LOCAL HERO
SHORTLISTED BY THE JUDGING PANEL
Glyn Durrant
The Surrey Cycle Racing League is widely recognised as one of the most successful in the country.
While founder Keith Butler was the driving force, establishing the club in 1983, Glyn Durrant was the engine room. He became heavily involved in 1993 when he stopped racing, and took over the running of it when Butler stepped back entirely some five years ago.
Putting in 60-hour weeks through the summer, Glyn does all the admin and the accounts, which can have upwards of £100,000 going through them in a busy year. Calendar and club coordination, risk assessments, judging, uploading results and more — you name it, Glyn does it.
Peter Harrison
Peter’s life in cycling started at the age of 15 when he joined the Gosforth Road Club. He raced until his mid-30s but his involvement in the sport spans all aspects of the sport. He has sat on regional and national boards, grown his club from a membership of one (himself), been involved with the British team as a technical consultant and worked in the industry for over 20 years.
Peter is best known for running the Beaumont Trophy, part of the Cyclone Cycling Festival. As well as hosting the National Championships twice, the weekend of events has seen around 33,000 people take part over the years and raised over £5m for charity.
Celia Tennant
Over the past seven years Celia has been instrumental in the growth of Clydesdale Colts Cycling Club in South Lanarkshire, as it has grown to around 150 members — there’s even a waiting list. The club is now an integral part of the local community.
Training sessions take place every Saturday morning and midweek, where children from three to 16 develop their cycling skills for fun or competition.
Along with other coaches and a supportive committee, Celia has pushed the Colts forward. They now organise several events throughout the year which aid the development of cycling across the west of Scotland. Without Celia’s passion and drive the Colts would not be the club they are.
Debbie Wharton
Working part-time as a receptionist at Maindy Leisure Centre in Cardiff in 1996, Debbie Wharton was asked to start a cycling club on the underused outdoor, concrete track there. Twentytwo years and one Tour de France winner later and a spotlight has been shone on her amazing achievements.
Her passion for cycling led to her becoming a coach and developing the skills of kids that had no background in cycling. Thousands have been through the doors, with Tour champion Geraint Thomas and his Sky team-mate Luke Rowe the most famous alumni. For many others, Debbie’s influence led to a life of cycling and volunteering and many now bring their kids to the track.