitude throughout his career. Colin passed away in 2011, and the Thornton family now recognise the achievements of junior cyclists through the Colin Thornton Award for Welsh Junior Performance.
Gordon joins the panel as the Thornton family representative.
Andrew Weeks
Sport Wales
Andrew is Communications Director for Sport Wales, with a view to helping the organisation better showcase Welsh successes at a national and international level as well as engage more in the story of sport at a grassroots and community level.
Previously, Andrew was Managing Editor at BBC Wales Sport, Andrew Weeks has over 12 years media experience which includes working with BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, BBC 5 Live BBC Get Inspired, BBC Scrum V, Clwb Rygbi and BBC online. He also project managed BBC Wales' coverage of the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics, the 2009 Ashes, 2010 Ryder Cup and 2006 & 2010 Commonwealth Games.
