Welsh trio Ciara Horne, Amy Roberts and Elinor Barker along with Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas were honoured at the 2015 USN Welsh Cycling Awards in Cardiff on Saturday where Wales celebrated another successful year of cycling.
Ciara Horne, Amy Roberts and Elinor Barker were awarded Outstanding Performance of the Year sponsored by Cardiff Metropolitan University for their team pursuit gold medal success at the 2014/2015 UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Guadalajara alongside Laura Trott. With three of the four riders in the medal winning ride Welsh athletes representing Great Britain. Ciara and Amy collected their award, as Elinor was unable to attend the event. Runner up Scott Davies also received recognition for his performance in the 2015 British Cycling Under 23 National Time Trial Championships.
Ciara said: “We didn’t expect to win this at all. It was really good to be able to ride together in Guadalajara and to come back with a gold medal. It’s great to be recognised by Welsh Cycling and the support over the years to get us to this level has been amazing, from both British Cycling and Welsh Cycling.”
Geraint Thomas won Elite Cyclist of the Year sponsored by SD Sealants, after yet another successful year that saw him win E3 Harelbeke, podium at Gent-Wevelgem and part of the team that saw Chris Froome win his second Tour de France.
The Lifetime Contribution to Cycling in Wales was awarded to John Lloyd MBE of Builth Wells, for his years of commitment to developing and supporting mountain biking in Wales. From his early involvement in the sport leading rides and encouraging young people to get involved John has influenced hundreds of people to take up cycling. His organisation of mountain bike events in Wales has also attracted thousands of people to the country and put Wales on the map as a mountain bike destination.
Anne Adams-King, Chief Executive Officer at Welsh Cycling said: “The cycling community in Wales is kept alive by volunteers who dedicate their time and efforts to creating opportunities for more people to enjoy cycling. We are privileged in Wales to have such a vibrant group of people supporting cycling, and to have a number of cyclists achieving at an international level who can inspire more people to get involved.
To see everyone come together and celebrate successes is fantastic, and with Rio 2016 approaching fast I look forward to working with more clubs, coaches and volunteers over the next 12 months to get more people cycling.”
Race Organiser of the Year was awarded to Abergavenny Road Club for the British Cycling National Cyclo Cross Championships held earlier this year. Maindy Flyers Youth Cycling Club were recognised for the British National Youth Circuit Series Round five held over the weekend of the 2014 Velothon Wales in Cardiff, as well Richard Hopkins and his team for the NFTO Junior Tour of Wales, now entering its 36th year on the calendar.
Club Cyclist of the Year, sponsored by Tredz Bikes, was awarded to Paul Rees, Bynea Cycling Club in Llanelli. As well as being a member of the club and enjoying cycling Paul gives back to the cycling community through volunteering at events, supporting club activities in his role as chairman and as a CSAS marshal.
Paul said: “It means a lot to be recognised for my work, but I do it because I just love cycling. I love the social side, meeting new people and just enjoying the sport. I believe if everyone does a little, then we can achieve a lot.”
Runners up Shan Gwenfron Jones, Clwb Beicio Dwyfor and Andrew Duggan, Caerphilly CC were also recognised for their contributions to cycling and their clubs.
The Colin Thornton Memorial Award for Welsh Junior Performance, awarded in memory of the Commonwealth cyclist, was given to Ffion James, Abergavenny Road who has been successful in mountain bike cross country and cyclo cross over the last year winning national titles and finishing 13th in the UCI World Mountain Bike XC Championships with Great Britain. Peter Kibble and Joe Holt were runners up in the category.
Abergavenny Road Club won Club of the Year, sponsored by Kilsby and Williams, for the third year in a row with The Bike Doctor, Newport Cycle Speedway Club and West Wales Cycle Racing Team runners up in the category. With over 140 clubs affiliated to Welsh Cycling the category increases in competitiveness each year, and demonstrates the continued growth in the popularity of cycling in Wales.
Go Ride Club of the Year recognised the work of our 38 Go Ride accredited clubs in Wales, with Towy Riders claiming the top prize on the night. VC Melyd, Gower Riders and Abergavenny Road Club were runners up in the category.
Coach of the Year was awarded to Garrie Tillett of Newport, who coaches young riders at Wales National Velodrome each week. Anthony Jones, Towy Riders and Paul Crapper, Abergavenny Road Club were runners up in the category.
Richard Hopkins received the award for Race Official of the Year for his role as race judge and timekeeper at many cycling events in Wales, and the development of his own timing system to support at races. Anne Russell, national track and regional road commissaire and Andy Smith NEG Wales rider were also recognised for their support of cycle racing creating a fair and safe environment for competitors.
Breeze Champions Mary Trenfield and Christine Smith received Volunteer of the Year. The pair were some of the first women to become Breeze Champions in Wales, and have embraced the role inspiring more women to ride bikes in Newport. Fellow ride leader John Wheat, Newport Social Cycling Group and Chris Allen, VC Melyd were also recognised for their hours of commitment to improving cycling in Wales.
To find out more about getting involved in cycling as a coach, volunteer, coach or cyclist get in touch!
The winners:
Race Organiser of the Year
Abergavenny Road Club for the British Cycling National Cyclo Cross Championships (Monmouthshire)
Volunteer of the Year
Mary Trenfield and Christine Smith, Breeze Newport (Newport)
Race Official of the Year
Richard Hopkins, Cwmcarn Paragon (Cardiff)
Go Ride Club of the Year
Towy Riders (Carmarthenshire)
Club Cyclist of the Year sponsored by Tredz Bikes
Paul Rees, Bynea Cycling Club (Carmarthenshire)
Coach of the Year
Garrie Tillett (Newport)
Club of the Year sponsored by Kilsby and Williams
Abergavenny Road Club (Monmouthshire)
Colin Thornton Memorial Award for Welsh Junior Performance
Ffion James, Abergavenny Road Club (Monmouthshire)
Elite Cyclist of the Year sponsored by SD Sealants
Geraint Thomas MBE, Team Sky (Cardiff)
Outstanding Performance of the Year sponsored by Cardiff Metropolitan University
Elinor Barker, Ciara Horne and Amy Roberts
Lifetime Contribution to Cycling in Wales sponsored by USN
John Lloyd MBE John Lloyd Racing Events Ltd (Builth Wells)
