Accolade for Wheelers
EAST Sutherland Wheelers has been nominated club of the year by Sutherland Sports Council.
Wim Chalmet, secretary of ESW, accepted the trophy saying: "I believe this is a great recognition for the club.
"The committee and members have worked hard throughout 2013 to make it a success. On behalf of the club we would like to dedicate this award to those who have given their time and energy to encourage cycling development in East Sutherland."
The club strives to give everyone an opportunity to access cycle sport. Half of the ESW membership is female and earlier this year they held the most northerly Scott Contessa Road Race Academy which saw 35 women join weekly coaching sessions to develop skills and confidence on their bikes.
A number of those women recently participated in their first road race in Munlochy and took part in Scotland’s only Cycletta Sportive in Perth, as well as actively participating in both club and regional time trials throughout the year.
The club is also a driving force in youth development for time trialling and road racing with a number of youths attending regional and national racing events such as the Youth Tour of Scotland and International Youth Tour of Ireland.
Club coaches help out with the Scotland Youth Future Team.
ESW coordinates national events which bring others to the far north, this year hosting the North of Scotland Time Trial and Criterium Championships, with over 160 participants visiting Sutherland to compete.
Later in the year the club also helps out with the organisation of the Highland Dirt Crit – a series of races which aim to encourage youngsters into mountain biking
Wim continued: "East Sutherland Wheelers aims to be an inclusive cycling club with something for everyone and this year we reached the 200 member mark.
"The club has become a social hub with members from communities across East Sutherland and beyond meeting at least once a week to undertake cycling activities."
The club sees it as essential to try to remove the financial burden for participation in cycle sport through provision of support for youth race participation, with bursaries for getting to events and discounted kit.
In addition, it has raised funds for club grass track bikes so members can take part in events. The membership fee is kept to a minimum to help make the club even more accessible.
As an accredited spinning centre, during the winter months the club runs spinning sessions for around 120 participants each week. The club’s summer programme consists of weekly coaching and race practice on the Littleferry kart track as well as time trials, pursuit races, touring rides, grass track racing at the Highland games, come-and-try sessions at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, informal club rides and competition across Scotland for some club members.
At the end of the season the club holds a prizegiving presentation get-together for all members.
The programme is only possible with a coaching team and structured coach development programme. The club has six qualified spinning instructors, six UKCC Level 2 cycling coaches, five road and time trial coaches, one mountain bike coach, one track coach, six trail cycle leaders, one mountain bike leader and five CTC ride leaders.
All of the coaches are first aid qualified and have full disclosure accreditation (PVG).
East Sutherland Wheelers achieved Go – Ride status in 2012, a national standard which recognises that the club observes best practice in child protection, coaching, competition, equity and club management.
