ABER RC – RUNNERS UP AS GO RIDE CLUB

At the Welsh Cycling Awards on 7th November 2015, the Go Ride Club of the Year recognised the work of the 38 Go Ride accredited clubs in Wales.   Abergavenny Road Club were runners up in the category with Towy Riders claiming the top prize on the night.  

Abergavenny Road Club welcomes young riders aged between 5 and 16 – we create a fantastic, friendly atmosphere and encourage riders and their parents to get involved with the club and the sport of cycling.  We have expanded to 140 young riders and are probably the largest Go Ride club in Wales.     The future of Welsh Cycling is in safe hands us.

Every Saturday morning, up to 70 young riders attend cycling sessions provided by qualified coaches and willing, patient, parent volunteers.  The sessions involve fitness, techniques, some racing and lots of fun.  To ensure that cycling is inclusive to all, the sessions are provided free of charge.

To embrace the huge demand for youth cycling the club has invested heavily in volunteers and currently has 12, active Level 2 coaches, 2 Welfare Officers and a host of helpers.            A comprehensive Rota and Coaching Schedule has been created, Coaches take turns to  Lead sessions, and rotate groups each week – this ensures that volunteers and riders develop.  Our coaches also put on discipline specific sessions for riders of all ages, including MTB, Cross and Road and our club co-promoted a Schools Cycle Event in Cross Ash, for riders from all over Monmouthshire and supported the Festival of Cycling in August

The club does not charge for activities, but through wise financial management has funded another L2 coach, discipline specific, education for existing coaches and has funds in place to develop 3 Junior Leaders.

Our parent/volunteers the club proved their passion for the club when around 100 of them helped organise and promote The national Cyclo-cross Championships in January.  It has been said that these were the best ever because of the welcome!!!  Our young riders compete in a variety of events, and have achieved record successes in The Welsh MTB Championships and Welsh Cyclo-cross league.  Several riders have been selected for Wales and GB Development Squads.  Megan James became National champion in MTB and her sister Ffion has competed internationally for Team GB.   The Club encourages riders to undertake other disciplines and a large number can be seen in sessions at the Velodrome.

The Club received Go Ride Accreditation in November 2014 and is looking towards disability accreditation. “Our ethos is On or off-road, competitive or social, its about the bike” and the volunteers of his rapidly expanding Go Ride Section deserve all the plaudits available.