Earlier this week we introduced you to the new Limitless Champion Clubs who have joined the network of clubs in Scotland working to break down barriers and make cycling clubs inclusive and welcoming environments for everyone.
We spoke to Alan Joyce, Club Development Officer at Clydesdale Colts Cycling Club, who shared more about the inclusive events the club have organised this year.
A very popular event on the youth racing calendar, Ignite is a closed-circuit youth and junior race at the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) Campus in Cambuslang. A very unique and much-loved venue for a race, the SFRS Campus features a ‘town’ complete with roads, shops, houses, train station and even a motorway! This allows SFRS to train for every eventuality and the Colts say they are very fortunate to be allowed to use the campus for the day to run the event.
This year, the Colts included a Scottish Disability Sports (SDS) heat as part of the day’s racing, where ten SDS riders alongside support riders took to the start line. Such was the success of this event, the Colts also included a SDS heat in their recent Wintercross race at Chatelherault Country Park. Alan tells us “its really simple, and just about creating a space in the race schedule”. The Colts will continue to host inclusive racing with SDS heats in their future events.
An upcoming paracycling event is the Scottish Para GP. In just over a week’s time, the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome will play host to the Scottish National Track Championships, which this year includes the Scottish Para GP. Open to any nationality of rider this event includes sprint and endurance races for para riders and promises to be a very exciting weekend of racing!
It mirrors the schedule of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships – which led the way by combining the Olympic and Paralympic Track programmes seamlessly to ensure proper inclusion for Paracycling riders during the 11 days in August.
You can still buy tickets to spectate the National Track Championships & Para GP here
Looking ahead to next year, we hope to see more paracycling events on the calendar. If your club is interested in including a SDS category in your next event and would like more information, please contact Club Development [email protected]