Those of you who attended Saturday’s Award Night, will have heard me mention the document that has been sent to Montgomery Sports Development Unit to support our nomination for Sports Club of the Year at the 2015 Montgomeryshire Sports Awards.
My summary of that document on the night was ‘slightly sketchy’ as I’d just managed to mislay my reading spec’s, so to remember ALL the amazing highs of 2015 was a challenge in itself.
So as to share this in its entirety with those who attended and with those who unfortunately couldn’t make it on the night, I have copied/pasted the document below.
Even if we don’t win on 29th January ’16, we still have every reason to be very proud of all we have achieved during 2015!!
Rob Finch – Chairman.
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HAFREN CYCLING CLUB
Background
Hafren Cycling Club’s (HCC) objectives centre on the development of community cycling in the Montgomeryshire area.
Communities are diverse and need to be inclusive, HCC keep this ‘front of mind’.
2015 membership grows to 126.
Biggest growth in Juniors (+31%) and Women (+33%).
Junior Club
A valuable resource in Montgomeryshire coaching skills to young riders.
Offers Saturday morning coaching to 30+ riders, learning basic bike handling, through to group riding and race techniques.
During 2015 HCC awarded Welsh Cycling’s Go-Ride Clubmark.
Recognising high quality standards in:-
- The playing/activity programme
- Duty of Care and Welfare
- Knowing your club/community
- Club Management
HCC invests in development and training
- Three Level 2 British Cycling Coaches.
- More planned.
HCC Coaches helped Sport Powys run the 2015 Easter Triathlon Camp, benefitting 50+ primary and secondary children.
HCC provided competitive opportunities, running events aimed at young first time racers.
- Grass Track League (only Welsh league!).
- Indoor Roller Racing League
With local schools HCC offer further opportunities to youngsters, including;
- 5×60 sessions at Newtown High School
- Go-Ride Cyclo-Cross.
- Welsh Cycling supported cycling sessions to local primary schools.
Women’s Cycling
Hafren are trying to address the ‘male dominant’ world of cycling.
- 2015 women’s membership grows to 16.
- Weekly time-trial series attendance sees 6-7 regular competitors.
October 2015 HCC organises first of three fully funded coaching sessions.
- Significant club funds invested.
- Held on closed road cycle circuit.
- Safe traffic free environment.
- No barriers to skill level or sporting ability.
- British Cycling coaches attended.
- Skills training for all abilities.
- Addressing confidence issues identified by many local women cyclists.
- 16 women attended Session 1.
- More sessions planned in Spring 2016
- Tailored to initial feedback received
- More sessions planned in Spring 2016
Social Cycling
Largest member participation.
HCC worked through 2015 to ensure it met the needs of local cyclists. Weekly club rides form the platform for this to happen.
- Rides changed to reflect cycling abilities/aspirations.
- Effort based descriptors – Endurance/Tempo/Threshold.
- Endurance/Tempo catering for ‘Coffee/Cake & Chat’ riders
- Threshold allowing more extreme cycling
- Successful with women members.
- Less intimidated
- Understand effort involved.
Work to be done!
- Junior, women and novices identifying that shorter, less challenging rides needed.
- Working towards meeting ALL the needs of our local cycling community.
Competition
Competition forms a large part of any sports club.
In 2015 HCC Organised;
- 16 race local time trials series.
- ‘Open’ 10 mile event.
- Their third annual Cyclo-Cross event in Newtown.
- 200+ riders attended from across Wales
- Round 8 of Welsh Cyclo-Cross League.
- First Grass Track and Indoor Roller events
- Prove great family social occasions too!
Charity
Important to be putting something back into the community
- 2015 Charity is Severn Hospice
- £2,000+ donated during 2014/15
- 2015/16 to be announced soon.
Awareness
HCC works on awareness of the club, its activities and local community commitment.
- Regularly features in County Times and MyWelshpool
- Race reports, Charity and Social activities.
- Recognition further afield;
- Club Jersey features in Cycling Weekly during June 2015.
- Cycling Weekly Club Feature – 19th Nov.