Nine awards will be given to individuals, clubs and community groups that champion the very best of cycle sport in Scotland across 2024.
Ranging from the performances of elite athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, to sessions from clubs, community groups and volunteers across Scotland, the individual awards cover all facets of cycling in Scotland.
There was intense competition just for a shortlist spot in the Female Rider of the Year Award, presented by Pedal Power, such was the level that Scottish riders performed at in 2024.
MTB Downhill rider Heather Wilson burst onto the UCI Mountain Bike World Series stage, the 17-year-old winning on her Junior World Cup debut in front of a raucous Scottish crowds at Fort William. It was the first of three World Cup wins in 2024, to add to Scottish and British titles in a fantastic debut year.
It’s been another excellent year for Jenny Holl, the tandem pilot claiming a brace of golds at the Paralympics with stoker Sophie Unwin, as well as further silver and bronze medals. World Championships accolades would follow with a quintet of silvers at the Track and Road World Championships this year. Away from the tandem, it’s been an impressive spell for Holl, claiming British titles in the Points and Scratch races
Aberdeenhire’s Neah Evans produced a stunning ride in the Women’s Madison at the Olympics to claim silver alongside partner Elinor Barker. That result in Paris was the culmination of the year’s success, which began when Evans claimed European honours in Switzerland this January. The Scot rounded out the year’s major championships with a brilliant bronze in the same event at the World Championships alongside fellow Scot Katie Archibald.
The Male Rider of the Year Award saw incredible competition too.
Strathpeffer’s Fin Graham claimed a maiden Paralympic gold in the C1-3 Road Race, adding to his silver medal in the Individual Pursuit silver. The Scot finally got the prize he coveted most, to add to his collection of rainbow jerseys – he would successfully defended his road race title in Zurich in September – claiming that title for a third successive year. Time trial sliver in Zurich, as well as bronze at the Track Worlds in Rio would show the 25-year-old at the top of the cycling world once again.
It was an emotional rollercoaster for everyone watching Jack Carlin’s Parisian sprint campaign. After a fantastic silver medal in the team sprint opened his Olympic account for 2024, the Paisley sprinter had to go through the wringer in the sprint competition. After a reprieve in the round of 16, the Scot fought his way to an incredible bronze medal – to further stake his claim to be in the top echelon of elite sprinting. Carlin now sits third – behind only Sir Chris Hoy and Duncan Scott – in the list of most decorated Scots at the Olympics.
It was a year of firsts for Kelso’s Oscar Onley, as after starting the year with an incredible victory atop Willunga Hill at the Tour Down Under, Onley became the first Scottish developed rider to start the Tour de France in 31 years in July – impressing hugely for Team dsm-firmenich PostNL. An excellent Tour of Britain campaign would see the Scot take home the Young Riders’ classification and second overall. His season would be complete with a brilliant debut at the World Championships, an attacking performance seeing him come 16th in one of the most memorable races of modern times.
The Braveheart Cycling Award recognises the rider with the best breakthrough performances over the past 12 months, and there was no shortage of worthy contenders for that accolade this year.
Callum Thornley set the heather alight at the Tour of Britain, claiming the King of the Mountains classification in some style. Alba Road Team’s Eilidh Shaw has gone from strength to strength in 2024, claiming the national road and circuit series titles. Both Thornley and Shaw have been rewarded with moves to World Tour development teams for 2025. Junior rider Erin Boothman impressed since making the move up from the Youth ranks, with a brace of World titles as the Track World Championships in China in the Team Pursuit and the Madison. It’s gone to be a close call on the 16th November.
The Club of the Year Award presented by Digby Brown is always fiercely competitive between clubs across the length and breadth of the country, as they deliver events, organise club rides, and are many riders’ first steps into cycling.
Lanarkshire’s Royal Albert CC & youth section Clydesdale Colts, Dundee-based Discovery Junior CC are joined by Peebles CC, Scotia Offroad RT and West Lothian Clarion on the shortlist.
With hundreds of cycling events across Scotland each year, it’s incredibly tough to narrow it down to four for our Event of the Year shortlist.
The inaugural Cycle Speedway National Championships took place in September at Fife Cycle Speedway and were a big success, with riders coming from across Scotland to compete, in what will be the first of what we hope will be many successful years in this new discipline. Another new discipline – pump track racing – has seen increased interest in the past 12 months and the Zetland Park Pump Track series is also on the shortlist.
The Scottish Downhill Association Series continues to excite with World Cup quality riders racing their sell-out events, which in 2024 included two rounds of the British Series and the Scottish Championships. IGNITE was the event title as Scotland’s Fire and Rescue HQ in Cambuslang hosted the Scottish Youth Circuit Championship, which boasted a flaming good atmosphere and some great racing.
Three coaches were shortlisted for the Talent Coach of the Year award. Jason Barnes is the lead off-road coach with Glasgow Riderz and has led various MTB cluster sessions in the West this year. Sarah Rowe has been the lead youth coach with Deeside Thistle for over ten years, in that time has helped multiple athletes on to the Scottish Cycling and British Cycling pathways, and in additions supports Youth Cluster and RACE National sessions. Stevie Crowther supported young MTB riders this year and travelled with the Scottish squad that competed at the European Youth Championships in Sweden.
Three well deserving coaches were also shortlisted for the Community Coach of the Year Award. Trevor Bryant has been the driving force of the establishment of the Border Raiders Speedway Club and organised a number of community events to get more people involved in cycle speedway. Vicky Cook is a coach with Annan Youth Cycling Club, and her determination sees the delivery of countless sessions for kids just starting their cycling journey. Last but not least, Anna Fairweather is a well-known coach with Discovery Junior CC, and has been delivering sessions and supporting riders for several years on the track at Caird Park, with riders going on to compete at British and international level.
Our nominees for the Volunteer of the Year go above and beyond to support the sport of cycling in Scotland and get more people on bikes. Lorna Breetzke has been instrumental in supporting racing and events in the north, and works hard to go the extra mile in organising Elgin CC’s club rides and events. Craig Masson has worked extensively to support cycle speedway in Scotland, from introducing the discipline in primary schools to organising events like the National Championships. Breeze champion Mary Lloyd puts in the extra effort to lead her group, the Ancrum Breezers in the Borders.Mary’s enthusiasm, support for others, and ability to inspire fellow cyclists make her a worthy candidate for the award.
The Community Partner of the Year is awarded to the glub or group that has made a large impact in their community over the past year, from getting children or adults on to bikes, to organising events and everything in between.
Easterhouse Phoenix Centre is a charity organisation who have provided led rides for adults, and learn to ride sessions for children and young people. In addition, they introduced a Parkinsons Cycling Group and provided them with a safe space to use adapted bikes. The Centre also took residents to ride on the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome for the very first time.
Craigie Trailblazers has made a significant impact by empowering children with essential skills, knowledge, and a sense of safety, while also promoting improvements in health and mental well-being. They’ve partnered with Active Schools and IM2C Bike Hub to deliver sessions across East Renfrewshire.
Skatepark The Loading Bay and housing association NG Homes have partnered to deliver fun and exciting cycling sessions for those from ethnic minority backgrounds and get them involved in cycling. The partnership has meant that more than 250 participants in North Glasgow, who may not have had access to bikes, have taken part in sessions at the park and got involved in cycling, many for the first time.
We wish all the nominees the very best of luck for the awards on Saturday 16th November at the Inchyra Grange.
Just a reminder, you can still book your place for what should be a cracking evening here.