News: The Pedal Club April Lunch

Women’s racing is gaining ever more prominence and this was recognised at the Pedal Club’s April lunch – by Chris Lovibond.

News: The Pedal Club April Lunch

Women’s racing is gaining ever more prominence and this was recognised at the Pedal Club’s April lunch.

Hope Inglis with legend organiser Doug Collins

The speaker was Jon Miles, a man clearly ahead of his time when he first became involved with promoting women’s racing as long ago as 1974. His career has seen him give vital support to many riders, the most notable being Nicole Cooke.

While the Club has an interest in the history of women’s racing, it also has an eye to the future. At this meeting Hope Inglis was presented with the Keith Gibson Memorial Salver as the London Cyclo Cross Association’s most meritorious young rider. Hope is a remarkable sixteen year old who began competing in cyclo cross at the age of seven and is now starting her first season of road racing; already she is within one point of gaining her second category licence! She has recently dipped her toe into the world of cycling politics by gaining, on her own initiative, a face to face interview with Brian Facer at the Manchester HQ to argue for more resources for women’s racing.

Clearly she is a young woman to watch, and the Club is making a contribution to her career with a cheque for £500 which is a John Barclay Scholarship. This comes from a Pedal Club fund which is intended to celebrate and continue the work which John did for so many years, taking young riders (including Bradley Wiggins and Tao Geoghan Hart) to Belgium to learn the racing game. Hope herself may not have been aware of this background as she received the cheque (see photo), but she mentioned spontaneously that she intends to use this money for a trip to race in Belgium.

The lunch was held at The Parcel Yard pub at Kings Cross, forty one members and five guests attended.