Inspiring Future Generations Award

As I walked from the Trafford tram stop to visit Man U’s stadium with my father in 2005, we passed the Old Trafford Cricket Ground just a handful of months after my mother had died. Little did I know, that almost two decades later, I would be there to attend a cycling award ceremony and rewind a half-century back to my youth.

This saga began several weeks earlier when ERC secretary, Steve Canney, nominated me for a BC award. I was chuffed but thought nothing would come of it, after all, many volunteers do what I do, and more. Just a couple of weeks later a BC staff member called me to say that I had WON. I was close to tears, and remember saying, “I only do it because I enjoy it.” Shock, joy and surprise rolled into one. He cautioned that only my wife and Steve should be told. Oh dear, to keep a secret for a month or more, I did let it slip that I’d been nominated.

In due course, I received the formal invitation to the Gala Dinner and planned a weekend stay at Old Trafford’s on-site Hilton hotel. It was too late to reserve a budget room so we had to make do with a pitch-view. This blew the prize and expenses budget, but you’re only young once. It turned out to be a great choice given the view, the weekend’s sunny weather and the sight into the hall to observe preparations.

Next, a BC videographer scheduled a visit. Joy arrived just the week before the award ceremony recording an hour of video at my house, then more at Inch Park. I did wonder how all that ‘footage’ was going to get used. Perhaps there is a blockbuster in the works or do they just need a lot of dross to uncover a gem? Joy was truly joyful, but she couldn’t be a spy since she spilled the beans to the Go-Riders in violation of the BC edict. The leak didn’t go viral. Blushes were spared.

Our journey to Manchester was circuitous, taking in a family gathering near Stourport where the award was freely discussed with congratulations all around. We managed to meet an elderly aunt but were disappointed that there wasn’t time to meet my cycling mentor of long ago, Brian. Returning north we checked into the hotel a day ahead. On awards’ day we explored the city before returning early to rest and prepare for the evening’s celebrations.

Besuited and be-glammed we headed off to the venue. En-route we bumped into Laura and Jason Kenny in the lift, I immediately recognised her, but it took a while to recognise Jason who has lost his sprinter’s bulk. Needless to say, they didn’t recognise me. The 200-metre walk outside was warm and dry and we passed an outdoor cycle-trials bike set up. On entering the building, I was recognised by BC staff and pulled aside for the red-carpet interview by para-cyclist Blaine Hunt. I was famous after all. Blaine sported a TK Max faux leopard-skin suit and handlebar moustache. I was wearing my UCI tartan scarf. This reminded Blaine that he won the worlds’ in Glasgow and he showed us his Tissot watch to prove it. The evening was starting to be joyous.

The volunteer award winners were corralled together so we exchanged our stories. One was truly amazing and so personal. At 83, Alan Griffiths had won the award for Connecting the Community. I gathered he lived in Kidderminster where I began riding with the CTC and the late Dave Pountney. Alan in fact lives in my home town of Stourport-on-Severn and is a close friend of Brian Taylor, the person, along with Ian Horwood, who drove me to Sunday morning TTs and taught me all about bike racing in 1974. Wow, what a connection. That was in the ‘70s and how the world has changed. GB scraped bronzes at the worlds, Barry Hoban was one of the few Brits abroad, plus there was no lottery funding. Dave, Brian and Ian were the two people who inspired me to ride for pleasure and sport. I hope that I instil the same love of cycling in the young riders I coach.

A drinks reception was the next stage, where we rubbed shoulders with the great and the good. The area had a selfie stand with a glam dressing-up box and a ‘do not touch’ Hope track bike, more of which later. We homed in on the Scottish Cycling enclave, including Jenny Holl who would receive the Paralympic Performance Award together with Sophie Unwin. Following the sartorial theme, father Nigel sported the Commie Games tartan. Bryan Sweeney (father of ERC’s Lucy) came to congratulate me saying he was there as one of the Lloyds Bank VIPs. Strange who pops up. All too soon we were called to the next stage seated at table 40, not quite the top table.

The evening’s format had presentations interspersed between courses and luckily the volunteer awards were in the first tranche. Although we all knew we had won a prize, there was to be an announcement of an overall winner as Volunteer of the Year. I was the last of the gang of four to go on stage and I became ever more nervous. What was I worrying about, tripping? Of course, nothing went wrong. I received the certificate, trophy and an intriguing packet of biscuits from BC. Alan was declared the ultimate winner to great acclaim. How could you deny Brian’s friend, the mile-eating 83-year-old, the top spot? Thoroughly well deserved and proves we all have plenty of years in us yet.

The next few courses went in a blur. Tom Pidcock responded to his award for best male Olympic performance via a recorded video message, as did Bradley. The inductees to the hall of fame were legends and I did wonder why it had taken so long for some to be admitted. For example, the Beijing women’s pursuit team, with my lift-mate Laura, should have been a shoo-in years ago. Three inductees were administrators rather than race winner, this included Scot Mike Jardine organiser of the UCI Downhill World Cup at Fort William. Mike wore his kilt, fellow Scot, Paralympic champion Aileen McGlynn didn’t. World champion BMXer cum sprinter Shanaze Reade gave a jaw-dropping interview. Check out her Wiki entry. Wow.

I did schmooze over to Bryan whose table ranked a good deal higher than 40th. He introduced his colleague at Lloyds who connects the two organisations. I hope I didn’t introduce a wrinkle. The bank appears to have plans to deepen its involvement in our sport. Thank goodness for that. The sponsorship of the evening was wonderful. Their biscuit-box award contained a black horse, a trophy, a cyclist and Lloyds’ logo, and as a gluten-shunner they will remain uneaten in my trophy cabinet. The men’s and women’s Tour of Britain were quite good too.

Another pleasant surprise came when ERC members Kirsty and Sarah Johnson arrived at the table to congratulate me. Where had they come from? They had been at the afternoon’s youth and junior awards which recognised Sarah’s 2023 European Championship win. It appeared fitting that two young girls had progressed from riding on grass at Inch Park to the highest levels of the sport and were there to witness my 15 minutes. ERC could have had another representative at the awards since Anna Flynn had also been invited, but she prioritised the South Shields CX.

All things come to an end. When exiting through the reception area I inspected the Hope bike and committed the heinous crime of touching the tyre sending the guard into a near fit (yes, there was a guard). Marnie protected me again. After leaving we four walked together towards the hotel chatting as we went. Sarah and Kirsty both spoke of the future and their possibilities of making it to the 2026 Glasgow games. It felt good that they still have ambitions. The club can be proud of the talent it has nurtured and the chain of volunteers leading them along their pathways.

What a night it had been. Marnie and I wanted to extend the jollity but found the bar closed. Ah well, off to bed. We took the lift and as the doors closed, in stepped Joanna Rowsell. We exchanged pleasantries and I noticed that she didn’t appear as ‘race-ready’ as her erstwhile team-mates. Wikipedia informed me that she is training to be a doctor. I always thought she seemed cerebral. I was right! Strange who you can meet in a lift.

The next day we were catching an Uber with a friend. On entering the elevator to leave I bumped into BC president Bob Howden. Effusing about the previous evening, I introduced myself as an award winner; how could he not know that already? We did have a down-to-earth conversation about the difficulties of managing youth teams in UK stage races. Strange who you can meet in a lift.

After reading the many responses to social media posts about the evening I felt a tingle of satisfaction and was convinced I was worthy of the accolade. No doubt, my mother and father would have been proud.

(If you know someone who has contributed to the sport, prepare for the next round of nominations and submit it. They may end up at Old Trafford.)